Notes & Personnel Info |  | As the incarcerated half of criminally overlooked Houston hip-hop duo UGK, Pimp C had to sit behind bars while the style of music he helped usher in (with colleagues such as Three 6 Mafia, Mike Jones, and Paul Wall) became the dominant force in mainstream hip-hop. While his partner in UGK, Bun-B, hit it big in 2005 with his solo debut, TRILL, Pimp C's release PIMPALATION serves to balance out the scales in his favor (even if the scales of justice tipped unfavorably). | | PIMPALATION is as glitzy and glamorous as the lifestyles of the crunk and famous can get, with sung choruses and lusher production than has been heard out of the Swishahouse contingent since its early days. In fact, the standout tracks lean as much toward the '90s West Coast G-funk of Nate Dogg and Warren G as they do Pimp's woozy style. Tracks such as "Free" (cribbing a chorus from Tom Petty's hit "Free Fallin'") and the Mike Jones collaboration, "Pourin' Up," demonstrate that even jailtime hasn't taken away Pimp C's spirit or his ability to turn a clever verse. | | Since Pimp C entered prison in early 2002, his UGK brother Bun B unwillingly launched a solo career with the heavy-hitting 2005 album Trill and the fantastic single "Draped Up." It was a more mainstream affair than anything UGK had ever attempted, and the fans who were disappointed by Bun B going bling are going to be even more bitter after hearing Pimpalation, an album that makes no grand statements but bangs hard with numerous club cuts. Easing listeners off the righteous "Free Pimp C" campaign mania that led up to the album's release, the great Tom Petty-sampling "I'm Free" thanks the fans for waiting and addresses lockdown and release. Hot on its heels, the hard and very UGK "Knockin' Doorz Down" attempts to unite the South while announcing the Pimp's return to the game. From here, it's forget about the past and get back to work. "Pourin' Up" is the little brother to Bun B's "Draped Up," although it's Pimp C, so it's more aggressive, brasher, and extra sleazy. A ridiculous amount of hooky tracks with an even more ridiculous amount of guest stars -- shades of Trill once again -- follow with Pimp C dropping the more hedonistic side of Houston culture all over tracks like the sly "Bobby & Whitney." This is a party, so those who expect a storytelling prison album like Beanie Sigel's The B.Coming are in for a big letdown. Their loss, but thuggish Friday nights that crave that syrup sippin' Texas noise rarely have it so good. ~ David Jeffries |
Producer: Mike Dean; Beatmaster Clay D.; Myke Diesel; Mr. Lee; Pimp C |
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