Bun
B. of UGK is setting up the next leg of their career by positioning their status
as mature, vets amid a rush of new talents.According
to Bun B., maturity and perseverance is what allowed the group to remain longtime
fixtures in the rap industry."Being
a southern n***a, we used to have to fight for our position. But now southern
rappers are valid and we just have to make the most of it. We know all the drills
and all the plays. I know the play book and that’s what’s important. We learned
how to deal with radio, record stores. We just didn’t have the push and that’s
what all Southern acts were missing at one time."To
continue, the Texas rappers UGK are preparing their final solo album as Jive recording
artists and are assembling a team of all-star producers to help create the self-titled
album.An
all-star line up of hit making producers have lined up for the group’s latest
effort, according to Bun B."We
are about to go to Las Vegas for a week to lock in with Timbaland, 36 Mafia, Cool
and Dre," Bun B. revealed to AllHipHop.com. "This album is going to
be a beast, I wouldn’t b####### you. Jazzy [Pha], Manny [Fresh], Timbaland, Blackout
Movement [and] The Runnaz."We
[are] trying to make a well rounded album," Bun B. said. "We want to
take Southern rap back to a certain feel. Banging ass music and real talk. The
solo albums were to keep this UGK going and this is new album is for the hardcore
fans."As
artists, the new album will reflect the continued growth of UGK, who released
their first album The Southern Way for Big Tyme Records in 1991.Bun
B. also addressed a growing controversy stemming from a lyric on the new single
"Can’t Stop the Rain 2006" featuring Shaq and Papoose, from Kay Slay
and Greg Street’s compilation, The Champions: North Meets South.Rumors
started speculating the Bun B. took a swipe at West coast DJ Felli Fel of Power
106, with the line "n***as used to be on top/but now you fell like Felli/""Fellie
knows I f**k with him," Bun B. clarified. I don’t have any issues with Fellie
Fel. He knows I f**k with him. But then everyone calling saying ‘that n***a dissed
you, when really I bigged him up. Instead I got some backlash. We don’t need anything
hindering this project because of what we are trying to do, bringing the north
and south together. If I don’t squash it, it’s going to give the beef validity.
I was giving Fellie a shout out."The
misunderstanding is minor compared to the tribulations the group has seen in its
15-year history.UGK
suffered a minor set back when group member Chad "Pimp C" Butler was
incarcerated in 2002 for parole violations. He served 3 years in prison and was
released in 2005.During
Pimp C’s three year incarceration, Bun B. made numerous cameo appearances and
dropped a solo album Trill, while Pimp C. released The Sweet James Jones
Stories from jail in 2005, as well as his album Pimpilation, which
debuted at #1 on Billboard‘s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.