Last night, UGK's surviving member Bun B played his third solo album Trill O.G. in its entirety at Dame Dash's DD172 Gallery in Tribeca for a select group of media, emceeing the listening session by introducing each track from behind the DJ station at the front of the space. “I'm very proud of this album,” he said to guests that included Chamillionaire, Slim Thug and Asher Roth. “I put a lot of heart, a lot of sweat, a lot of pain into this album. That being said, it's not preachy and sad. It's very entertaining. I think we made an incredible album this time.”
Trill O.G., slated for release in August, pretty much fits the description. Featuring an A-list cast of emcees including Drake (on two tracks), Twista, Jeezy, T-Pain, Raekwon, Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, Slim Thug and even Pimp C and 2Pac, the album is packed with brolic, speakerboxing 808-heavy beats topped with dense church organs and synths and underscored by throbbing bass lines. YRB was in the house taking notes as the album played through, so hit the jump to peep what you can expect before the album hits stores later this summer.
1. Church
Brooding church organs underscore the opening track, which sees Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince introducing the album before Bun hops on the thunderous beat. “I got the streets on fire so forget a buzz,” he rapped. “I’ma hit ‘em low, chop ‘em at the knees.” A female harmonizes on the chorus, singing, “We gon’ represent for the south / In the streets I am the move / I came from the bottom to the top.”
2. Trillionaire featuring T-Pain
Nappy Boy’s head honcho kicks off this radio-friendly joint by cooing over spidery electronic synths, singing on the chorus, “I’m the trill, homie / I don’t give a damn / I’m a self-made trillionaire.” That top down, speakers up kind of stuff.
3. Just Like That featuring Young Jeezy
Grisly 808s top a seesawing bass line on “Just Like That,” where Jeezy growls on the chorus, “Yeah, you know we bout that.” Bun handles first verse duties before flipping it over to Jeezy, who gets his own 16 to spit a grease.
4. Put It Down featuring Drake (prod. by Boi-1da)
The first of two collaborations with Aubrey Graham on the album, “Put It Down” showcases the natural on-track chemistry between the two. “When it comes to trill, I’m the litmus test,” barks Bun before flipping it to Drake on the chorus. “Drizzy Hendrix, I’m just backstage gettin’ stoned,” Drake raps on his verse.
5. Right Now featuring Pimp C, 2Pac and Trey Songz
This joint’s the album’s crown jewel. Bun introduced this song without explaining who was on the actual cut, but it was evident from the start that this one was special. Heavy on the handclaps and peppered with tinny horns, the track sees Chad Butler taking the first verse, 2Pac on the second (it sounded like a new verse unearthed from the vaults, but aficionados might recognize it from somewhere) and Bun on the third. Trey sticks to the chorus, and carries the tune through to the end. Excellent stuff.
6. Countin’ Money All Day featuring Gucci Mane and Yo Gotti (prod by DJ B-Do)
“Countin’ Money All Day” is that greasy gasoline shit, pure and simple. Enough to knock the rust right out of those speakers.
7. Ridin’ Slow featuring Slim Thug
A little chop and screw action drives this one, which stays true to its name by slow-rolling instead of pounding along like some of the more radio-friendly cuts on the album.
8. Speak Easy featuring Twista and Cedric The Entertainer
This is where the album hit its New York stride. With a blaring chopped soul trumpet sample, the song sees Bun riding the beat in easy ¾ time while Twista does what he’s best at and unloads a full clip.
9. Lights, Camera, Action
Quite possibly the most “East Coast”-sounding track on the album (barring the Primo-produced cut), “Lights, Camera, Action” boasts rolling drum fills and hearty horn blurts as Bun raps on the chorus, “We need lights, camera, action / It’s on.” The song segues into the next, but not before the beat cuts out and a chorus chimes in, chanting, “Bun B!”
10. I Get Down For Mine
This one begins when a “boom boom clap” pounds in underneath the chants, morphing into a head knocking, fuel-injected soul beat. These two tracks were meant for one another.
11. No Competition featuring Raekwon
The Chef stops by to help out on this one, which features a busy beat courtesy of DJ Khalil. Rae handles chorus duties and gets a verse alongside Bun.
12. Let ‘Em Know (prod. by DJ Premier)
Definitely one of the grittiest, most aurally pleasing tracks on Trill O.G., “Let ‘Em Know” begins with Bun shouting out, “R.I.P. Guru” before a beat that could have easily fit on a Gangstarr release begins to rock. With its yearning strings, the song features Primo cutting up vinyl on the chorus, making for one of the strongest pillars of the album.
13. All A Dream featuring LeToya Luckett
“All A Dream” takes its title from – you guessed it – “Juicy,” with Bun spitting “It was all a dream” at the beginning of the track. A fiery number, this one could be a street single without a hitch.
14. It’s Been A Pleasure featuring Drake
Though the last song on the album, this one was played out of sequence, as the actual fourteenth track “Ladies in the House” featuring what sounds like Christina Milian was reserved for last (Bun thought it was a “sausage fest” in the spot, but changed his mind on playing the track when a few specimens showed up near the end). “It’s Been a Pleasure” is a nice way to round out the album, sucking out some of the venom that fuels the rest of the effort and letting the track ride.
http://rapradar.com/2010/06/01/bun-b-int...trill-o-g/