Our Journey
Lenny Diko founded UIYB Records in 2002 and it quickly became one of the busiest promotions and underground hip hop labels in Canada. Promoting shows and releasing records for it’s own artists it put on over 150 shows between 2004 and 2008 and released over 10 independent albums and singles. The label worked with artists from both the US and Canada, and eventually branched out to work with artists in Austria, Germany and Russia before pausing operations in 2010.
2002
Lenny Diko founds UIYB Records in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
2003
Lenny Diko partners with local artist Aria Silenced and signs her to label
2004
Releases Aria Silence’s debut album Refuge for Disappearing Milkmen
2005
Releases Lenny Diko’s debut album Five to Nine
2005
Holds Aria Silenced’s album release party at the Waldorf Pub
2006
Hosts shows with LuckyIam.PSC from the Living Legends Crew in Vancouver BC
2006
Forms UIYB Collective of over 20 artists in Vancouver including Kid Lithium, Bizoid, Fresh Logic, RC Tha Hazard, Similar Differences, Neato The Filthy Varmit, DJ Con and Lex.
2006
Hosts and promotes shows with Jedi Mind Tricks, Classified, Swollen Members, Emotionz, POS, Dirty Crew, DJ Moves, DJ Neoteric, Live Manikins, the Sandpeople and more.
2006
Hosts shows with Josh Martinez & DJ Maker
2006
Aria Silenced Tours across United States supporting album release
2006
Releases Violative Cause’ first album “Just Movement” with production from Moka Only, Dj Redworm, DJ Con.
2006
Starts Tuesday night open mic night at the Columbia Hotel in the Downtown Eastside Vancouver
2006
Releases Violative Cause debut album
2007
Violative Cause tours Europe w Black Wallstreet Austria
2007
Releases Violative Cause second album “The World Is Ours”
2008
Tours Moka Only with over 10 shows in British Columbia Canada
2008
Signs digital distribution deal with Samsung Asia
2008
Releases Solomon Childs (Wu Tang Killa Beez) single
2008
Starts Sunday night open mic night at the Cobalt in Vancouver British Columbia
2008
becomes partnered official booking agent for J-Kwon
2009
Hosts show with Karl Wolf, DL Incognito, Belly, Classified, Danny Fernandes, Illa J,
2010
Pauses
2021
Back again, for the very 10th time
2022
UIYB Re-releases Lenny Diko’s LP “I Hate Sunday Mornings”
2022
UIYB releases Solomon Childs (Wu Tang Killa Beez) EP “King Kong of New York – The Secret Files”