Underground Kingz is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. The album was released on August 7, 2007, by Jive Records. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Lil Jon, Jazze Pha, Swizz Beatz, DJ Paul and Pimp C himself. The album also features guest appearances from T.I., Talib Kweli, Rick Ross, Big Daddy Kane, Slim Thug, Too Short, Charlie Wilson, Outkast, Three 6 Mafia, and many more.

Underground Kingz
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 7, 2007
GenreHip hop, southern hip hop
Length60:59 (disc 1)
68:02 (disc 2)
129:01 (combined)
LabelJive
ProducerN.O. Joe, AVEREXX, Below, The Blackout Movement, DJ Paul & Juicy J, Jazze Pha, Joe Traxx, John Bido, Lil Jon, Marley Marl, MoMo, Pimp C, Swizz Beatz, DJ B-Do, Scarface, The Runners, Yung Fyngas
UGK chronology
Side Hustles
(2002)
Underground Kingz
(2007)
UGK 4 Life
(2009)
Singles from Underground Kingz
  1. "The Game Belongs to Me"
    Released: 2006
  2. "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)"
    Released: June 6, 2007
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[2]
Houston Chronicle[3]
RapReviews(10/10)[4]
The New York Times(favorable)[5]
Pitchfork Media(8.4/10)[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Stylus MagazineB+[8]
USA Today[9]
XXL (XL)[10]

Underground Kingz was supported by two singles: "The Game Belongs to Me" and "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)". The album received positive reviews from music critics and was a commercial success. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 160,000 copies in its first week.[11] The album was also Pimp C's final performance before his death on December 4, 2007, in Los Angeles, California, four months after the album's release.

Singles

edit

The first single was "The Game Belongs To Me", produced by AVEREXX. The second single was "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" featuring OutKast, and the video was released on 106 and Park, June 16, 2007. The track is a remix of "Players Anthem" featuring Three 6 Mafia. The video was awarded Video of the Year at the 2008 annual BET Hip-Hop awards. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. This song was number 10 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007, and reached number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their only song to chart there.

Pitchfork Media's "Top 500 songs of the 2000s" listed the song at number 43.[12] It was their first album since Pimp C had finished serving a lengthy prison term.[13]

Commercial performance

edit

Underground Kingz debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 160,000 copies in its first week.[11] This became UGK's first US number one debut.[11] As of March 2009, the album has sold 458,000 copies in the United States.[14]

Track listing

edit

Credits adapted from liner notes.[15]

