LA Times: Bun B-II Trill Review
No, the three and a half (out of four) stars that I tossed to II Trill does not mean that I have resolved to only rock 22 inch rims and sip syrup in my candy-colored Caddy. Nor does it mean this blog is about to turn into a Paul Wall, Lil Flip or Mike Jones tribute page (Remind me who is Mike Jones again?). But Bun B never deserved to be lumped in with the rest of those amateurs in the late great imagined 2005 Houston takeover, where the National Association of Critics Who Discovered Rap in 2002 tried to use the dubious logic of “B.b.but they’re from Houston,” to ride for a bunch of no-talent mealy-mouthed MC’s.
Despite the mixed reviews its drawn, II Trill is a very good record. In my opinion, it’s more consistently enjoyable and focused than both Underground Kingz and the first Trill. Of course, any album with song titles that include “Swang On ‘Em” and “That’s Gangsta” is liable to lapse into generic gangsterisms. But give Bun credit for mostly managing to transcend those tropes. Of course, like most rap records, it’s overly long, to say nothing of “Just be Good to Me,” Bun’s horrible collabo with Mya, that to be kind is no “Movin’ On.” Still, on a trillness scale (eerily similar to the Pitchfork scale), I’d give it an 8.2.
Download:
MP3: Bun B ft. Lupe Fiasco-”Swang On ‘Em” (Removed due to extremely obnoxious label request)
MP3: Bun B ft. Pimp C & Chamillionaire-”Underground Thang” (Removed due to extremely obnoxious label request
Stumble It!
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:55 am
hey, now. you leave the NACDR 2002 alone! they’re the leading voices in written rap music criticism!
but a lot of them put wu-tang on that list you and joey did, so that they could look cool in front of you guys. haha.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:54 am
let’s be honest, “Still Tippin’” and “Back Then” > this album
really though, that UGK album had a lot of great beats, but this album sounds like the type of second-rate Southern production people’d write off as garbage if someone other than Bun was rapping over it. i’m not big on dude as a rapper either, he’s got a kinda cool voice, but his flow really ain’t all that.
“Damn I’m Cold’s” nice though. not saying that just cuz Weezy’s on it, beat’s sick.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 am
Yeah, man, if only someone had taken a knife to “Good II Me,” “If It Was Up II Me” and “Angel in the Sky,” this would have been an infinitely better album.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Jeff, 3.5 stars? I’m just not hearing it. Bun’s rapping is right, but the production is so generic and boring. Co-sign Trey’s second paragraph.
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I hope whatever label got you to take those songs down reads this: i was considering looking into this CD if the tracks above were good. Now, I don’t care and I am fine with that.
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
It was Warner/Asylum and I highly encourage you and everyone else not to give them any money considering they wouldn’t even respond to my e-mails asking why every blog on earth is allowed to post “Swang on Em” one week and then the next I’m getting C&D letters.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Trey stone u dumb ass nigga and all u punk ass pussys talking shit u really need to know your history on hip hop and rap. Ugk been in the game 4 a min and never got a chance to do it big cuz of jive records. This album does not say anything about sippin or any thing like that. He talks about real life shit then his other album trill he’s a grown ass man and can do what he wants all yall boys need to quit playing with your self go listen to t pain or some thing laffy taffy do what ever but don’t knock real music buble gum rap. Cuz a nigga aint fucken with soljah boy u guys are fags. Bun B keep doing your thang UGK 4 life RIP PIMP C….. o yeah I give this album a 10 fuck u
July 13th, 2008 at 11:47 am
a yo 303mid I feel ya dog these cats know nothing about real southern music and it frustrates me that they would even try to listen to it… This album is a true standpoint of where this grown ass gangstarapper is at in his life and carrer… I mean we all expected his production to be down since were so used to hearing PIMP C’s beats with Buns voice… But real Talk I think this Album deserves about a 8.5 not just cuz I live so close to P.A but cuz the album is all true…. And please listen to the southern music right as I would listen your type and stop fabricating things about our movement