“Pimpalation” was released in 2006 soon after the Port Arthur Texas rapper Pimp C (one half of UGK) was released from prison. Although his time out wouldn’t last long, as he died the following year, he made a massive impact as this was to be the first of three major projects he would churn ... Read review
Advantages: Lots of bangers Disadvantages: A couple of tunes hold it back
“Pimpalation” was released in 2006 soon after the Port Arthur Texas rapper Pimp C (one half of UGK) was released from prison. Although his time out wouldn’t last long, as he died the following year, he made a massive impact as this was to be the first of three major projects he would churn out in this short space of time after a four year stretch for violating his probation. His second solo album finds him working with typical collaborators out of ... ...wished to work with a legendary undergrounder who paved the way for Southern Rap with his partner Bun B over their career (which started in the early eighties).
1. “The Pimp is Free!” (Intro)
2. “I’m Free”
Getting right into it here, you see that here he jumps right into an uplifting one where he is able to have a little fun with it and talk on his joy at being released. You see that he talks listeners through ... more
“Pimpalation” was released in 2006 soon after the Port Arthur Texas rapper Pimp C (one half of UGK) was released from prison. Although his time out wouldn’t last long, as he died the following year, he made a massive impact as this was to be the first of three major projects he would churn out in this short space of time after a four year stretch for violating his probation. His second solo album finds him working with typical collaborators out of Houston and elsewhere in the ‘Dirty South’, and others who wished to work with a legendary undergrounder who paved the way for Southern Rap with his partner Bun B over their career (which started in the early eighties).
1. “The Pimp is Free!” (Intro)
2. “I’m Free”
Getting right into it here, you see that here he jumps right into an uplifting one where he is able to have a little fun with it and talk on his joy at being released. You see that he talks listeners through his first day out and what exactly he did with it to make full use of his newly-found freedom as it couldn’t before.
**Five Stars**
3. “Knockin’ Doorz Down”
With P.O.P. and Lil’ KeKe on his side, this single has him taking things in a completely new direction as he chooses to get back into where he left off, before being locked off with a Mafioso cut which has him taking on the popular H-Town structure with the screwed hook which gets him going and back to his old tricks.
**Five Stars**
4. “Rock 4 Rock”
This is a pretty significant one from him as it has him linking back up with fellow UGK member Bun B and although getting assistance from two of the biggest names from the legendary Houston rap group the Geto Boys as Willie D and Scarface get into it and show love for The Pimp as they turn to the drug dealing raps.
**Four Stars**
5. “Pourin’ Up”
This was my favourite single from the album as it has the artist working at his full potential as he works with new Texas rap talent here from the time as H-Town’s Mike Jones comes to help out with his predictable flows and comes to give an extra supportive boost to Pimp C’s come back as they get on beats which really represents this time for Texas Rap music as they get loose to a throwed joint.
**Five Stars**
6. “The Honey”
As Jazzy Pha gets on the beats here, you can predict that form this one you will get a change in the pace, and this comes through with the upped tempo as Jazzy Phizzle shows his strengths when trying out this typical West Coast-influenced underground southern production for this one as Atlanta’s Jody Breeze rhymes with him.
**Four Stars**
7. “Getcha Mind Right”
As Mr. Lee gets on the beats, he chooses that its time to get into some proper H-Town stuff with his Chopped & Screwed production to take you right down into the laid-back atmosphere of the area where you are forced to just chill with it and be taken over by the pace of te tune and the rapper’s calm approach.
**Five Stars**
8. “I Don’t F**k Wit’ U”
Cory Mo, who had a vocal role on the tune prior to this, has full control over the beats of this and you find that he chooses to stick to this slow, yet intense pace which really seems to represent the sort of thing you tend to expect from the music which the artist come out with. The rhymes are hardcore and although not too special, hold it together.
**Three Stars**
9. “Working The Wheel”
After showing lots of support towards him whilst he was away, Slim Thug finally gets the opportunity to work with The Pimp here and makes sure that this chance isn’t wasted as he comes out with something which has him getting to what he knows best and a long distance from the mainstream stuff he brought with his “Already Platinum” debut album.
**Five Stars**
10. “Bobby & Whitney”
This is a funky one form the rapper which really livens you up and appeals to all of those who were really into the calmer G-Funk-styled beats which you find in his stuff. I don’t really where the popular reference used in the title comes into the rhymes but the artist and the Memphis guests; 8Ball & MJG make sure that this isn’t made a big issue.
**Five Stars**
11. “Like That” (Remix)
Not to be confused with a tune which you find on the UGK self-entitled 2007 double album, this is a rather unimpressive tune which is really quite unlike the artist as he breaks his cool in order to work with some Louisiana names for this one, and nothing really comes of it as the club tunes are tried out and Weebie, Mouse (of 3 Deep) and Lil’ Boosie try to hard to make it their own.
**Two Stars**
12. “Cheat On Yo Man”
As Mannie Fresh gets on the beats for this one, you know that you are in for an improvement (especially after the one prior to it) as in this one you see that the artist shows exactly why he has the name he does in a gentle tune where he works the girls and wins them over (even when they are in a steady relationship).
**Four Stars**
13. “Havin’ Thangs ‘06”
This one has Pimp C taking control of the beats for the first time in the album and doing something which he has clearly wanted to do for years with him taking on Big Mike’s classic “Havin’ Thangs”, and showing what can be done with it at this stage as he works with the original artist on a funky groove which has a throwback feel to it.
**Five Stars**
14. “On Your Mind”
This is a bit of a surprising one as you get one which his him working on a fly little tune which has him showing that he is able to develop with the sort of thing you got with the early Jazzy Pha with one which gets him turning his attention towards the girls and showing how gentle he can be with it. Although he may use rhymes taken from other parts of the album here, he makes sure that his swag overcomes this potential issue.
**Four Stars**
15. “Overstand Me”
This one bring the mood up significantly to a stage where you actually forget everything else which came before it as he gets down to one of the most impressive joints where he just gets freaky with it and gets down on beats which really stand out in the way that “Havin’ Thangs ‘06” does with Mr. Lee showing just how well he can express what the rapper is about through a sample of Pimp C’s previous work and a typical Texas groove.
**Five Stars**
16. “I Miss You”
Z-Ro comes to help out Pimp C on the final proper track on the album as he chooses to change the direction of the music and do one for his mother to let her know what he has been able to achieve over the years since she left hi. It is surprisingly strong, and the guest rhymes are valued highly too.
**Four Stars**
17. “Outro”
I felt that although a few clearly held it back somewhat, this was a banger of an album from the artist and one which appeared to get him back working at top form to show that he still had it within him to come out with top tunes. I felt that the lack of his original beats was a bit of a shame (as when he laid one down, it was amongst the best of the album) but this was made up for with later UGK albums.
