Review Summary: "Ridin' Dirty" marks the artistic prime for the first half of UGK's career. An influential, cornerstone album for all of southern hip-hop.
5 of 5 thought this review was well written
The Geto Boys' influenced group, the Underground Kingz, were two albums deep and being pushed aside by the more artistic Organized Noise, Goodie Mob, and OutKast. You bet the Houston boys weren't ready to be the shadow of OutKast's "ATLiens" in '96. The south had their Frazier/Ali matchup that summer and like OutKast, UGK brought their A game. Out came "Ridin' Dirty" and it soon became a cornerstone album for southern hip hop. Under the foundation of the classic tracks, "One Day", "Diamonds & Wood", and "3 in the Mornin'", the album establishes the prime of the UGK sound. The length (65 minutes) becomes a bit of an issue and some of the fat could easily be trimmed, but Pimp C and Bun B's charisma carries you through. In fact, I've never heard Bun B this good and Pimp C started to find his niche on the mic with the release of this album.
Production wise, the album excels. Pimp C is the king of hook as far as I'm concerned. "One Day" sounds like a blueprint to some of Kno's current work, and Pimp C and Co. seem to be the ying to Organized Noise's yang. This album is funky and groovy without losing its edgy bang, chill and dirty south through and through. UGK eats, drinks, and breathes the south.. this album takes you there. Lyrically, we're made to believe Pimp C is an actual pimp and Bun B is a Houston gangster. They don't share the political edge of the Mob or the abstract lyricism of Andre, but the Kingz rather rap about things you'd likely hear from Cube and Eazy. Little is lost, however, as they managed to start a lyrical culture separate from the West. "Ridin' Dirty" is a common term coined by the group themselves, among endless others that are used today by southern acts paying respects.
If you like southern, gangsta, funky, or just good hip hop, this album is an essential listen. A southern classic worthy of its place next to Soul Food, ATLiens, and Aquemini.
I'm mostly disappointed in southern hip hop.Lil Waynes, Soulja Boys, Flo Rida (what an amazing stage name) and so on are all the same crap.I like Young Buck though and Chamillionaire but I've never heard UGKs own songs, I guess I just haven't been interested in it, however their ratings seem ok and stuff so it keeps me interested about UGK's style, Probably need to add it to my "list" of albums that can be good but I have no clue about them.
Breakin haters off can't be mistaken for fakin
Fools are the ones left shakin, flakin
Marijuana deals with Jamaicans
Bakin up the powder to a fat cake an'
Mashin from the scene almost crashin, flashin
Cop lights keep a player dashin
Cash-in, on the crack course, paper stashin
With a passion for high-priced fashion
My dang clothes and my eighty-fo's clanky
God thank ye, motherfuckers actin cranky
Stanky, attitudes be janky
I think he, gon' hafta feel the sting from the rang on my panky
