The years between
Bun B's debut solo album -- 2005's
Trill -- and the sequel -- 2008's
II Trill -- were turbulent. His longtime friend and partner in UGK,
Pimp C, saw release from prison in late 2005 only to die two years later from an accidental overdose of codeine and promethazine. In the middle of it all were
Bun's hit solo singles like "Draped Up" and "Get Throwed" plus the well-received double album
Underground Kingz, which found the reunited UGK topping the album charts for the first time in their long career. It's a testament to
Bun B's solid foundation that the more things change, the more he stays the same, refusing to be rattled by the highs or the lows and remaining true to his promise to stay "UGK for life." Save an appearance from pop-rap singer
Sean Kingston -- who really does add some great Island flavor to standout track "That's Gangsta" -- everything here should satisfy the loyal UGK fan's hunger for cold and unforgiving Dirty South music. There's the down but not out "If It Was Up II Me," with reggae legend
Junior Reid adding hope to
Bun's tale of struggle, plus the message-filled "Get Cha Issue," where the hard truth gets coated in Houston funk by producer
Bigg Tyme. On "Damn I'm Cold" there's great chemistry between
B and
Lil Wayne (who offers the amusing "Don't tell me how to spend it/And yes, I know the rules/Don't marry Robin Givens") while "You're Everything" overflows with guest stars with
Bun at the center, keeping the track focused. While
Pimp C's absence is addressed in a moving, bittersweet manner, it's hardly dwelled upon and his passing influences the album as much as his incarceration influenced the original
Trill. Just like he was two years prior,
Bun B is a reluctant solo artist on
II Trill, burdened with keeping the UGK name alive on his lonesome. This time out, he's a single short and couple songs too long, but his back is strong enough to carry the weight, proving once again he's one of the Dirty South's most reliable voices. ~ David Jeffries