Underground Kingz

UGK

Released

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

Suggestions
Summertime ‘06 cover

Summertime ‘06

Vince Staples
Manger on McNichols cover

Manger on McNichols

Boldy James, Sterling Toles
Alfredo cover

Alfredo

The Alchemist, Freddie Gibbs
Thugs Are Us cover

Thugs Are Us

Trick Daddy
Str8 Killa cover

Str8 Killa

Freddie Gibbs
Deliverance cover

Deliverance

Bubba Sparxxx
Ready to Die cover

Ready to Die

The Notorious B.I.G.
The Listening cover

The Listening

Little Brother