4Life, an end to a legacy

The Underground Kingz hailing from Port Arthur, Texas have been a ubiquitous presence in Texas rap music since their debut album "Too Hard To Swallow" was released in 1992, when group members Pimp C (Chad Butler) and Bun B (Bernard Freeman) were just teenagers.

Unfortunately, with the unexpected death of Butler in December of 2007 Bun B decided to release "UGK 4 Life" (officially released on March 31, 2009) as the conclusion to UGK's prolific and influential tenure in the rap world.

Even though UGK has released eight full length albums under Jive's banner and one album independently, it feels like just a couple of years ago I was flipping over their debut L.P. in my Walkman and the plastic wrapping from that first album,"Too Hard To Swallow," is still sitting in my mother's waste basket in Houston.

Classic soul godfather Ronald Isley, Dungeon Family crooner Sleepy Brown, and Hyphy movement founder and Bay Area institution E-40 are just a few of the guest artists appearing on the album.

With the sudden and untimely death of Butler, the album feels like a eulogy, but by no means a downer. The candid country rap and patented blues influenced production that fans of Pimp C have come to covet is definitely present on the handful of tracks that Pimp C was able to produce before he left us. The intelligent word play and succinct delivery of Bun B has become a science at this point in his career, and the content he chooses has aggrandized intelligently.

Albeit,the absence of Pimp C's production on almost three quarters of the album is definitely felt, Corey Mo and Steve Below did a great job trying to mimic the gritty soulful beats that Butler has consistently been putting out since "Too Hard To Swallow's" release, a innovative style that placed UGK on a different tier above most southern rap groups.

UGK created a new breed of country rap infused with blues and soul that influenced every gangster rap outfit in the south since the mid nineties. UGK made Port Arthur the new Delta, and neighboring Houston was akin to Chicago, the catalyst to allow their unique sound to reach a broader audience.

Pimp C's production on the two interludes, tracks seven and 13, are classic. Thick beats and raw words of wisdom are delivered by Butler on track seven and Freeman on track 13, over the same soporific blues riff.

Track 15, "Da Game Been Good To Me," is a glimpse of what Butler had in store for UGK fans. It still has the same driving drum beats and adds an acoustic guitar, blended with an electrified Dick Dale style riff over a solid hook that has come to epitomize UGK's sound. If you are unfamiliar with UGK's music, this is a great album to pick up and work your way backwards.

UGK is an institution. Many people grew up with their music, and it's hard to see them end on such a tragic note. All in all, "UGK 4 Life" does their legacy justice as Bun B wouldn't have it any other way, and I highly recommend fans of rap music to cop it.

Bun B wraps up the album in classic UGK fashion; "… we are the Underground Kingz, in case you aint know. I'll see you on the slab baby. Chunk a deuce. Holla at your boys."