The Undergroud King is Back on His Throne (R.I.P. Pimp C)

It's been 5 years since Bun B's last album, but now the solo UGK member is back with his fifth album, "Return of The Trill." Things are maybe not the same down in the south since the death of Pimp C, who was the other half of UGK, but Bun B made sure that his legacy and the city of Houston gets his recognition. This time, Bun B brought some friends with him, such as, T.I., Big K.R.I.T., Slim Thug, Lil Keke, 8Ball & MJG, Lil' Wayne, Run the Jewels and others.

The album starts with the song, "Trill Over Everything" featuring Killa Kyleon. When Bun starts rapping his verse, I feel like he just picked me up from the airport in Houston and he's giving me a guided tour and he's explaining to me how things goes down in Houston and how to keep it Trill. The instrumental had that Houston vibe and Bun B sounded like he was the mayor of Port Arthur, Texas. The following track is "Recognize" featuring T.I. and Big K.R.I.T. I felt that the song was a message to the young rappers from the south to acknowledge who came before them, as Bun B being part of UGK with Pimp C since 1987. Bun B's flow and punchline delivery was good and unique, with Big K.R.I.T. on the hook I don't need to say more. T.I. had the last verse on the song where he raps about how White America has corrupted the streets, and let's not forget when T.I. came into the rap game in 2001, he self-proclaimed himself the King of The South but on the song he claims that he never acted like there weren't no Kings before him like Pimp C and Bun B, and delivers a strong message to the youngsters; Never ever disrespected the predecessor. The third track "KnoWhatImSayin", is another song about how it goes down in Houston. This time Bun is featured with other Houston veterans, Slim Thug the Boss and Lil Keke aka Don Ke. Another banging instrumental and all 3 Houston rappers did an amazing job on the track. "Outta Season" is again featuring Big K.R.IT. Again, Bun B continues to bring us that Houston and Trill vibe, and Big K.R.I.T. sounded just like Pimp C on the hook, well the flow sounded the same. After that, I think Bun B wanted us to stop at his own choir with the song "Traphandz" featuring Yo Gotti and 2 Chainz. Bun B explained how it works in the trap and where it got it's origins from. I wasn't too crazy with Yo Gotti verse and I'm honestly not used to hear 2 Chainz rap because I don't listen to him, but I guess he was ok.

"Blood On The Dash" is a scenario where Bun B raps about being both a citizen from the city and being an officer of the law, and he explains how the decisions can be rough when you're either a black being arrested by an officer, or when you're an officer who arrests a black man. A pretty deep song that explains the current situation in the United States of America regarding the police killing black men. The following song is called "Myself" featuring Run The Jewels. We got away from the Houston vibe, to yet a sick instrumental where all 3 rappers, (Bun B, Killer Mike and EI-P), reflects on their past lives and the choices they had to make for themselves either they were good or bad choices. We're halfway through the album, and we're at the song "Rudeboi" featuring Lil' Wayne. Honestly you can't never go wrong with a Jamaican type of instrumental. Bun B had some good verses, it was hard at the first listen to like his Jamaican accent but he handle himself well with that, but when Lil' Wayne did the same thing, it just ruined the song. Wayne was just off-key. "Hoes From Da Hood" featuring Zed Zilla has a good bass to it and the beat has that signature UGK sample on the hook. "Slow It Down", like the title of the songs says, is a slow downed beat, where it gives you that feeling to drive slow around the city during the night, while smoking an indo. We're back with that Houston vibe with, "Never Going Back". Bun B raps about how he worked too hard to be where he is right now, and that he's never going back to the struggle life he once had in the projects. The song is featured a London rapper named Giggs.

Now if you wanted a UGK track, you kinda got it. "U A Bitch" is featuring a recording of Pimp C, where he talks about to keep it Trill and real to the streets and to your family, if not well U A Bitch. R.I.P to the Pimp. Bun B brought back his longtime friends 8Ball & MJG on the song "Grow Up". The Texan and the Tennessee rappers talks about how you need to stop doing childish and street stuff, and be great and grow up. They explain on the song, even though life can be hard, if you decide to grow up mentally and not with age, you can achieve anything if you put your mind into it. The last song was a stop at the cemetery for a dedication from Bun B to his friend, partner, his other half, his brother, Pimp C.

Overall, this is an album that you can easily listen to. I love how Bun B was himself throughout the whole album and did not use one trap instrumental of the new generation, and he did not force himself to sound like the new age of rappers to stay relevant. Bun B honestly gave us a tour of the city where he came from and he shows how much love he got for Houston.

Grade 4/5

Favorite song : Outta Season

Least favorite song: Rudeboi