Bun B – “Let ‘Em Know” (Produced By DJ Premier)

from III Trill III Furious (Rap-A-Lot, Coming Soon)

This is not a great song and it doesn’t matter.

Both these artists are absolute legends and deserve our utmost respect but I tend to believe that honest criticism is a more reverent act than empty praise. So it needs to be said that “Let ‘Em Know” is basically a lazy mess. Bun phones in his verse, as he’s been known to do, the beat is generic even as far as standard issue Premier goes and the scratched up spoken Pimp C vocals don’t come anywhere close to forming a musical or rhythmic chorus, let alone a memorable or catchy one.

The record an appropriate combination, though. The Awl ^[1] was astute enough to notice that both artists are old but there’s an even closer parallel here – Bun and Preem have aged uniquely into legacy artists, which is a rarity in this genre. Aside from Jay-Z, who built an industry off legacy alone, I can’t think of two acts in hip hop who have more effectively sustained themselves off codified mythologies alone.^[2] That these guys are important has become conventional hip hop wisdom, so much, in fact, that there are many people who have never heard “Front, Back, Side To Side” who will tell you that Bun B is an undisputed legend and there are those who would mistake “Check The Technique” for a Dockers commercial but will still draw the weathered conclusion that DJ Premier is the best producer to ever do it. I wouldn’t argue against either of those points, but this sort of etched in stone idolization without context has been devastating for a few reasons. (more…)

CoCo Budda f/ UGK – “Let ‘Em Have It“

from In Real Life (On the Rise, 1999)

Well, it’s late (a recurring theme lately) and sadly, also the last Trill Connection post I’ll be doing here at the Blunts. There’s no reason to go into why, and I’ll still be doing my thing at my spot so it’s all good. I just want to thank Noz for giving me the opportunity to do this little column and introduce myself and what I do to a whole new audience. Thanks homie.
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U alreddy kno whu it iz mayn.

Iss been a good run yall but iss time for de Ro Of The Weeks to end. This shit was alwayz about getting Ro’s name out there and 40- some columns later I thank I achieved dat goal ya heard. Cocaine Blunt$ wuz and still iz de most credible Hip-Hop blog on de net and i like ta thank dat de same herbs who fiend on Nah Right and occasionaly come ova here now know whut it iz when some1 sez Z-Ro De Crooked. shoutouts ta Noz for dis outlet, and aywun who fucks wit me. I love my haters too matta fact i smoke a blunt for em daily. (more…)

Young Jeezy f/ Bun B – “Over Here“

(Unreleased?, 2004)

If I remember right, this track was making the rounds on the mixtapes around the time Jeezy was building his buzz and before Thug Motivation 101 dropped. It wasn’t used for the album (I guess there was only room for one Bun guest track, and “Trap or Die” won that battle) and is only available on a vinyl 12″ that was put out for it. This particular version isn’t from that single though (it sounds too clean) and I think it must have been a leak to some blog at the time. [Ed.: There was also a video for this... check after the jump.] (more…)

Mr. Bigg Time f/ UGK – “Check My Footwork Pt. 2”

from Check My Footwork Pt. 2 b/w Motorcycle CD single (???, 2007ish)

I’m sorry about the lack of posts here lately (and at TTC for that matter) but if I’ve been having computer problems lately. I won’t get into it here, but I should have it sorted out in a couple more weeks. Meanwhile, I’ve moved from BlogSpot to my own domain so update your bookmarks. (more…)