Bun B

Trill OG (Rap-a-Lot 4 Life)

Bun B didn’t get to be an underground king by delegating authority. When BB’s production partner J. Prince goes to “Chuuch!” with the blessing of late UGK scepter Pimp C on the Trill OG opener, he rolls out a red carpet intro for MC du jour Drake. Neither does the producer’s hydraulic R&B sit well. T-Pain’s PlayStation chorus on “Trillionaire” goes bust next, while “Put It Down” slicks Southern soul with more video-game vox at the expense of the previously announced big D. When Bun eventually solos on “That’s a Song,” it is finally. Trill, the Port Arthur rapper’s ’05 solo bow, rode just as many cameos, and by II Trill three years later, they began to overtake the ride. Twista & Bluesman Ceddy St. Louis hybrid a blues toaster bringing out the best of BB, and fellow H-town boss Slim Thug cruises “Ridin’ Slow.” B boasting “I Git Down 4 Mine” rides nobody shotgun and again shoots straighter for it, same as “Snow Money” and “Let ‘Em Know.” Time for a solo joint.

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This article appears in August 27 • 2010.

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San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.