Yannick “Thurz” Koffi is a rapper and producer from Inglewood, Los Angeles. When he linked up to Y-O (Yonas Semere Michael) in order to create the rap duo U-N-I, they became known throughout the urban and alternative blogosphere during a time of “hipster” movement momentum. Plus they were credited with reviving the “true essence” of hip-hop, by rejecting the Gangsta rap style that had become common.