From contemplating capitalism to reflecting on the evolution of the music industry and from reminiscing on loves bitter sweet sting to navigating the struggles of being an academic, these two sneaker wearing, textbook toting urban griots from East Elmhurst, Queens hit home in a way that causes heads to nod and minds to expand. Uppanotch is what it sounds like when book smarts and street smarts meet over fly production from Pushakey (8 tracks), Kiza (2 tracks), and Shakim Allah (1 track). Danon and Hosannah honor hip hop with stunningly spun stories drawn from real life struggles that are honest and relatable. Danon, a law school graduate, has a smooth melodic cadence and a story teller’s cleverness and ease. Hosannah, a PhD candidate in the field of aerosol sci ence, displays tenacity and a fierceness in his voice that is riveting. They are true wordsmiths infusing their message with positivity and a level of intentionality that is sure to be their firebrand. 11 accurately sketches a portrait of real life with clever word play, staggering eloquence, and impeccable relevance. Community minded and entrepreneurial, Uppanotch seeks to take their music above and beyond the status quo. They aim to surpass the ordinary scale of 1 to 10 with 11. It’s all about taking it UPPANOTCH!!!