Unk
{{Short description|American rapper (1981–2025)}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image =
| name = Unk
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Anthony Leonard Platt{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/880179047|title=ACE Repertory|website=Ascap.com|access-date=January 25, 2025}}
| alias = DJ Unk
| birth_date = {{birth date|1981|11|28}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|1|24|1981|11|28}}
| death_place = Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Southern hip-hop|snap}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|disc jockey|hype man}}
| years_active = 1998–2025
| label = {{hlist|E1|Big Oomp}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|DJ Montay|V.I.C.}}
}}
Anthony Leonard Platt (November 28, 1981 – January 24, 2025), better known by his stage name Unk, was an American rapper, DJ, and hype man. He is best known for his 2006 snap hit "Walk It Out".
Life and career
Platt began spinning records in 1998, and, after meeting DJ Jelly and DJ Montay, joined their DJ entourage, the Southern Style DJs. They performed for high school parties, proms, pep rallies, and other events around the state of Georgia. In 2000, Big Oomp signed Unk to his label, Big Oomp Records. He released the album Beat'n Down Yo Block! in 2006 led by the single "Walk It Out" that reached the top ten in the Billboard Hot 100. In 2008, he released the album 2econd Season, supported by the single "Show Out" to moderate success. In 2013, he released the single "Have A Toast" followed by "Wait" in 2014,{{Cite web|title = #FreshHeat: DJ Unk "Wait"|url = http://allhiphop.com/2014/01/24/freshheat-dj-unk-wait/|website = Hip-Hop News, Rumors, Rap Music & Videos {{!}}AllHipHop|date = 24 January 2014|access-date = 2016-02-15}} while he continued to tour the college circuit.{{Cite web|title = What the Fuck Happened to...DJ Unk and Chingy? – Notmad Notmad|url = http://notmad.us/2015/02/what-the-fuck-happened-to-dj-unk-and-chingy/#|website = notmad.us|access-date = 2016-02-15}}
Death
In 2009, Platt suffered a mild heart attack that resulted in a reduced profile.{{Cite web|title = DJ Unk Gives Up Weed, Liquor After Heart Attack|url = http://allhiphop.com/2009/08/31/dj-unk-gives-up-weed-liquor-after-heart-attack/|website = Hip-Hop News, Rumors, Rap Music & Videos {{!}}AllHipHop|access-date =February 15, 2016|date = August 31, 2009|last = Wolfe|first = Roman}} On January 24, 2025, Platt's wife confirmed through social media that he had died at the age of 43. According to TMZ, his cause of death was a heart attack.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/dj-unk-dead-rapper-walk-it-out-2-step-1236285521/|title=DJ Unk, 'Walk It Out' and '2 Step' Rapper, Dies at 43|first=Steven J.|last=Horowitz|publisher=Variety|date=January 24, 2025|accessdate=January 25, 2025}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2025/01/26/dj-unk-cause-of-death/|title=DJ Unk's Cause of Death Revealed|publisher=TMZ|date=January 26, 2025|accessdate=January 26, 2025}}
Discography
{{More citations needed|section of biography|date=January 2025}}
= Albums =
== Studio albums ==
== Mixtapes ==
- 2009: Itsago The Mixtape Vol.1
- 2009: Smoke On
- 2009: ATL Off Da Chain
= Singles =
== As lead artist ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="3" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US {{cite magazine|title=Unk Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=unk|chart=Hot 100}}|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=April 5, 2012}} !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Walk It Out"
|rowspan="2"|2006 | 10 || 2 || 2 |
|rowspan="3"|Beat'n Down Yo Block! |
| scope="row"|"2 Step"
| 24 || 9 || 4 | |
| scope="row"|"Hit the Dance Floor" (featuring Baby D) | 2007 | — || 84 || — | |
| scope="row"|"Show Out"
| 2008 | — || 46 || 17 | |rowspan="1"|2econd Season |
| scope="row"|Get Em Up
| 2012 | — || — || — | |rowspan="5"|Non-album singles |
| scope="row"|Trap it Out
|rowspan="2"| 2013 | — || — || — | |
| scope="row"|Have a Toast (feat. Louis Rocc)
| — || — || — | |
| scope="row"|Wait
| 2014 | — || — || — | |
| scope="row"|Alive (feat. Erica Leigh) with Another Monster
| 2015 | — || — || — | |
| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |
== As featured performer ==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
| style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|US R&B |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Video"{{cite web|title=R&R: Going For Adds: Urban (Week Of June 11, 2009)|url=http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=06/11/2007&Format=5|publisher=Radio & Records|access-date=July 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624134133/http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=06%2F11%2F2007&Format=5|archive-date=June 24, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} (Johntá Austin featuring Unk) |rowspan="2"|2007 | — |rowspan="2"|Non-album singles |
| scope="row"|"Rock On (Do the Rockman)" (Montana featuring Unk) | 64 |
| scope="row"|"I'd Rather" (Three 6 Mafia featuring Unk) | 2008 | 98 |
| colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name| 12949977}}
{{authority control}}
Category:21st-century African-American musicians
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:20th-century American male rappers
Category:MNRK Music Group artists