The Top 5 Reasons to Invest in Bun B’s ‘Trill O.G.’
Earlier this week, UGK living legend Bun B unveiled his third solo album, 'Trill OG,' at Damon Dash's Dash Gallery in New York's Tribeca neighborhood. Those in attendance -- Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Asher Roth and other select tastemakers -- were treated to Bun's usual high-energy and gritty work, alas with a few surprises.
Bun went track by track, offering commentary, mouthing lyrics, and just all around enjoying the experience of introducing 'Trill OG''s 15 cuts. Of the many, here are the Top 5 reasons why this album should enter your collection:
5. T-Pain's guest appearance on 'Trillionaire'
The album's second track, 'Trillionaire,' features the King of Auto-Tune himself. The song is a mellow, southern-dipped summer anthem (similar to the likes of Rick Ross' 'Maybach Music 2.') that features T-Pain the way we like him -- on the hook and bragging about being wealthy.
4. Bun B has a lot of friends
Besides the roster of artists present at Bun's listening session, the cameos on 'Trill O.G.' are huge, yet not overpowering. Young Jeezy checks in on the ultra-bouncy 'Just Like That,' Drake does a mean Lil Wayne impersonation on 'Put It Down' and then returns to close the album out on 'It's Been a Pleasure.' Gucci Mane and Yo Gotti help Bun count the checks on 'Countin Money All Day,' Slim Thug hits 'Riding Slow,' while Twista and Cedric the Entertainer offer a hand on the big band-infused 'Speak Easy.' Raekwon tops off the all-star cast on the DJ Khalil produced 'No Competition.'
3. Bun can rock on his own
On an album with so many cameos, it's important to point out the tracks where Bun stands alone and is bad all by himself. He opens 'Trill O.G.' solo with the gospel-esque 'Church,' takes a very East Coast stance in 'Lights, Camera, Action' and throws some hard lines on the marching beat of 'I Get Down for Mine.' When he stands alone, Bun B has one of the most readily recognizable voices in hip-hop, solidifying him as one of the greats.
2. DJ Premier is the "Gang Starr" DJ Premier
On 'Let 'Em Know,' Premo brings his trademark Gang Starr production, as Bun opens the track paying homage to the group's fallen Guru. The cuts, the beat, the scratches and the samples on 'Let 'Em Know' are so reminiscent of Premier's production style during the Gang Starr dynasty, that you almost forget they never reunited.
1. Bun B resurrects legendary rappers
Bun B brought back both his UGK partner Pimp C and Tupac Shakur on 'Right Now.' A hard, yet eerie track with Trey Songz on the hook, 'Right Now' doesn't sound like some haphazard cut pieced together by random verses from late rappers. It sounds like a collective of legends who recorded together in the studio to create one tough classic, making it the most bittersweet track on the album.
'Trill O.G.' invades your speakers on August 3.