Disc 1
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Swishas and Dosha"Steve Below, Pimp C (co.)5:11
2."Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" (featuring Outkast)DJ Paul, Juicy J4:19
3."Chrome Plated Woman"Pimp C4:17
4."Life Is 2009" (featuring Too $hort)Scarface, Randy "Big Tyme" Jefferson (add.)4:07
5."The Game Belongs to Me"N.O. Joe, AVEREXX, Pimp C (co.)5:14
6."Like That (Remix)"Steve Below, Pimp C (co.)3:50
7."Gravy"AVEREXX, Pimp C (co.)4:57
8."Underground Kingz"Pimp C4:33
9."Grind Hard" (featuring Young T.O.E. and DJ B-Do)DJ B-Do, Pimp C (co.)4:03
10."Take tha Hood Back" (featuring Slim Thug, Vicious and Middle Fingaz)The Runners5:36
11."Quit Hatin' the South" (featuring Charlie Wilson and Willie D)Pimp C6:06
12."Heaven"Pimp C, N.O. Joe4:20
13."Trill Niggas Don't Die" (featuring Z-Ro)John Bido, Yung Fyngas, Joe Traxx, Pimp C (co.)4:27
Disc 2
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."How Long Can It Last" (featuring Charlie Wilson)Pimp C, N.O. Joe6:47
2."Still Ridin' Dirty" (featuring Scarface)Scarface5:19
3."Stop-N-Go" (featuring Jazze Pha)Jazze Pha3:54
4."Cocaine" (featuring Rick Ross)N.O. Joe, The BlackOut Movement, Pimp C (co.)4:50
5."Two Type of Bitches" (featuring Dizzee Rascal and Pimpin' Ken)MoMo, Pimp C (co.), N.O. Joe4:56
6."Real Women" (featuring Talib Kweli and Raheem DeVaughn)Pimp C, N.O. Joe4:32
7."Candy"Scarface, Randy "Bigg Tyme" Jefferson (co.)3:30
8."Tell Me How Ya Feel"Jazze Pha4:25
9."Shattered Dreams" (featuring Sleepy Brown)Pimp C5:14
10."Like That"Lil Jon2:47
11."Next Up" (featuring Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap)Marley Marl3:03
12."Living This Life"N.O. Joe, Joe Scorsese5:07
13."Outro"Cory Mo0:49
14."Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" (featuring Three 6 Mafia) (Chopped & Screwed by OG Ron C) (bonus track)DJ Paul, Juicy J5:31
15."Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" (featuring Three 6 Mafia) (bonus track)DJ Paul, Juicy J3:20
16."Hit the Block" (featuring T.I.) (bonus track)Swizz Beatz3:58
Best Buy bonus track
No.TitleLength
17."Top Drop Dyne" (featuring Cory Mo)4:06
Samples
  • "Swishas and Dosha" contains a sample of "From Step to You" by Stephen J. Rideau.
  • "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" contains samples of "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch and "I Choose You" by Project Pat.
  • "Chrome Plated Woman" contains a sample of "Hercules" by Allen Toussaint.
  • "Life Is 2009" contains a sample of "Life is... Too Short" by Too Short.
  • "Grind Hard" contains a sample of "Cocaine In The Back of the Ride" by UGK.
  • "Quit Hatin' the South" contains a sample of "Let's Straighten It Out" by Benny Latimore.
  • "Trill Niggas Don't Die" contains a sample of "I Just Want to Celebrate" by Nick Zesses & Dino Fekaris.
  • "How Long Can It Last" contains a sample of "Something in the Past" by One Way.
  • "Still Ridin' Dirty" contains a sample of "The Fix" by Scarface.
  • "Two Type of Bitches" contains a sample of "Daddy Could Swear, I Declare" by Gladys Knight & the Pips.
  • "Real Women" contains a sample of "Can't Hide Love" by Earth, Wind, & Fire.
  • "Candy" contains a sample of "Bridge Thru Time" by Lonnie Liston Smith.
  • "Shattered Dreams" contains a sample of "Goin' Thru School and Love" by Raydio.
  • "Next Up" contains a sample of "The Symphony" by Juice Crew.
  • "Living This Life" contains samples of "Free" by Goodie Mob and "Free at Last" by Al Green.
  • "Hit the Block" contains a sample of "Spit Your Game (Remix)" by The Notorious B.I.G.

Chart positions

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Jeffries, David (August 7, 2007). "Underground Kingz - UGK". AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  2. ^ Schonberger, Chris (August 3, 2007). "Underground Kingz Review". EW.com. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  3. ^ "The latest by UGK puts duo in rapper royalty". Chron.com. August 8, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  4. ^ "Feature for August 7, 2007 - UGK's "Underground Kingz"". Rapreviews.com. August 7, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  5. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (August 7, 2007). "Pimp C - Bun B - UGK - Music - New York Times". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 29, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  6. ^ "Underground Kingz". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  7. ^ "UGK (Underground Kingz) : Underground Kingz". Rolling Stone. August 1, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "UGK - Underground Kings - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "This week's reviews: UGK, Kat, Jonas, Zap, Grace, Emerson & Constantine - Listen Up". USA Today. August 6, 2007. Archived from the original on June 25, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  10. ^ "UGK Underground Kingz". Xxlmag.com. January 30, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Katie Hasty (August 15, 2007). "After Five-Year Absence, UGK Scores First No. 1 Album". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "UGK Score First #1 Album". September 27, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  13. ^ "Bun B Talks About the Final UGK Album". Pitchfork. March 13, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  14. ^ Mariel Concepcion (March 23, 2009). "Bun B Memorializes Pimp C With Final UGK Album". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  15. ^ UGK - Underground Kingz. UGK Records/Jive/Zomba Label Group. 88697-08863-2B
  16. ^ "UGK Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  17. ^ "UGK Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  18. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  19. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2020.