With “Chamillitarymayne” coming out with the last of his mixtape series, Mixtape Messiah 7, I figured now was as good a time as any to start a new column…or at least write this article. I plan on doing this and hopefully the staff will get involved and do a few of their own because let’s be honest, we don’t always get it right the first time…even though I think we do more times than not. Sure, we could just change the score but sometimes, we may want to talk about it. So let’s get into this.

My rating on Chamillionaire’s Ultimate Victory back on September 18, 2007 was 1.5 / 5. I can’t really openly say that I’d change that grade based on aging because hey, I haven’t played that album since that review posted. I have, since that date, listened to some of his mixtapes in the series as well as have written MANY more reviews (I think that may have been one of my first reviews). I can freely say that this was not a shining moment of me being objective. I don’t dig dude’s style or delivery at all, I think that his music is kinda run of the mill and all that detracts from what is some decent wordplay and pretty fly concepts as an approach to the game. That said, it’s hard to grade dude. I’ve listened to his last mixtape and it’s the same guise. Good/dope concepts, nice wordplay, terrible delivery and hooks, and mediocre beats. I just can’t get into dude, pause.

So the questions comes, is his music BAD or do I just dislike it? I can say that Cham, even on his latest mixtape, doesn’t get any more spins from me personally. I can respect him for having his lane, and doing his thing, but this is not my kind of music. Yeah yeah nigga, but is it BAD music? Did UV really deserve a 1.5? I think if I were reviewing that long ass album today, I’d probably grade it higher than that because I’ve better learned how to be more impartial and separate my opinion from the reviews. Let’s not go crazy, I don’t feel like that album would get a 4 or no shit like that, but a 2.5 (from what I can remember) may be applicable. I can appreciate his message, I just don’t like his methods.

I said this before, but I’ll say it again: If I had to choose my favorite rapper out of Houston, it’s a good chance it might be Slim Thug. No disrespect to Scarface, Bun-B, or Pimp C (All are legends; Two are also technically from Port Arthur, Texas). Didn’t his verse & hook help lead the way for H-Town on “Still Tippin” (A song that basically introduced the rest of the country to Houston Hip-Hop). Maybe it’s that I feel that Slim Thug never really got the shine he deserved. In 2005 when Houston Hip-Hop was really booming, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, & Slim Thug were all at the forefront and all released albums. The only one out of the group to not receive a Platinum plaque was Slim. While Slim Thug’s first album Already Platinum did eventually go Gold, the album’s sound didn’t exactly scream Houston and was heavily produced by The Neptunes (Well, he was on their label, Star Trak). After releasing two albums with his crew Boss Hogg Outlawz in the past few years, Slim Thug is finally back with his new album Boss Of All Bosses.

1. Boss Of All Bosses
Produced by Terry “T.A.” Allen
Slim Thug starts the album over a grand sounding intro. He goes in about such things as people stealing his style, his grind, and how he’s gonna keep talking about his cars. Thugga’s voice and delivery is what gets him over and it shows here. He had the whole “boss” thing wrapped up until Ricky Ross came on the scene. Damn you Ross.

2. I’m Back
Featuring Devin The Dude; Produced by Mr. Lee
As soon as I hear this song I shake my head. It’s not really Slim Thug’s or Mr. Lee’s fault. This song is not bad at all; it’s actually good. It’s just that I already heard the original version produced by Dr. Dre and it’s way better than the one here. This reminds me of what happened to Thugga on “I AInt Heard Of That” (Where the original version featured Jay-Z). The song is basically Slim Thug’s reintroduction into the game with another one of my Houston favorites Devin The Dude. (Shout out to Pitbull in the forums)

3. I Run
Featuring YelaWolf; Produced by Jim Jonsin & J.R. Rotem
This was the first single off the album and personally I would’ve gone with another choice. I’m not feeling The Flock Of Seagulls sample. It’s does make me think about Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. I guess that’s cool.

4. Show Me Love
Featuring & Produced by Mannie Fresh
I haven’t been feeling Mannie Fresh’s most recent productions, but I didn’t mind this one at all. By the title you should already know the subject matter: showing off & flossing. This is Slim Thug in his element. Mix that with Fresh delivering the hook over party ready beat and you have a success.

5. Smile
Produced by Jim Jonsin
Jim Jonsin returns with his second production off this album with better results. Even though Slim basically talks about haters and how their women want him, the beat really gets this song over. It wouldn’t surprise me if this turns out to be the second single.

6. Top Drop
Featuring Paul Wall; Produced by Ke’Noe
Slim Thug keeps a Houston tradition and makes a song about his car (Complete with a Screwed Up hook). Producer Ke’Noe gives Thugga a good track that plays well with the subject matter, but the song as a whole is average. Paul Wall…just does Paul Wall (Is it me or does all of Paul’s verses sound exactly the same).

7. Thug
Produced by Mr. Lee
This song samples Eazy-E’s “Eazy-Duz-It” (Michel’le’s part to be exact: “He once was a thug from around the way”). Slim Thug rhymes about keeping it thug: “Real trill niggas, let me see your hands. I do this for the streets I ain’t trying to make you dance” The beat is well produced and makes a good use of the sample even though I can see how it can annoying.

8. Leanin’
Featuring UGK; Produced by Mr. Lee
Being that Slim Thug is from Houston, its Texas state law that he haves UGK on his album. I’m a UGK fan but for some reason this song struck me as boring. Its definitely the style of music that done in Houston (Maybe I’m not feeling it because I’m not from there).

9. My Bitch
Produced by Mr. Lee
Here Mr. Lee flips “Faded Pictures” by Case & Joe to good results. Thugga goes over the standards of having a “down ass bitch”. This is certainly not original and clichéd as shit, but over this infectious beat it’s a guilty pleasure.

10. She Like That
Featuring Killa Kyleon; Produce by Mr. Lee
Another song for the ladies huh? The last song was a guilty pleasure but this one is just painful. I think they tried to cover all the rap stereotypes here (Talks of “ice” and a girl liking his style). They even threw in Auto-Tune for good measure. Pass.

11. Associates
Featuring J-Dawg & Z-Ro; Produced by Mr. Lee
Here’s another subject matter that’s on a lot rapper’s albums: friends turning to enemies (back stabbers, snakes, rats, “frenemies”…you get the point). The song really doesn’t do anything noteworthy. J-Dawg sounds a little like Daz and Z-Ro’s trademark singing on the hook fits. And is it just me or do rappers always use electric guitars when talking about this subject. Average track.

12. Hard
Featuring J-Dawg & Scarface; Produced by Bigg Tyme & J-Moses
This song starts out awkward; which is sad because Scarface starts it off. I think it’s how they placed the sample. I also don’t understand why J-Dawg is on back to back songs. I know he’s part of Boss Hogg Outlawz but still. The song deal swith growing up hard and the end results is another average song about this topic.

13. Welcome 2 Houston
Featuring Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Bun B, Paul Wall, Yung Redd, Lil’ Keke, Z-Ro, Mike D, Big Pokey, Rob G, Trae, Lil’ O, & Pimp C; Produced by Mr. Lee
Damn. Now this is way to end an album. Slim Thug puts on for his city to the fullest and gets some of Houston’s finest to lend verses to the song. This makes me want to sip on some purple lean, jump in my candy painted Cadillac, and listen to DJ Screw while crushing down the north side of Houston. Since I don’t do or have any of these things, I guess I can just say I like the song.

Bottom Line:
Even though there were times when I really enjoyed this album, I still can’t give it a 4 Star rating. Some tracks were good while others felt like filler and paint by numbers. The beat were good while Slim Thug has a good delivery and a unique voice but he doesn’t really go further that his usual cars, women, money, & gangsta script. I understand about establishing his sound but you can do that while giving a peek that there’s something more. The win here is that this album is more representative of Slim Thug than his first album Already Platinum and I’m sure this one will make Houston proud.

nappyPicks: “Boss Of All Bosses”, “I’m Back”, “Show Me Love”, “Smile”, “My Bitch”, & “Welcome 2 Houston”

Download: Slim Thug feat. Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Bun B, Paul Wall, Yung Redd, Lil’ Keke, Z-Ro, Mike D, Big Pokey, Rob G, Trae, Lil’ O, & Pimp C – “Welcome 2 Houston”

Bonus: Slim Thug feat. Brisco, Red Cafe, & Maino – “I Run (I-95 remix)”

Bonus: Slim Thug feat. Devin The Dude – “I’m Back” (Orginal Version Produced by Dr. Dre)

Download: Chamillionaire – Mixtape Messiah 5

Taking a break from his recent stint in Hollywood, David Banner releases his fourth major release The Greatest Story Ever Told. Taking three years since his last album, Banner took on worthy causes on while away from the mic. Standing up for Hip-Hop in front of cameras in a time when Hip-Hop was becoming public enemy #1, Banner wasn’t looking for publicity. He was doing was he’s always done, speaking his mind. So do you think the Mississippi native will stop now?

So Long
Produced by Get Cool
Banner starts off the album with a bang by calling our generation a bunch of cowards. DAMN! I’m not mad, because the truth hurts some time. The song is HOT! Is it me or does Banner sound like Nas on this track? It doesn’t matter, the song is bananas!

G.S.E.T Intro
Produced by Warryn Campbell
Yeah, you have an intro as the second track. Awesome.

Suicide Doors
Featuring UGK & Kandi; Produced by David Banner
Sampling one of my favorite songs “Shoulder Lean” and featuring one of my favorite groups, UGK, Banner comes off with a BANGER! The production is top notch, along with a verse from Pimp C (R.I.P.) and his partner in rhyme Bun B, the song is a must hear.

9MM/Speaker
Featuring Lil’ Wayne, Snoop Dogg, & Akon; Produced by Akon
This is the official lead single off the album where you have Weezy making his obligatory appearance along with Snoop and Akon behind the boards. The song is pretty tight; but I get tired of Akon on the hook.

T. I. Speaks (Interlude)
T.I. fills us in on the history of him and Banner.

Get Like Me
Featuring Chris Brown & Yung Joc; Produced by David Banner
The second single off of the album that has summer written all over it. You’ve heard this one before, if you haven’t, turn on BET and watch for about an hour and you will see it.

Shawty Say
Produced by David Banner
This is the supposed to be the third single off the album. Kind of funny that “Lollipop” gets sampled already. But Banner does a good job with the beat and the rhymes fit the beat. I have to say the ladies will love this one when it comes on.

A Girl
Featuring Dre; Produced by Cool & Dre
This song is terrible! SKIP!

Syrup Sipping (Banner Beat Break)
Produced by David Banner
Banner gets on the soapbox and speaks his mind for a little bit.

Hold On
Featuring Marcus; Produced by David Banner
Banner gives us a Pac style of song on this one. Banner just kept it “real” on this one, and it worked.

Cadillac On 22’s Part 2
Produced by David Banner
Banner goes back five years to make a sequel to one of his biggest hits “Cadillac on 22’s.” While he can never outdo the first one, the second one is soulful. I like it. Check it out!

Uncle Swac (Interlude)
Banner on the phone with his uncle recalling the story how he drove 751 miles with a sick baby Banner on a pound of “reefer” and a fifth of Hennessy. Uncle Swac sounds like a fun person to be around.

I Get By
Featuring Carl Thomas; Produced by David Banner
Banner takes an Isaac Hayes song and recreates a nice track on this one. The production and lyrics paint images and memories of the South on the song. CHECK FOR THIS!

Freedom (Interlude)
Really it’s a freestyle by Banner where he touches on some social matters. Banner stays giving it to you raw.

B.A.N (The Love Song)
Produced by  Warryn Campbell
This beat is TIGHT! This is the song dedicated to all those fuckboys out there. This is one that will get heavy play at all the clubs across the South. BANGER!

Fuck You Hoes
Featuring Jim Jones; Produced by Cool & Dre
Cool & Dre save face on this track with an assist from Jim who gives us his signature “Baaalllllin” at least 25 times. It’s a hot song with a nice beat on it.

Marz (Banner Beat Break)
You have Banner just playing around on a beat.

Ball With Me
Featuring Chamillionaire; Produced by Nitti
Nitti assists on this “Rubberband Man” sounding beat featuring Chamillionaire. Interesting choice to put Chamillionaire on this song, not that he doesn’t fit, it just doesn’t seem like his kind of song.

K.O.
Produced by David Banner
Banner will incite riots with this song when it comes on in the club. I bet this will be the background to somebody getting knocked out on YouTube in a little while! If this comes on in the club, GET CLOSE TO THE WALL!

Fly
Featuring Jazze Pha; Produced by David Banner
Damn Banner was doing well until I heard this one…STRAIGHT DUD! I don’t think the SEXY when I hear Jazze Pha crooning. SKIP!

Faith
Produced by David Banner
Banner’s song about some trials and tribulations he went through. You have to like songs where the artist paints a picture. Banner recounts about his travels from Mississippi to New York and back that included his Astro van getting stolen in Alabama.

Wealth (Banner Beat Break)
Produced by David Banner
Banner gives you some Hip-Hop/Jazz just without the rhymes. DIG THIS!

Bottom Line:
David Banner delivered the best album of his career with The Greatest Story Ever Told. This album has two major slips ups and nearly six interludes. Other than that, this is a solid album. This album has something on it for everyone to listen to, which might help out with mainstream sales. This is an album that is worth the money to pick up with it being stacked from top to bottom. David Banner will surprise a lot of people when they listen to this album.

nappyPicks: “So Long”, “Suicide Doors”, “B.A.N (the Love Song)”, & “Faith”

Download: David Banner feat. UGK & Kandi – “Suicide Doors”

From being protégée of OutKast to an independent artist, Killer Mike has always been pretty true to the first part of his name. Killer is how the mic typically sees him. His distinctive flow, cadence, and delivery teamed with his lyrical sharpness have garnered him respect and the ability to rhyme about politics and the grind without losing any love. Let’s check out his latest offering, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II.

Intro
Produced by Brandon Bailey & Brandon “Tec Beatz” Sewell
I commend Mike for what he says in this intro. However, the part about it not being a typical rap album is a matter of opinion these days. That aside, he spits some truth and someone will really use this as motivation to hustle and better their current situation.

10 G’s
Produced by Young Sears
A Biggie sample brings us the hook over some dramatic church organ chords that relent when the rap starts. Killer lets you know where he’s been, both in his lifetime and in the music biz. “Makin’ underground money/Cause I’m on my on my grind dummy/Niggas ask me where I been/Makin ‘ fukin’ money dummy/Used to chop that grass homie/Now I ‘m choppin’ syllables/And them crackas cut me checks and pay me some residuals.” The track would benefit from some deeper and harder bass, but overall, it’s a solid song.

Can You Hear Me
Produced by CKP
More motivational music, “This music is the soundtrack to your success” quips Mike on the intro. The 80’s lend us another sample and some rock infusion here. This shit is well done but it’s been done quite a few times before. The overall production is dope and the song comes across well even with a T-Pain type hook. Mike is up to his frenzy flow tricks as usual, as he reminds us, he stayed on his grind, and now he’s a winner. I’d say this one is average to good.

2 Sides
Featuring Shawty LO; Produced by Wonder Aillo
Song 3 is just as hard as the rest of the catalogue as Mike reps his hood and city and questions those who claim to be from his area…but he’s never seen them. “Well Gotdamn! Must be 2 sides!” is seriously funny even though Shawty LO is sincere as he hits us with the hook. Care to guess who the target(s) are for this one? They may want to answer this blatant lyrical chin checkin’. This is one of my favorite songs on the album.

Pressure
Featuring Ice Cube; Produced by Tha Bizness
It Kicks off with a poignant intro of Farrakhan speaking some heat about knowing who you are as a people. The track starts and while simple, it’s definitely a head nod track. Killer opens the song with “Muthafuckas/I just bought some new chuckas/The old ones bloodied up from stompin’ out most suckas.’” Cube goes hard as hell on a track that fits his style perfectly and picks up where he left off on Laugh Now Cry Later with The same muthafuckas wanna gank you/Because they hate you and the pussy that you came through/Can anybody tell me that it ain’t true/That these muthafuckas’ out to hurt you. Both vets keep the heat coming on their last verses and basically murder this one. This song is another winner.

Big Money Big Cars
Featuring Chamillionaire and Messy Marv; Produced by Cutmaster Swiff
This is a straight up shout out to the South, Geto Boys sample and UGK influence on this track. The track is nothing but that southern syrup and bounce coupled with background ‘hey’ chant. It’s hard to ignore this one. Messy Marv steps to the mic and does his best Jeezy impersonation complete with ad libs. Chamillionaire steps in and picks the song back up with his cadence and flow all over this one. It’s almost too little too late to repair the damage done to the middle of this song by Marv, but Cham saves this one to average.

God In The Building
Produced by The Cancer & Kidz With Machine Gunz
I really have no words. This is THE best song on the album and will probably be in my top 10 of ‘08. This song is perfect from top to bottom. Production is flawless, lyrics are raw, and the hook is perfect in execution and concept. “To get to heaven I will raise hell / but before I am a servant in a white heaven I will rule in a black hell.” No shock, song seven strikes again. I’m sure we will hear a lot more from this production crew after this gem.

Super Clean/Super Hard
Featuring 8Ball & MJG; Produced by Tyrice Jones
How do you follow up that song? Easy, by getting some Southern Legends to flow over a little Al Green sample. I hate the damn word, but this is a swag special. Concept is simple, flip the word “Super” into your flow as many times as you can while kickin’ your regular lyrical glitz and game. I can’t wait to blast this one around the park on Sunday. The track is so South, can’t hate it if you wanted to…but you won’t. This one is dope.

Woke Up This Mornin’
Produced by Chris Crak
How can you not like this song? It’s laid back weekend, slow cruisin’, summer jam music. It puts me in the mind of Devin the Dude with the dro and sex lyrics and fun wordplay overall. The track is light hearted and Killer does a great job of slowing down his pace to groove with this one. Good song.

Bang!
Produced by CKP
First things first, the bass, chant, and clap on this one are dope…the rest of this 8bit sounding track is horrible. The hook is not a good look at all with some tired sounding chick layered to sound robotic. Mike doesn’t offer anything new here and even his sharp lyrics and delivery can’t help this one. SKIP…unfortunately, because the bones of this song are good.

Grandma’s House
Produced by X.P.
I swear, that “hey, hey, hey” chant just gets me going. Anyway, the track itself is average, nothing complex or difficult about this one at all. Killer Mike tries his hand at singing on the hook and different parts of the song, but it’s done comically. He sings in a nursery rhyme type melody “I don’t give a fuck I do a thou-ou then I’m up and out/Then break that shit and weigh that shit/Distribute shit out Grandma’s house.” Mike gives us some story telling, typical dope tales here. He keeps it Mike with lines like “…you should see the fat, black boy today/Wear more Polo than Kanye/Marry me a big booty cutie like Jay…” The idea of spittin’ this one around the idea of sneaking and selling dope out his Grandma’s house is a little different concept on what has become a common theme on most albums. This one is a solid song.

If I Can’t Eat Right
Featuring Gangsta Pill & Rochelle Fox; Produced by Young Sears
Young Sears takes a page from Weezy and lets the beat build on this one. It starts off simple but as the song goes on leading to the hook, more parts are added. Then after the hook its stripped back down and the process starts again. I dig the concept of that a lot, and the execution is as good as the idea. Our first verse is Mike who puts a seat on the track and renames it Huffy. He ends his first verse with “She said I’m pretty Michael I can have any guy/I told her damn right, girl you are stunnin’/But I’m rich bitch I can have any woman.” Pill follows him up and does an okay job. He’s followed by Rochelle who offers up an average verse. The song ends up average to a little below average.

I Gotcha
Produced by Smiff & Cash
There is nothing special about the track, pretty simple all around but decent at the same time. When I first listened to this song, I turned up my nose at the use of spiritual leaders names with the subject matter, but if you pay attention to it, this shit is flat out creative. He lets us know this is street gospel, and he delivers. I don’t know that the track and the song are the best match, but the concept of the song is kinda tight. Lyrically, this song is a lot better than is comes off.

I’m The Shit
Produced by B. Don
When I read the title and heard the strings sing on the guitar on the lead in, I was excited. That soon passed. I appreciate the song being different, but the track gets old very fast. Lyrically, Mike has said this statement without blatantly saying it, but he offers up some sub par verses here, including talk of making the pussy burp. This one is not nearly as dope as the title would have you expect.

Can You Buy That
Produced by Drugs
For the second time in a row, we get a less than mediocre beat and now even Mike sounds tired. His usual bouncy flow and exuberant delivery are gone here, he does rhyme fast, but he’s muffled and sounds bored. The beat is just as exciting and makes this song skip worthy.

You See It
Featuring SL Jones; Produced by Brandon ‘Tec Beatz’ Sewell
Make that 3 times in a row. This beat literally drags and even with the up-tempo background support, the heavy chords drag the overall feel of this one way down. SL seems to have been lulled to sleep as well as his verse seems, at times, slower than the track. Mike, has a little more of his wordplay here, but his delivery is the same as the track before this one. I won’t say skip, but it’s not a good song either.

Good-Bye (City of Dope)
Produced by Malay
The beat and overall production pick up a bit on here. The parts, while still simple, work well together to give us a good beat. The hook is okay, some singing of “Kiss yo’ ass good-Bye” pipes the guy that sounds like a young Nate Dog in training. Mike paints us a picture that starts off sounding like a scene from New Jack City and ends almost as wild. He ends the album on an average note.

Bottom Line:
Most of the criticism about the first offering is that Mike could have cut out a few tracks and had a lot better album; I feel the same way about this one.  I am not the one to complain (often) about getting a lot of music on a CD, but if you do bless us with a longer CD…then bless us.  The first few songs (outside of the interlude) are probably where he could have stopped and had a really good album.  His high points outweigh the bad in the first 2/3rds or so, but once you get past that, it starts to drag and production value starts to drop pretty sharply.  You can literally take half of the album (8 songs) and make a really good EP, the other 8 should be “lost.”  I would rate the album higher if I could just rate half of the album.

nappyPicks: “2 Sides”, “Pressure”, “God In The Building”, & “Super Clean/Super Hard”

Download: Killer Mike – “God In The Building”

The passing of Pimp C came at a time when UGK was finally getting the mainstream recognition they deserve. Bun B spent a good amount of time making guest spots and keeping the name of UGK relevant in the minds of us older Hip-Hop heads and piquing the interest of the newer kids as well while waiting for Pimp C to be freed. Bun already had one solo joint, and he is back now with II Trill. How is it? Let’s find out.

II Trill
Featuring Z-Ro and J. Prince; Produced by Clinton Sparks
This is a hard ass first song for an album. Bun B is not bullshittin’ on this banger at all. The hook is bad, really bad though. It sounds like it wasn’t mastered right and sounds like it was just put on the track without consideration for the sound of the entire song.

That’s Gangsta
Featuring Sean Kingston; Produced by J.R. Rotem
Wanna know what it takes? Bun B FINALLY defines the bullshit that folks have been erroneous spouting lately about how they are “gangsta” and what “gangsta” is. It’s a lot of fakers out there and Bun B gives you the parameters so you can spot one. Now, having’ Kingston singing the hook? That’s not gangsta. The track is UGK though, you know how that goes.

Damn I’m Cold
Featuring Lil’ Wayne; Produced by CHOPS
I would NEVER have thought I’d see this one, but then again, Weezy is on everyone’s track so I guess it was just a matter of time. CHOPS serves us up with some classic UGK type shit that Weezy actually dedicates himself to more than he has most of his other collabs. “Y’all niggas 2 weak like 14 days.” Damn. Ha!. The scary part is Bun flips it a lil’ harder too, makes this song insane. We may have a problem on our hands.

You’re Everything
Featuring Rick Ross, David Banner, 8Ball &MJG; Produced by Mr. Lee
Well shit. Talk about a line-up. We also get a sample of Jodeci as the hook. I would have liked a better track for this one. It’s not bad, but just kinda brings it down a lil, in my opinion. Banner comes in and kills the shit. The way he slides in off Ross and then leads into the hook, dope shit. The magic of this song is how each rapper rides this shit in their style and makes it sound like a different beat with each flow. Insane. I don’t like how it just cut off and goes to the next song, but, that may be just me.

I Luv That
Produced by Scott Storch
I won’t front or hold any punches. I don’t like Scott Storch music overall. I also don’t like Bun B over a commercial type club song either. Sadly…this one is a hit, watch.

Swang On Em
Featuring Lupe Fiasco; Produced by Enigma
Introducing, the bounce. Enigma gives us a nice ass track featuring some ill woodwinds and even some xylophone. I would like to introduce HBCU students to the song that WILL be done at your battle of the bands. Lupe does Lupe and makes this a dope ass track. This shit is absolutely insane in the whip.

My Block
Featuring & Produced by Jazzy Pha
Jazzy did his thing. The track is insane and the hook is bananas. Its off-key but it works so well. We get some drama with the horns and Bun B brings his shit on this shit like no other. “Hold it down lil’ buddy, pump ya breaks, slow ya roll/Ease back on ya’ throttle put ya plans on hold/I don’t care what you sellin’ or care what’cha sold/I don’t know what they was tellin’ or what you been told.” Can you feel it? That’s the fuckin’ intro. It’s about to go down.

Get Cha Issue
Produced by Big Tyme & Qwest
Some blues infusion with this track along with some clapping. It’s hard to listen to this track though. Something about the way it was done makes it sound old and not up to the sound quality of the rest of the album. Outside of that, Bun B is givin’ us real ass talk. Gotta hear this shit.

Pop It 4 Pimp
Featuring Webbie & Juvenile; Produced by Mouse
I am putting all clubs and strippers on notice. You will get what I mean when you hear it. It’s a club jam and will bang out the clubs this summer, and guys, your favorite stripper will be using this.

Good II Me
Featuring Mya; Produced by Big Tyme, Intl Red, & Bun B
Hello radio, this song is called “Good II Me” and features a popular billboard sample from the golden days of music coupled with an industry queen, Mya. Folks, it ain’t hard, this song is just like it looks. A song for the ladies, Mya on the hook, and a radio ready song indeed…and some ill ass guitar work as well.

Underground Thang
Featuring Chamillionaire & Pimp C; Produced by Cory MO
Something about Cham singing the hook makes it sound like his track. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but it is predictable as hell. Sounds like any other Cham hook. We get some Pimp C flossin’ and verb tossin’ like only he can. I miss that dudes flow on this album. The song itself, dope.

If I Die II Nite
Featuring Lyfe Jennings and Young Buck; Produced by J-Roc
Finally, someone called the REAL Lyfe Jennings for a hook. Young Buck is quietly one of the better rappers out and he keeps it G on this song as well. The song is about regret, the past, and reconciliation. It’s one of the realest songs on the album.

Another Soldier
Featuring Middl Fngz & Cobe; Produced by DJ Khalil
The scene is set by a quick intro/poem that lets you know the mood of the song. It doesn’t really work until the beat kicks in and then the words have ground. This is an anthem for yo’ ass. This song is audible courage at its best. I dare you to play this song in the whip and not feel like Nino Brown. Well placed guitar slashin’ in the background coupled with studio ignance’ from Bun, Fingz, and Cobe. When this one goes off, I was damn near upset.

If It Was Up To Me
Featuring Junior Reid; Produced by Blackout Movement
Bun B for president? Why not? He seems to state his case here voicing concerns about the everything including Katrina and Rita, lead based paint, repentance, education, state spending, environment and global warming, and yes, even more. It is dope to hear Bun B bring it on this song and Junior Reid doin’ his thing on the hook, but the track is kinda weak. It may be deliberate so that you can understand the song, but it’s almost TOO laid back. Lyrically, this song voices way too many concerns to try and pull out a part of, I don’t want to even do this song a disservice like that. I will tell you that this song is real as hell and is the kind of stuff we need on the radio. While folks are crying about Hip-Hop we have sincere songs like this that never get played.

Trill Talk
(intro to next song)

Angel In The Sky
Featuring Lil’ Razah; Produced by Cozmo
Yeah, it’s the tribute song. The track is perfect. A brilliant sample of “Ribbon In The Sky” by Stevie Wonder sets the tone and grove of this track. Look, I don’t know about you, but some songs don’t need to be critiqued. Listen to it.

II Trill Talk
(outro to last song)

Keep It 100
Produced by CHOPS
Hey fakers, listen up, this song is for you. “(100) all day and all night/Nigga ev’rytime you see me imma keep it Supatight/(100) Imma Underground King reppin’ UGK/That give a damn what muthafucka’ say imma keep it (100).” It’s physically impossible to play this song and not break yo’ damn neck. The track is undeniable and Mr. Kilogram, Mr. Woodgrain, Mr. Brick is killin’ this shit.

Bottom Line:
When I saw the list of artists appearing on the album, I was kinda conflicted. I am not a fan of extreme collabo albums unless that’s what it is marketed as, such as Hi-Tek or 9th Wonders albums. The other feeling was how can you go wrong with Rick Ross, David Banner, 8ball & MJG on a track with Bun B? Or Lupe? Or Weezy? The bottom line is yes, Bun B relies on the cameos a lot, maybe keep you from missing Pimp C’s voice on the tracks, but nonetheless, this shit is dope. Some albums give you cameos that are nothing more than a credit on the track, and then you have collabs where the guests actually bring it. The majority of the rappers on this album took this shit to heart and brought their A game to the table. There are very few low points on this album outside of the Storch track and the abrupt ending of songs. UGK lives, the mark they left resonates in the tracks of this album and each artists desire to bring that feel to it. The title is so real, this shit is II Trill.

nappyPicks: “Damn I’m Cold”, “You’re Everything”, “Swang On Em”, “My Block”, “Another Soldier” & “Keep It 100″

Download: Bun B feat. Lil’ Wayne – “Damn I’m Cold”
Download: Bun B feat. Lupe Fiasco – “Swang on ‘Em”
Download: Bun B feat. Middl Fngz & Cobe – “Another Soldier”

Slim Thug

Released Already Platinum with some critical acclaim but hasn’t followed up his debut with anything new. Being the street guy out of the bunch, he got a lot of love from the streets but hasn’t given the streets anything since 2005.

Paul Wall

Released The People’s Champ along with Get Money, Stay True. The first one went platinum, but the second one flopped! Last I heard he was prepping a Rock album with Nickelback. If you didn’t know any better, you would think that he is the guy who made grills popular by the way he was selling them to everybody.

Mike Jones

Maybe one of the best marketing strategies helped him to a platinum plaque with Who is Mike Jones? But since we have all forgotten his number and name, Mr. Jones and his Ice Age crew have made America wonder, where is Mike Jones?

Chamillionaire

He was the most successful out the bunch; winning awards for his debut The Sound of Revenge and his hit single Ridin Dirty. But with the release of his latest album Ultimate Victory, the sales and the buzz for Houston wasn’t like it was, and the country didn’t have the same love it had for him on his first LP.

Lil’ Flip

Well since T.I. killed him on Down with the King, Flip has been a nonfactor. As a matter of fact, how did Flip even make this column? To borrow a line from him, GAME OVER!

Curiosity killed the cat, and radio and video killed Chamillionaire for me. I was tired of “Ridin Dirty”, so much so, that I never considered dude at all. Then I heard he was gonna drop the use of “the n word” and clean up his rhymes. I was curious, cause really, I’m a grown man, and I get a lil bashful when I am at a light and MC Lil’ Young Dude drops the n word and nine other 4 letter words in one bar while I am at a light with my windows down. Then I saw the video for “Hip Hop Police” and actually listened to a interview of dude. He appears to be a Transformer “more than meets the eye”… diamond chain and grill notwithstanding. As the rookie of the group, I figured that I would check Chamilitarymayne and see if I should give it a woooo….or put it in the figure four.

We start with a new inspired and aptly titled “The Morning News” where our grilled genious goes hard at everything from Clinton to Snap music…thank you mayne. As usual, he sings the hook on this joint and sets the tone for the album. The Next song “Hip Hop Police” featuring Slick Rick is the first single off the album. It got a fair chance in mainstream media considering that without the video, this song seems pretty random. “Standing Ovation” starts off sounding skippable because of singing…then proves that it is with a simple beat and a very forgetable flow that includes Usta not give a flyin eff when they greated us with that one fanga / whole world jumped on the tip and we the switches sat on swangas. Yeah, keep swangin on to the next track. SKIP. The title of the next song, “Won’t Let You Down” made me very hopeful that it was titled correctly and not my wishful thinking acting up. It starts off again with a news feed inspired intro, then the chords come in, one of the better beats on the album follows. It sounds like some kind of thank you or devotion to his new label for the deal crossed with a mantra. Eh, don’t know what to make of the lyrics We are presented with “Industry Groupie” next and it includes a sample of “The Final Countdown” by rock band Europe. You know how you get those polyphonic ringtones on your old Nokia cell phone….THAT kinda sample. However, he does a good job on this one, and yes, the song is named correctly. “Pimp Mode” featuring Bun–B sliiiiides on next and um, considering the “tone” of the album, this is a let down. He becomes the rappers that he talks about the whole CD. Thank GOD for Bun–B doing his usual tight verse about cough syrup and cars, its worth a spin. I was excited to see “Rock Star” featuring Lil’ Wayne as the next track considering how Wayne is one of my favorites AND the fact that it was track number 7 (you will hear about my theory on the infamous track number 7 in one of my columns in the furture). Lets just say that Wayne didn’t get the memo that he had to keep it clean as a good bars worth of flow are muted out because of his wordplay. His flow ends up sounding like that bad connection on a phone call, Ep…Ip….Im….ap. The beat rolls tho. Next is a skit featuring Spanky Hayes and basically, he is just as funny as he is on MTV….riiiiiiiiight. So “The Bill Collecta” featuring Krayzie Bone…I imagine this will sound like a song from the idol auditions…tryna sing. By the time you get tired of it, its over. Again, the beat is ok though. “The Ultimate Vacation” is a bragadocious song of some fantasy island that he is taking the ladies on…..SKIP. Next we have “Come Back to the Streets” where ya boy seems to assert that he is street/commercial/a beast/and viable all at the same time…but he spits lines like this; “When the rulla of stackin mullah is speakin to ya don’t interrupt / middle finger up on the ceiling, somebody gonna eff you up” We don’t believe you, you need more people!! Sorry, couldn’t avoid that. The song ends with Spanky doing further harm to his own career…Cannon, pay the man please, save us from this mess. The next song “I Think I Love You” features some Casio keyboard inspired sounding beat. Better yet, it sounds like one of the old Nintendo video game songs. Anyway, It’s a song for the ladies, and I guess its alright, but by now, I am good and tired of hearing him go half on a cussword and long for him to just FINISH the word ASS instead of saying aaaaaaaa. Song, eh. “The Evening News” is the second single and second video from the album. The song is a conscious attempt and more in tune with what I thought the album was going to be like and about. I do think this is one of, if not the best, track on the album. Pimp C shows up on “Welcome to the South” and blesses us with his flow and closes out the track properly. It’s worth a listen if for nothing else than his flow at the end. “You Must Be Crazy” features Lil’ Ken…who again, probably sounds a lot better than he really is because this is track 15 of Chamillionaire. The Luxurious Lizard does sound better on his last verse after Lil’ Ken spits, so thanks Ken. “We Breakin’ Up” is a song about himself and falling out of love with Hip-Hop that masquerades as a song about a woman. I tried and tried to stay in love, but no matter what I do it just ain’t enough quips our hero on the hook of the song. It’s a creative thought, but somehow he manages to find an even sleepier beat than the previous 5 or so tracks on the album. I just need some caffeine at this point. Another Skit, and I look forward to this right about now, and yes, it’s sans Spanky. Its not a skit though, its more so a little interlude or something, some guy Tony Henry is singing and even THIS gets old by the end of the 1:45 runtime. The next track has me even more excited than the track with Weezy. “Rocky Road” features Devin the Dude and any song with Devin is all right by me… I lied. SKIP. The final track is “The Ultimate Victory” is some sort of inspirational hand holding tribute song and all kinds of other stuff; I don’t know, dude jumps subjects like trains jump tracks on here.

Bottom Line:
Does Chamilitarymayne suffer the sophomore slump? Does he fall victim to the big label and responsibility that big money brings? I honestly can’t answer that because I didn’t listen to his first CD. I can say that I have no desire to go back and listen to the first CD after hearing this one. Its quite long for pattern rapper and sing songy hooktician (new word) like Chamillionaire. 19 tracks of the SAME song with slight variation in the beats but the same tempo is a bit much. The tracks that have cameos tend to put the guest verse at the end of the track forcing you to listen to the unintentional antogonist sing and chop verse his way to pass the baton. I found myself looking forward to the next guest rapper or song at the beginning of every song. It may have been carried by the beats had this been seperated into 2 cds and released at later times, but together as one release, its like Hip-Hop’s version of The Neverending Story…and I say that in the credits, the album is The Nothing.

nappy Picks: “Rock Star”, “Pimp Mode”, “Welcome to the South”, & “We Breakin Up”

Download: Chamillionaire feat. Lil’ Wayne – “Rock Star”