OUO - Origin

Shadowy figures emerge from the subterranean depths of the hip-hop underground.

Dumi Right and Pep are O.U.O., a pair of emcees who trace their lineage all the way back to Zimbabwe, where the two cousins first began breaking and popping, before developing the rhyming skills that would carry them across oceans. Growing up, they drew on influences from the US and the UK, learning lessons from tapes of radio shows by the likes of Mr. Magic, Red Alert, Chuck Chillout and the UK's Tim Westwood; always dreaming of the day when they would play a role in the development of the music they loved. Now their music resonates from their current base in the DC Metro area through Virginia, Maryland, Philly and out to the rest of the world, where O.U.O. is developing a reputation for kicking dope rhymes over hot tracks, and ripping down stages wherever they perform.

The long journey of O.U.O has culminated with the release of their new album, Of Unknown Origin. The multi-faceted album is carefully woven together with a constant thread of ill lyrics and solid beats which permeate the entire record. Listeners are taken on a voyage through the highs of uptempo grooves like "For the Love" and "Pushin' Pens," and then the captivating grind of tracks like "Trapped" and "Came Too Far," which speak to the mind and soul, and paint poignant pictures of struggle and perseverance. Of Unknown Origin is an essay on life, love and the essence of hip-hop, with a variety of soundscapes and subjects that are sure to grab the ears of discerning listeners.

About Of Unknown Origin, WashingtonPost.com had this to say:
"O.U.O makes smart, stripped-down hip-hop loaded with captivating beats and enterprising lyrics."

Shotgunreviews.com adds:
"Your ears are bombarded with meticulous metaphors, superb similes, and a deadly overflow of hip-hop quotables."

Perhaps the online hip-hop site Platform8470.com sums it up best:
"Of Unknown Origin is one of those albums that keep it real and make us proud to say: real hip-hop is still here. This is hip-hop like it was meant to be."

Although this is O.U.O's debut album, the two emcees are hardly new jacks to the business of music. Dumi Right got his start in the business when he and his brother Akim released an EP with Hollywood Basic under the name Zimbabwe Legit -- the first rap group from Africa signed to a major U.S label. Pep is also a longtime hip-hop practitioner and has a discography that includes tracks written and recorded with jazz great Hugh Masekela.

O.U.O was nominated for a 2004 Washington Area Music Award for best group in the hip-hop category.

Visit the Domination Recordings Website to get your copy of the O.U.O CD now!