Texas Platters

Bun B

II Trill but never too trill, the second solo swagger from UGKer Bun B spins triumphant, Houston hip-hop ripped both in celebration of properly executed gangster prophecies and passed partner-in-slang Pimp C. The opening title cut cruises both roads, citing Pimp's eternal presence in the H-town scene before a relentless Bun, "the chosen one," hypes Clinton Sparks' orchestral strike in crescendo: "too gangster, too street ... too fly to stay grounded, too fresh to stay funky." "UGK for Life" sentiments graffiti Sean Kingston-featured "That's Gangsta," claims of "the best to come out of PA" verified before the New Orleans bounce of Lil' Wayne on "Damn I'm Cold." Introspection backs the headliner's R&B croon, "You're Everything" feeding off Jodeci's "Cry for You" along with Lyfe Jennings' touches on "If I Die II Night" and the perfectly put together "Angel in the Sky," which unfurls Bun's soul-searching "Trill Talk," also playing as tribute to the Pimp. The Chamillionaire-dosed vocals of "Underground Thang," dropping horns Roc-a-Fella, even pulls a verse from Pimp's grimy lyrical vault. That's among the many highlights lifting II Trill above its 2005 predecessor, Trill, in tune with the Lupe Fiasco-featured tuba shake of "Swang On Em," plus the guitar-riffed variations over "Get Cha Issue," and Mddl Fngz-accompanied ride of "Another Soldier." Grandiose hustler's anthem "Keep It 100" closes like a fist. Unlike his solo debut, cut while biding time until Pimp's release from prison, II Trill boasts the work of a rapper aware of his responsibility atop the Houston rap game. Now that's trill.