UGK "Underground Kingz": Best Southern Album This Year?

Bun-B and a fresh out of prison Pimp C return with their 5th album "Underground Kingz." Many of those who are in the know about UGK are of the presumption that the group has never slacked after their much talked about relic "Ridin' Dirty," to which every rapper from Jay-Z to many others have sung its praises. Well, this time around they are back with a 2 disc set, 13 tracks a piece on each disc. And surprisingly enough, it ranks as possibly the best double disc rap has seen to this day.

Whereas 2pac, Biggie, Jay-Z and Nas fumbled by going between really horrendous to really awesome, UGK remains consistent on each song, regardless of the subject matter that reigns on this 2 disc set. Fresh out of his stint of prison, Pimp C unleashes the wonderful charm that made us love him on "Pocket Full Of Stones," and his cadence still reigns supreme. Meanwhile on this disc, Bun B remains intact, his swagger and his knack for vocabulary very much showing why he's very much has the threshold of the South by the waist and holding it as if it were his birthright.

However, that all changes on the duo's first single, "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)." OutKast lends a helping hand and blasts it off into outer space with Andre 3000's welcome back to rap streak, but rest assured the people involved with the song make it something to welcome new listeners as well as ensure the fans of yore that the group has not lost their touch. DJ Paul & Juicy J produce the track, and have chosen to go with what made "Stay Fly" such a hit, a blood curdling soul sample gone entertainingly crunk awry, while all four people, from Andre 3000 down to Big Boi's finishing and somewhat screwed and chopped verse. In addition, there's many other tracks, like the car tribute "Chrome Plated Woman."

Their usage of guest spots are very nicely done on this release as well. Scarface and Raheem Devaughn croon on the hook lines, while such guests from old school legends Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane, to others such as Talib Kweli, Dizzee Rascal, Rick Ross, Slim Thug, and many others. Overall, what a victorious welcome back to the game, and not only that, but also a vindication so sweet for Pimp C who recently was released from prison. Keep up the good work fellas.

Ay Bay Bay: A Cultural Movement?

Shrevport rapper Hurricane Chris has recruited a star-studded team of artists from various regions for the remix to his hit single "A Bay Bay."



The new version of the track features cameos from The Game (Compton, CA), Baby (New Orleans), E-40 (Vallejo, CA), Jadakiss (Yonkers, NY), Lil Boosie, (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Pitbull (Miami, Florida), Lil Jon (Atlanta) and new comer Angie Locc, also of Shrevport.



According to Hurricane Chris, the remix’s diverse roster falls in line with the direction his Shreveport -based genre of Hip-Hop titled "Ratchet music" is expanding towards.



"All of the artists featured on the remix were people I've wanted to work with for a long time," Hurricane Chris said. "With out hesitation, they all came through to the to the shoot and that was when I knew 'A Bay Bay' and Ratchet City was more then what's hot right now, but a cultural movement for Hip-Hop music."

Ratchet music, for those who are unfamiliar, is the New Orleans take on hyphy or crunk that is currently jamming airwaves across the nation. Now it's highly interesting. When my brother Omar first revealed the song to me, he just identified the artist as Hurricane. I thought he was talking about the former Beastie Boys DJ, Hurricane. My brother, also holds a soft spot in his heart for any rap coming out of the south.

I too have a soft spot and guilty pleasures bin of Southern hip hop. I enjoy a bit of Lil' Jon in the spare doings (don't front, you know you listen to him), and I must say that as far as the New Orleans generation is concerned, Lil' Wayne does warrant an occasional listen. But lately, there has been this kind of increase of the New Orleans rapper, first with Baby Boy Da Prince and his rather relaxed hit, "This Is The Way I Live" which has caught a ton of attention for the post-Hurricane Katrina generation. Baby Boy Da Prince happens to have the most dramatic of stories, having written his entire album "Across The Water" in a FEMA trailer.

Hurricane Chris however, has a slick story for how the song's idea for "Ay Bay Bay" came about:

The song pays homage to DJ Hollyhood Bay Bay, who spins records at KoKo Pellis, a club in Shreveport, La. The crowd would chant "Hey, Bay Bay, hey, Bay Bay" whenever he'd enter the club, and it soon became part of the local lexicon.

Pretty interesting story. But I'm glad to see this new breed of south creeping up through the cracks, and also a great thing to see some new blood in New Orleans changing the game for folks down there.