Bun B and Pimp C are two of Texas rap's biggest names. When they blessed the beat together as UGK, they were unstoppable.
Formed in 1987, the Underground Kings released six LPs of original music along with many more EPs, mixtapes, and big-time features, including spots on Jay Z's "Big Pimpin'" and Three 6 Mafia's "Sippin' on Some Syrup."
Pimp C was incarcerated in 2002, which halted the duo's output until 2005 when he was released. They put out Underground Kingz in 2007, their most commercially successful release. Pimp C tragically passed just a few months after the release of that record, but left behind enough material for Bun B and company to piece together UGK 4 Life in 2009.
Today we're throwin' it back to one of Texas' greatest contributions to rap music: UGK. From the old school sounds, to the features, to the later stuff, there is no shortage of fire material from these dudes. It was hard to limit the list to 10, but we went for variety to give you an idea of the duo's depth.
UGK - Tell Me Something
Off their debut 1992 EP, The Southern Way, "Tell Me Something Good" is a nice glimpse into the early UGK steeze. With a couple of notable samples from The Isley Brothers and Rufus & Chaka Khan, respectively, the track is a quintessential throwback.
UGK - Pocket Full of Stones
In the early 90s, fat bass was not exactly a commonplace element to music. UGK brought the low end to the people with their debut full-length Too Hard to Swallow.
UGK - Front, Back & Side To Side
It's summertime, right? Do you have a vehicle? Turn this one all the way up, roll the windows all the way down, and ride real slow to this one...
UGK - One Day
There's a softer, more soulful side to Houston rap that is often overlooked. UGK get a little emotional on this one, but still keep it tough though.
UGK - Diamonds & Wood
Slow, funky, bass-heavy, and genius. "Diamonds & Wood" is a landmark record for the Texas style, with a slurred-up hook that says, "I'm bangin screw, nigga diamonds up against that wood."
Scarface ft UGK - They Down With Us
Scarface's 2000 album Last of a Dying Breed is a landmark Texas rap album, so of course it needed a UGK feature. The three together are an unstoppable force, as displayed on this one.
Jay Z ft UGK - Big Pimpin'
You can't really have a throwback article dedicated to UGK without including this cut. The NY/TX connect produced an ultimate TBT cut on "Big Pimpin'."
Three 6 Mafia ft UGK - Sippin' on Some Syrup
It's kind of sad to include a cut like this one, given Pimp C's death via lean. It was a landmark track, nevertheless, when the Triple 6 met up with our Texan subjects.
UGK - Swishas and Dosha
RIP Pimp C. He absolutely wrecked this one...
"I got candy in my cup, candy in my gar
Candy on my wrist, candy on my car
Smokin on this chocolate, my neck be sittin so sparkling
Man I feel so awkward-ward when I ain't got no barre to sip
I keep a whole sip , a whole clip
In case these pussy niggas wanna trip
Fly high boy, high fly boy
'Fore I fly high, lookin at them jackers in their eye
I remember when a rapper was a go getta
Now all these rappers is some ho niggas
Hide behind the guards at the show nigga
Don't want no pussy, homosexual, on the low nigga
That's y'all, I from the old school
Like MJG and Ball, like Devin the Dude
I know Short Dog, the real Short Dog
Who see me drapped and dipped, stepped out the whip on Sunset Strip"
UGK ft Outkast - Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)
If UGK came anywhere close to making pop music, it was with this one, purely because everybody loves it. You can almost play this song around your grandparents (almost, depending on how cool they are). Everyone involved came correct on an absolutely precious beat, birthing one of the great hip hop tracks of its time.