What is Luniz?

Luniz is an American hip hop duo from Oakland, California. The group consists of Yukmouth and Numskull, who are best known for their 1995 hit single “I Got 5 on It”. The song was the lead single from their debut album Operation Stackola, which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and went Platinum in the US. The album featured other popular singles such as “I-9”, “Playa Hata” and “Jus' Lyke Compton”.

Career Highlights

In 1997, Luniz released their second album Silver & Black which featured the hit single “C U When U Get There”. The song was a collaboration with rapper Coolio and was featured in the movie Nothing to Lose. In 2000, the duo released their third album Lunitik Muzik. Although the album was not as successful as their first two albums, it still spawned the hit single “So Much Drama” which featured Snoop Dogg and Too Short.

Other Projects

In addition to their work as a duo, both Yukmouth and Numskull have pursued solo careers. Yukmouth has released several solo albums over the years including Thugged Out: The Albulation (1998), Thug Lord: The New Testament (2003) and Million Dollar Mouthpiece (2008). Numskull has also released several solo albums including The Koolest of the Kool (1999), Bad News Travels Fast (2002) and The Return of Da Livin Dead (2008).

Legacy

Luniz has been credited with helping to popularize hyphy music in the early 2000s. Hyphy music is a style of hip hop characterized by its heavily syncopated rhythms and exaggerated vocal delivery. Luniz has also been credited with helping to bring Bay Area hip hop to national prominence in the mid-1990s. Their music has been featured in movies such as Belly (1998) and 8 Mile (2002). Luniz is widely regarded as one of the most influential hip hop groups to come out of Oakland.