Music Munchers - Dirty Money by Ugk

Product Review
UGK were wildly popular down South and on the West Coast, but little more than a blip on the screen to East Coast heads until Jay-Z invited Pimp C and Bun B to beat him at his own flow on 1999's "Big Pimpin'." Just because a certain demographic has slept doesn't mean that UGK ain't 'bout it--the Kingz have been laying down their own particular brand of G-crunk for almost 10 years now. Akin to fellow Texans the Geto Boys, UGK's sound is more spare and noirish than your average Southern Bounce crew. Featuring the laid-back flow and gangsta lean production fans have come to expect, Dirty Money is their best release to date. Contentwise, it's the same old "money, macks, and mamis," but UGK do it better than most. "Holdin Na," featuring C-Note, utilizes an unexpected Beastie Boys sample, "Ain't That a Bitch," with rapper Devin (The Dude), and Big Gip's incendiary vocals help make "Don't Say S--t" the album's standout track. --Rebecca Levine

I was introduced to the Underground Kingz when I heard the track "Pocket Full Of Stones" from Menace II Society: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The track ended up being one of my favorite tracks on the soundtrack along with MC Eiht's "Streiht Up Menace", Spice 1's "Trigga Gots No Heart", Brand Nubian's "Lick Dem" and Pete Rock and CL Smooth's "Death Becomes You" which also features the YG'z. What really made me pay attention to UGK was a track entitled "Wood Wheel" that was featured on J-Prince Presents: Realest Down South. Once I heard "Wood Wheel" I definitely decided that I would pay more attention to UGK tracks. The next song that I heard "Sippin' On Some Syrup" was a track that featured Three 6 Mafia, UGK and Project Pat on the lead single to Three 6 Mafia's "When The Smoke Clears..." CD. The track ended up being one of my favorite tracks at the time and that was the main reason why I purchased the CD. UGK's big break came when Jay-Z featured them on a track that was produced by Timbaland entitled "Big Pimpin'". When I heard this track, I was impressed by the way Timbaland created a beat that Jay-Z, a rapper from Brooklyn and a group from the south, UGK, would be able to flow to at the same time. Although, I still had never purchased any UGK CD's at ths time, I was definitely looking forward to their next release. However, UGK's label, the infamous Jive Records took too long to try to capitalize on the momentum of this track. The next CD that UGK released, which ended up being too long after the success of "Big Pimpin'", was "Dirty Money". Jive Records could have made this CD even better than it was but they sat back in the boardroom too long and didn't step up to the plate when it was necessary. Despite these obstacles, UGK still did their best to make "Dirty Money" a classic. "Dirty Money" starts off with a track that most "exotic dancers" and visitors of their place of business can appreciate in "Let Me See It". Pimp C creates a track that him and his partner Bun-B can use to explain their interpretations of certain young ladies. "Choppin' Blades" and "Look At Me" are clearly the best tracks on this CD. Both of the songs also feature the best production on "Dirty Money" as well. When I first purchased this CD, it didn't get past Track 3 for the first couple of days because I enjoyed these tracks so much. Pimp C's production, with an assist from NO Joe on "Choppin' Blades", who has worked on various Scarface CDs, is simply phenominal on Tracks 2 and 3. I have read some reviews about people being disappointed with "Ain't That A B____" which also features Devin The Dude, being edited. Don't get me wrong, the track would have been even better if it hadn't been edited. However, I am pretty sure that the 2 samples that were cleared to allow UGK to put this track on the CD, probably made a stipulation that if the artists wanted to use the sample that the track had to be edited. The funny part about all of this is that UGK is allowed to use Too Short's favorite word on the chorus. Hmmm..... "Gold Grill" has UGK and 8Ball & MJG on the same track. The song doesn't disappoint at all and you will be able to appreciate 2 of the best down south groups of all time being featured on the same song. "Holdin' Na" features C-Note and is another track that you will enjoy listening to on this CD. The chemistry that Pimp C and Bun B have on certain tracks will scare you because it seems as if in certain cases they are able to finish each other's sentences and their verses are able to blend well together because of this chemistry. The title track features a nice hook from Bun-B and UGK is able to explain their interpretation of dirty money. Three 6 Mafia joins UGK on the party track "Like A Pimp". The Pimp C produced track will easily remind you of Eric B & Rakim's "Paid In Full" because of the sample. This track was later remixed for Three 6 Mafia's "Da Unbreakables" CD and the remix also featured Pimp C and Project Pat. Big Gipp from Goodie Mob is featured on another one of my favorite tracks "Don't Say ....". You will be able to listen to "Dirty Money" in its entirety. However, to people that have followed UGK you will wonder why they were only able to put 10 new tracks on a CD that had so much anticipation to it. "Pimpin" Ain't No Illusion" and "Belts To Match" were featured on a CD single a long time before "Dirty Money" ended up being released. "Pimpin' Ain't No Illusion" is featured on "Dirty Money" and "Belts To Match" can be found on the soundtrack to the movie "The Wood". "Take It Off" can be found on the soundtrack to "The Corruptor" but Jive Records wanted to put the track on "Dirty Money". The same can be said about Money, ...., and Power" which is featured on Jermaine Dupri's "Instructions" CD. I think you get the point. If Jive Records would have played their cards right, they could have made "Dirty Money" even better than it ended up being. However, they didn't know how to handle one of the greatest rap groups in the history of Down South music. Hopefully, they will make that up with UGK's self titled double CD that is scheduled to be released on August 7, 2007. What I am thankful for is that by purchasing "Dirty Money", I was finally convinced to check out Ridin' Dirty,Super Tight..., and Too Hard to Swallow. Listening to these 3 CDs, I was able to realize why UGK were considered pioneers to rap music for the younger down south acts that are coming out today along with Scarface & The Geto Boys, 8Ball & MJG and Outkast. "Dirty Money" may not be the best UGK CD but there are enough classics on the disc, to make this CD a CD to have in your collection if you enjoy any of their CDs or guest appearances on other CDs. If "The Game Belongs To Me" and "International Player's Anthem" featuring Outkast are any indication then their new double CD will be just as good or even better. James' Top 5 (Out of the 10 new tracks, Tracks 1-10) 1) Choppin' Blades 2) Look At Me 3) Gold Grill w/8Ball & MJG 4) Holdin' Na w/C-Note 5) Dirty Money Honorable Mention: PA ______ Don't Say _______ w/Big Gipp of Goodie Mob Let Me See It Ain't That A _____ w/Devin The Dude (Track is edited) Comment (1) | Permalink | (Report this)