Draped Up and Ridin' Slabs with Rapper "Bun B" and the New Hip-Hop Sound of Houston

A year ago, few people outside of Houston, Texas or the senior circles of hip-hop producers and fans had heard of Bun B. Fewer still would have thought of Houston as a source of hip-hop greatness. And those few who did probably wouldn't have expected Bun B and a host of other Houston rappers, such as Mike Jones and Slim Thug, to be riding high on some of the hottest rap recordings of 2005. But for Bun B, this isn't the rise of a new young star, but rather the unexpected comeback of a seasoned, talented rapper who has been lingering off-stage for way too long after a brief encounter with rap success in the early 1990's. Bun B, who back in the day was part of a group called UKG (Underground Kingz), is symbolic of Houston's long-overdue and slow, simmering emergence. An excellent piece by Sasha Frere-Jones in this week's New Yorker magazine explains why Bun B's new album "Trill" and Houston's singular hip-hop style are now leaving their mark on the genre. So, move over, St. Louis. Out of the way, New York City. Houston is takin' over fo' rizzle.

Essential Links

Bun B Online
Taking It Slow: Houston hip-hop takes over [The New Yorker]

Posted by Robsam at November 9, 2005 12:56 AM