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UGK

UGK (Underground Kingz)  Hear it Now

RS: 3.5of 5 Stars Average User Rating: 4.5of 5 Stars

2007

Play View UGK's page on Rhapsody

UGK are as Houston as oil rigs, having helped originate the slow-rolling drawl-and-brawl sound that defines H-town hip-hop, but they were sidelined while their city blew up -- Pimp C, one half of UGK, recently spent four years behind bars for aggravated assault. UGK is one monster comeback album: twenty-six tracks with guest spots from OutKast, Rick Ross and T.I. Pimp C produces most cuts, going heavy on narcotic synth-funk that's sometimes hypnotic and sometimes forgettable, and though both Pimp's deep drawl and Bun's rapid-fire attack make for warm, pleasurable rhymes about girls, guns and especially cars, two discs are about one too many. But several cuts suggest the powerhouse UGK could have been: The wickedly catchy "The Game Belongs to Me" feels like a beautifully stoned cruise on a humid Houston evening, and then there's the exuberant, soul-splashed "Int'l Players Anthem," the best OutKast guest spot since Andre 3000 decided to rap again.

CHRISTIAN HOARD

(Posted: Aug 23, 2007)

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Review 1 of 3

shindogg writes:

4of 5 Stars


damn! demz alotta songs. 29 songs accordin ta rhapsody. could listen 2 all of em cuz it only give 25 listens. some da songs was da cut but a few others had a over-mellow groove. why da hell it gotta be clean wun? i wanted da explicit. dis woulda got 5 stars if it was unedited and had all dope songs.

Sep 6, 2007 00:30:42

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Review 2 of 3

DankChaney writes:

5of 5 Stars


Yeah really how bout givin these dudes some pub with an half decent review, this one sucks. If this cd was about 6 songs shorter it would be one of the best ever to come out of the south, and if you do what I did and mix it onto one CD on Itunes it becomes just that. One thing he was right about was Pimp C's production skills, immaculate as always. To my ears he makes the hardest and most soulful beats out there, and many of them bless this album. Definitely see some deep and reflective lyricism coming out of Pimp C's incarceration, especially on shattered dreams which is an absolute classic. So is 'quit hatin' , "game belongs to me" and "I.P.A" but I would have liked to see Project Pat drop a verse cuz he was the one to first use the sample and he absolutely smashed it. Outkast is way more popular so I can understand the commercial appeal. UGK is more consistent than any other rapper or group from the South, they have never released anything even close to average, all their albums have been nothing less than stellar. Here's anotha one...

Aug 22, 2007 14:07:08

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Review 3 of 3

EZP writes:

5of 5 Stars


Again RS, another total letdown!!!! You're writing for Rolling Stone, not 10th grade English class!!! Hey Christian Hoard, you got Pimp C and Bun B backwards!! Bun B has the deep voice man!!!!!!! Regardless of this useless review, UGK is so true to rap it's ridiculous. 26 tracks!!! Some good, some excellent, with 26, everyone is sure to find a song or two in there. The remake of "Life Is Too Short" featuring Too Short is a great reminder of classic hip hop. The collabo with Outkast on "Int'l Players Anthem" is such damn good song, i crank it everytime! UGK is true rap, from the heart, with a sound that is all their own. Rap with genuine melodic jams combined with great beats. UGK is still as sharp tongued as ever, and if you ask me, they're pissed about all the crap about who's coast sucks and all that. The legendary Willie D from the Ghetto Boys makes a great cameo on the track "Quit Hatin' the South". And what's great about Willie D is his respectful shout out to N.W.A and Public Enemy. You gotta love that. Mainstream rap may be sucking some huge dick, but there are still some rap masters out there that are doing it for the love of rap, not for the love of sellout club music pop bullshit!! LONG LIVE UGK!!!!

Aug 17, 2007 10:56:54

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