Trill O.G.

iTunes Review

Bun is a traditionalist, but only in the sense that the Southern rap tradition lives within him. His third solo effort is relentlessly anti-retro. Instead of looking to Bun’s glory days with UGK, Trill OG plants its feet firmly in the present moment, proving that Bun is as relevant now as he was 10, 15 or even 20 years ago. Tracks like “Trillionaire,” “Lights, Camera, Action” and “All a Dream” automatically gain gravitas from Bun’s voice, a honeyed baritone that is as nimble as it is commanding. Even when he’s rapping about nothing in particular, his wise-man authority is a welcome complement to the smooth styles of youngsters like T-Pain, Trey Songz and Drake. The most hyped song here is “Right Now,” which resurrects two posthumous verses from Pimp C and Tupac. It’s ironic that two of rap’s toughest street voices are put to the service of a fluffy love song, but even in death, the chemistry between rappers is evident — it’s eerie how seamlessly Tupac fits into the UGK world. Bun has become a world ambassador for Southern hip-hop but “Just Like That,” “Countin’ Money” and “SpeakEasy” confirm that his heart is still on the corner.