UGK went out on top, though it was unintentional. Pimp C had been in prison from 2002 to 2005, and when he came out, the duo reunited to make their grandest statement to date: a more than two-hour double CD studded with guests who shared — or could at least get with —their soulful, slow-rolling Southern aesthetic, from Andre 3000 of Outkast to Scarface and Willie D of the Geto Boys, as well as a clutch of East Coast legends (Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap, Talib Kweli) and some genuine surprises (Dizzee Rascal?). There’s a lot of material to sift through here, but the album has a consistency and coherence that’s almost shocking, and any time you think you’ve picked out a track that could be deleted, there’s a strong argument for keeping it.

– Phil Freeman