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
The Hybrid cover

The Hybrid

Danny Brown
Soul Food cover

Soul Food

Goodie Mob
Da Real World cover

Da Real World

Missy Elliott
World Party cover

World Party

Goodie Mob
Return of the Mac cover

Return of the Mac

Prodigy, The Alchemist
BlaQKout cover

BlaQKout

DJ Quik, Kurupt
I'm Up cover

I'm Up

Young Thug
Summertime ‘06 cover

Summertime ‘06

Vince Staples
Cypress Hill cover

Cypress Hill

Cypress Hill
Miami Bass Express cover

Miami Bass Express

Various Artists