The undeniable hit off Underground Kingz, "International Players Anthem (Remix)," has blossomed into one of the most discussed records in recent years. UGK and Outkast (arguably the two biggest duos in rap) offer takes on love and relationships over a shifting beat, courtesy of Three 6 Mafia. Journalists, bloggers and fans have proclaimed Andre 3000's verse the best of the year. The song is massive, powerful enough to transcend an album and exist in its own world.
The attention lavished on "International Players Anthem" highlights the history and credibility that allow UGK to corral some of the best talents in hip-hop. Full of remarkably diverse guests, Underground Kingz bounces through 34 tracks, tackles a range of subjects, and gives credence to the pairs self proclaimed position. The guests, again, are testament to UGK's status; they showcase a rare ability to meaningfully interact with a range of voices. Mixing legends (Big Daddy Kane and G Rap), backpack heroes (Talib), and international talent, (Dizzee Rascal) the Port Arthur boys never once sound out of place. Their attempts to broaden the appeal of the album perfectly blend with what they already do and where they want to go.
With a stripped, minimalist funk provided by Averexx, "The Game Belongs To Me" solidifies UGK's street corner appeal. Pimp C translates traditional pimping for the internet, set positing internet pornography as the "easiest money you can get / it's the American dream." In this brief burst, the clichéd notion of "hustling" takes on a complexity beyond the rather lame selling cds: selling crack analogy. If "The Game Belongs to Me," wasn't enough to capture the masses as a single, it certainly stands out as one of the more accomplished songs on the set.
"Like That," might be the best explicitly sexual song since UGK's own "I'm So Bad." In its original version, produced by Lil Jon, the track works around a repetitive, chanted chorus and is paced by a rousing bass line. The remix with Below and Pimp C on the boards, slows the proceedings down, and the result is just as entertaining as the original. The topic is perfect for Pimp C, a rapper who proves on this album that simple excellence in spitting always outweighs forced content when it comes to listener enjoyment. With Too Short on "Life Is 2009," UGK drops a simple old school flow relaying their history in rap. Thanks to Scareface's backing, the trio of expert rhyme slingers build off their longevity, offer advice, and best of all have a lot of fun doing it.
Throughout Underground Kingz, Bun B adds continued quality to his remarkable output. With only one minor misstep, an awkward attempt to outline the history of cocaine use on "Cocaine," Bun commands each track with veteran confidence. Alongside Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap on "Next Up," Bun spits validated braggadocio that should erase any doubts of his position among the genres best. The only downfall of this excellent posse track is Marly Marl's rather uninspired choice of break -- who among us isn't waiting for crashing 40s and ODB after hearing the initial bars?
While Bun may have offered his best verse of this year to another project (the fantastic "Where da G's" off Dizzee's Maths and English), he does more as a result of unyielding support for the artists he respects than in overlooking his own product. Calculated moves rarely come off as seamlessly as when done by Pimp and Bun, and here is a simple lesson in the adage nothing lost, nothing gained. With only two fast forward tracks, "Take the Hood Back" and "Hit The Block," Underground Kingz gives listeners more than enough to satisfy the gap between UGK albums. When all is said and done, it should stand as one of the more accomplished albums of 2007.
Beyond Hip-Hop Shopping Guide: August 2008 Here's our August installment of the shopping guide for all your avid BallerStatus.com visitors who love the newest ... full story
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