They hail from the West Side, one by way of Cabrini-Green.
Their first hit — a fast-paced but soulful-sounding song — celebrates footworkin’, an underground blend of rapid-fire tap dancing and tribal moves popular on the South and West Sides and featured in the choreography for Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control” video.
They punctuate statements with the colloquial “you dig”(pronounced: yoooo de-yig).
Dude ‘N Nem, the bejeweled-shades-rocking duo behind local urban radio hit “Watch My Feet,” say they “represent the Chi” from the way they speak to their sound. Comprised of Zimbalist “Trygic” Griffin and Prentiss “Upmost” Harris, Dude ‘N Nem said they have no plans to leave the city despite inking a deal with major label TVT Records, home to the Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull.
“We are bringing the industry a sound they heard before, but it’s evolved,” Upmost, 24, explained, discussing “Watch My Feet” during an exclusive interview in the RedEye newsroom last week. The group officially formed last year after years of running with the same rhyme crew as students at Sullivan High School on the North Side, Trygic said. They have recorded at least 100 songs, they said, the first of which is almost unavoidable on local radio stations Power 92 (92.3-FM) and WGCI (107.5-FM).
“The song has gotten a very good response in the clubs and in the streets,” said Barbara McDowell, Power 92’s music director. “Request-wise, it reached deep into our top five, and we’re really excited about an upcoming remix of it.”
Though the rap industry seems more accepting of Chicago artists such as Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco, Upmost said it’s still sleeping on the city’s signature sound — and it’s time for a wake-up call. “Watch My Feet” is that call, he said.
” ‘Watch my feet’ can mean ‘Watch how fast I’m moving when I’m dancing,’ but it’s not limited to that. It also means ‘watch my progress,’ or ‘watch what I’m building,’ ” said Upmost, who spent part of his childhood in Cabrini-Green before moving to the West Side.
He and Trygic are building a bridge back to the “sniper style,” or superfast flow, over blues-infused beats that defined Chicago during the ’90s, they said.
“I got into that particular sound when I first heard PsychoDrama,” said Trygic, 23. “It caught my attention, and along the way, I picked up that style, fused it with styles like Slick Rick’s and added my own touch.”
“It was a dark music, a dark sound,” Upmost interjected.
Now, it’s all but extinct, according to Upmost.
“The Chicago scene changed for the worse,” he said, adding that not many artists have stepped into the void after Twista, Crucial Conflict and PsychoDrama established the style. “We didn’t stick with the style. … That’s back when Chicago artists could pack a local arena and had a strong underground following.”
Recapturing that rap distinction and tweaking it for the next generation of rap fans is the goal for Dude ‘N Nem, who have performed locally at WGCI’s Get Out of School Jam, among other shows. Their next gig: a spot on the main stage at the B96 Summer Bash on June 24.
The duo also wants to feature local youths in their performances. Their upcoming “Watch My Feet” video will highlight area footworkin’ dancers, culled from a casting call. They’ll perform their supersped-up moves under the direction of legendary local dancer Cadillac Seville, a.k.a. William Atkins.
“I’m really excited about the video shoot,” Seville, 25, told RedEye. “I think it’s a great song, and I’ve been working with them on choreography for their stage shows. I’ve known them since high school, and it’s good to see them doing their thing.”
Dude ‘N Nem hope to keep the local love flowing by recording an album, tentatively titled “Tinted Incubators,” in Chicago recording studios.
“We’ve got a great vibe going, and we’re working with good people,” Trygic said.
“Hey, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” Upmost added.
You dig?
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kkyles@tribune.com
