// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did UTP go to therapy? It had twisted pair issues.

UTP
Also known as	UTP Playas, Uptown Project
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Southern hip-hop gangsta rap
Years active	2002–2007
Labels	UTP Rap-A-Lot
Past members	Juvenile Young Buck Wacko Skip Corey Cee

UTP (short for Uptown Project) were an American hip-hop group composed of Southern rappers Juvenile, Young Buck, Wacko, Skip, and Corey Cee.

The group was formed by Juvenile after he left Cash Money Records in 2001 and originally consisted of Juvenile, Wacko, Skip, Corey Cee, and Young Buck. The group's first release was The Compilation, which was released through Orpheus Records on October 8, 2002. The album featured performances by Young Buck, Soulja Slim, Juvenile, Wacko, Skip and Corey Cee both as a group or by themselves. A second compilation titled Street Stories was made in 2003. During the early stages of his career, 50 Cent worked with Young Buck, Skip, and Wacko on multiple songs for his mixtapes including 50 Cent Is the Future. Young Buck would subsequently leave UTP to join 50 Cent's G-Unit. Corey Cee later left the group.

The group then signed a joint deal with Rap-A-Lot and Asylum in 2003 and began work on their debut album. UTP's debut LP, The Beginning of the End was released on May 18, 2004. The album spawned the hit single "Nolia Clap", which peaked at 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the group's only top 40 hit. The group followed the LP up with a seven-song EP also titled Nolia Clap that was released later in the year and it peaked at 65 on the R&B chart. Both Wacko and Skip would appear on Juvenile's 2006 album, Reality Check. Wacko and Skip returned as duo in 2007 without Juvenile and released UTP's second full-length LP Back Like We Left Something on July 24, 2007, and it peaked at 52 on the Billboard R&B chart.

Damon Mentrell "Wacko" Grison died August 27, 2026 at the age of 46.

Discography

Year	Title	Chart positions
		U.S.	U.S. R&B
2002	The Compilation Released: October 8, 2002 Label: Orpheus	–	60
2004	The Beginning of the End Released: May 18, 2004 Label: Rap-A-Lot / Asylum	122	17
2004	Nolia Clap Released: November 23, 2004 Label: Rap-A-Lot / Asylum	–	65
2007	Back Like We Left Something Released: July 24, 2007 Label: Rap-A-Lot / Asylum	–	52