Cherise Alexandria Gary, known by her stage name Uniiqu3 (stylized in all caps), is an American DJ, songwriter, and music producer.[2][3]
Uniiqu3 is best known for her work in the Jersey club genre, most notably her 2018 song with TT the Artist "Girls Off the Chain," which was sampled for Chloe Bailey's 2022 debut single, "Have Mercy".[4] She has been dubbed the "Queen of Jersey Club."[5][6]
Gary was raised in Hillside, New Jersey.[12] She first discovered Jersey club as a teenage ballerina at Newark Symphony Hall. DJ Tameil, the founding father of Jersey club, was selling his CDs at a booth nearby, which she would purchase and share with her peers. In time, she noticed the lack of female DJ representation in Newark's club scene, so she learned how to DJ in 2011, and two years later, she began producing.[13]
Career
Starting in 2014, Uniiqu3 released a series of mixtapes.[14][15] Her popularity grew through her 2016 Boiler Room appearance, her 2017 mix for 'Diplo and Friends' radio show on BBC Radio 1XTRA, and with the 2021 release of her Heartbeats EP which contained the viral song "Microdosing", landing on Billboard Magazine's "Best Dance Songs of 2021" list.[16][17] In 2022, she collaborated with Whipped Cream, Big Freedia, and Moore Kismet on the single "Hold Up."[18]
In September 2021, her breakthrough single "Microdosing" was used to soundtrack the Versace x Fendi "Fendaci"[19] catwalk collection.[20] In 2023, Uniiqu3 won a BMI award for her contribution to Chloe Bailey's debut song "Have Mercy".[21] Most recently, she was profiled by PBS in a short documentary on the origins, rise to prominence, and ongoing contributions Jersey club artists are making to global urban music and dance cultures.[22][23]
In 2019, Uniiqu3 began the ongoing PBNJ party series bringing together club artists from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Jersey.[24] Uniiqu3 performed as supporting act on the East Coast leg of Tinashe's BB/Ang3l tour, taking place in 2024.
