UGK

UGK's Underground Kingz album has been in the works since Pimp C got out of jail in 2005 and rejoined his ever-supportive partner Bun B. Things seemed to go sour for the Texan veterans, however, when the release date of their seventh album was repeatedly pushed back and word of a second disc spread (usually the kiss of death).

But thanks to Pimp C's steady hand at the production tiller and the pair's still-crackling verbal chemistry, Underground Kingz is one of the best rap albums of 2007. While they haven't fallen off with their gritty, realist tales, what propels Bun B and Pimp C to classic status here is actually their signs of age. On "Shattered Dreams," "Living This Life," and particularly the exquisite "How Long Can It Last," they wax wistful about the life they've survived. Describing the dealers that have populated many of his raps, Bun B rhymes, "They wish they lived in the 'burbs, wish they didn't have to hang out on corners in low-income housing projects and slang."

Though they're legends themselves these days, UGK pay tribute to their forerunners on tracks with Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and Too $hort. They also include two versions of their soaring single, "International Players Anthem"—a refined one with Andre 3000, and a harder one with Three 6 Mafia. This sort of dual perspective emerges throughout the album: After a paean to pimping with Dizzee Rascal ("Two Type of B"), they give a shout out to strong women with Talib Kweli ("Real Women"). Both songs turn out to be fantastic, offering a conflicted but richer picture. After 20 years in the game, UGK don't have all the answers, just the contradictions they've learned to live with.

—Toby Warner
08.17.07

When UGK member Pimp C was released from prison in late 2005, his anxiousness to get the group back in the game after three years off was obvious. Combine this with his partner Bun B's loyalty to UGK -- he begrudgingly released a great solo album in September of 2005, just to keep the brand going -- and it sure seemed like the late-2006 street date announced for their comeback effort was more likely to be pushed up than pushed back. Then Pimp C released a solo album and the group's promised double CD with too many guest stars to mention was pushed back for the first of many times, which often means "unruly mess." Underground Kingz, the album, is a glorious triumph over all these challenges that earns its two-disc sprawl, and while it can't turn back time, the missed street dates were a small price to pay for something so solid. The guest list is a case of "real recognize real" and UGK themselves have lost none of their skills, with Bun B being the stone cold soldier he always was while the Pimp stirs it up verbally and doubles as the main, hook-loving producer of the album. He shares duties with the legendary Scarface (three tracks including the highlight "Candy"), Jazze Pha (the surprising, minimal success "Stop-n-Go"), plus Juicy J and DJ Paul, who craft a soulful backing track that's as big and grand as the UGK/OutKast collabo it supports. Almost stealing the show is Averexx, who gives "The Game Belongs to Me" a proper slide, although it's hard to go wrong with a chorus as good as "I got Bobby by the pound/Whitney by the key/DJ Screw by the gallon/B*tch the game belongs to me." Now Pimp C used a Bobby and Whitney metaphor on his solo album and a couple remixes of "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" could be considered borderline filler, but the double-disc ride doesn't feel redundant till the songs read "bonus track." Strategically dropping the hard street tracks among the club numbers helps, as do a couple steps outside the duo's comfort zone, the most notable being "Two Type of B******," featuring U.K. garage rapper Dizzee Rascal. At the center of this is all is the undeniable chemistry between Pimp C and Bun B. Both strong on their own, there's that certain something when they get together, a something complementary and extraordinary. Time to stop worrying if the reunited UGK will be nearly as good as they were -- save 1996's Ridin' Dirty, they're better -- and time to start wondering how they'll top this one. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide