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Underground Kingz formed in 1987, but would only self release a handful of EPs until their 1992 major label debut 'Too Hard to Swallow'. UGK's debut features a who's who of sampled artists, making it one of the early 90s best produced efforts.
The opening track 'Something Good' produced by Bernie Bismark and Shetoro Henderson samples Rufus and Chaka Khan's hit 'Tell Me Something Good' from Rufus' 1973 album 'Rags to Rufus'. Bill Withers' slow motion break on 'Use Me' is the perfect sample for Texas' slow motion raps on UGK's 'Use Me Up', produced by Pimp C. 'Cocaine in the Back of the Ride' does a great job of thematically sampling Curtis Mayfield's 'Superfly soundtrack hit single 'Freddie's Dead'. UGK's 'Crampin' My Style' samples former Five On It winner 'Between the Sheets' from the Isley Brothers' 1982 album of the same name. Finally, the Isleys are sampled again on the Pimp C produced 'I'm So Bad' which samples 'I Turned You On' from the 1969 Isley Brothers album 'The Brothers: Isley'.
UGK followed 'Too Hard to Swallow' with five albums leading to 2007's #1 album 'Underground Kingz', formerly reviewed in this blog. UGK recently released their final album 'UGK 4 Life', completing the work Pimp C and Bun B started before Pimp C untimely death.The Lowdown:
UGK 'Something Good', 'Use Me Up', 'Cocaine in the Back of the Ride', 'Crampin' My Style', and 'I'm So Bad'
from 'Too Hard to Swallow' (1992) (MP3/CD)
Rufus and Chaka Khan 'Tell Me Something Good'
from 'Rags to Rufus' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Bill Withers 'Use Me'
from 'Still Bill' (1972) (MP3/Import CD)
Curtis Mayfield 'Freddie's Dead'
from 'Superfly' (1972) (MP3/CD)
The Isley Brothers 'Between the Sheets'
from 'Between the Sheets' (1982) (MP3/CD)
The Isley Brothers 'I Turned You On'
from 'The Brothers: Isley' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Related Posts:
UGK 'Underground Kingz' (Part 1)
UGK 'Underground Kingz' (Part 2)
Welcome to our second look at UGK's 2007 album 'Underground Kingz'.
'Real Women' with Talib Kweli and Raheem DeVaughn find UGK rapping over Earth, Wind and Fire's 'Can't Hide Love' courtesy of a mellow beat programmed by N.O. Joe and Pimp C. One of Texas' finest, Scarface is credited for production for 'Candy' which nicks Lonnie Liston Smith's 'Bridge Thru Time' from his 1980 album 'Love is the Answer'. The Pimp C produced track 'Shattered Dreams' looks back to Raydio's 1979 album 'Rock On' for the track 'Goin' Thru School and Love'. Finally, N.O. Joe and Joe Scorsese produced the beat for UGK's 'Living this Life' which takes a sample from Al Green's 'Livin' for You' album track 'Free at Last'.
Although Pimp C, one half of UGK, died only six months after the release of 'Underground Kingz', Bun B has said that there was enough material recorded for an eighth and final UGK album, tentatively titled 'UGK 4 Life' and slated for a 2009 release date.The Lowdown:
UGK 'Real Women', 'Candy', 'Shattered Dreams', and 'Living this Life'
from 'Underground Kingz' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Real Women', 'Candy', 'Shattered Dreams', and 'Living this Life'
Earth, Wind and Fire 'Can't Hide Love'
from 'Gratitude' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Lonnie Liston Smith 'Bridge Thru Time'
from 'Love is the Answer' (1980) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Raydio 'Goin' Thru School and Love'
from 'Rock On' (1979) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Al Green 'Free at Last'
from 'Livin' for You' (1973) (MP3/CD)
UGK's 2007 album 'Underground Kingz' is a mix of triumph and tragedy. The double disc album contained their highest charting single to date, an instant classic, but the album and breakthrough single were followed by the untimely death of UGK's Pimp C less than half a year later. This two part post will cover the sample basis of the seventh album by one of Texas' finest rap groups.
The album's undeniably hot hit single is the DJ Paul and Juicy J (of Three 6 Mafia fame) produced 'Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)', a lyrical collaboration between UGK and Outkast. Three 6's team samples Willie Hutch's soundtrack for the film 'The Mack' (yet again) for the track's soul sample: 'I Choose You'. Along with Three 6's own 'Stay Fly', they almost cast ownership on the ability to remake Willie Hutch's tracks into new chunks of chart gold. Though a modest hit (only cracking the Billboard 100 singles chart), the track is a true underground anthem.Pimp C samples Latimore's 'Let's Straighten It Out' aptly for the vitriolic 'Quit Hatin' the South' which ramps up the threats of physical violence to Mobb Deep levels. 'How Long Can it Last' utilizes a sample from the relatively obscure track 'Something in the Past' by the 80s unit One Way along with Al Hudson. The MoMo produced track 'Two Type of B----es' features a guest spot from UK emcee Dizzee Rascal and flips a sample from Gladys Knight and the Pips' 1973 track 'Daddy Could Swear, I Declare'.Check back for part two of our look at 'Underground Kingz'.The Lowdown:
UGK 'Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)', 'Quit Hatin' the South', 'How Long Can it Last', and 'Two Type of B----es'
from 'Underground Kingz' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)', 'Quit Hatin' the South', 'How Long Can it Last', and 'Two Type of B----es'
Willie Hutch 'I Choose You'
from 'The Mack' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD)
Latimore 'Let's Straighten it Out'
from 'More, More, More' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
One Way Featuring Al Hudson 'Something in the Past'
from 'One Way Featuring Al Hudson' (1980) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Gladys Knight and the Pips 'Daddy Could Swear, I Declare'
from 'Neither One of Us' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
