Bun B - II Trill: Album Review
Bun B, II Trill 2 Quit (Rap-A-Lot, 2008)
In all these years, I haven't actually reviewed any Bun B albums. I remember I heard the original Trill a few years ago (before all of the BS, mind you) and thought it was just awful. Then I saw some of the reviews of it elsewhere and was like, "Huh?" I know this most recent one has already been given a semi vote of no confidence by Tom Breihan of all people.
You can stream the entire thing right now at Bun B's MySpace.
II TRILL
J. Prince, who refers to Bun B as "Bon," encourages him to send a subliminal message to people who throw rocks and hide their hands. Was he talking about me. I know "Bon" once accused me of something along those lines. But I don't know if J. Prince's Internets game is as deep as Bon's (is anyone's?), so it might just be someone he deals drugs with.
THAT'S GANGSTA
Is Sean Kingston gonna be the replacement Pimp C? If so, I don't think Pimp C would've approved. He would've almost certainly would've had something homophobic to say about this.
DAMN I'M COLD
Speaking of homosexuality, Lil' Wayne kicks a guest verse on this one. It's underwhelming, even as far as these things go. And then the chorus is like that one he did on "Duffle Bag Boy," i.e. nails on chalk board grating.
YOU'RE EVERYTHING
Never would I have guessed that the chorus to this one would be a sample from that second Jodeci album. But it is.The production on everything on this so far has just been comically awful. Maybe it only works if you slow it way down and listen to it while you're high on prescription cough syrup.
I LUV THAT
More of a West Coast awfulness than a Down South awfulness. This is kinda what I assume the 99% of the post Chronic-era West Coast rap that I'll never hear sounds like.
SWANG ON 'EM
Wow, a song with both Lupe and Bun B. And it's called "Swang on 'Em." Fortunately, I think this has something to do with how special their cars are. Pretty much all of these songs have to do with selling drugs, killing people, buying expensive shit, and how people need to stop hating.
MY BLOCK
I thought this might be another one with Sean Kingston, bit it's actually Jazze Pha. Remember when he was all over the place? I'm glad he can't find any work these days, other than songs on Bun B solo albums.
GET CHA ISSUE
Bun B goes all anti-religion, over some budget Just Blaze. Finally, something we can agree on. Except, I don't think Bun B is as against the religion as he is the pimps who run it, where as I'm against religion (because it's just not real, sorry) and I actually kinda enjoy the pimps who run it. Nullus.
POP IT 4 PIMP
Like one of these Lil' Boosie records, except Lil' Boosie isn't actually on it. Juvenile is though, and his verse is just sad. What happened? He might need to see about no longer referring to himself as Juvenile.
GOOD II ME
A wanton rip of the '80s R&B record "Just Be Good to Me," but with some broad resinging the chorus and making it that much less appropriate. Didn't Master P already pull some shit like this a long time ago. Bun B might not have been aware, because his knowledge of southern rap is just not as on point as mine.
UNDERGROUND THANG
Chamillionaire sings the chorus to this one similar to the way he did "Ridin' Dirty." What ever happened to him anyway? His reign on the top was short like leprechauns.
IF I DIE II NIGHT
A deep meditation on mortality, like the ones 2Pac used to do, but with more n-bombs and synthesizers.
ANOTHER SOLDIER
I got distracted by some pr0n during this one.
IF IT WAS UP II ME
Whoa, they got that guy who used to scream on those Shyne records to scream on this. I guess he hasn't had a whole lot to do since Shyne got locked up. Speaking of which, I heard Shyne might be getting out soon. This could be this guy's best year since 2000.
TRILL TALK
I missed what he said here and didn't want to go back. Probably something to the effect of RIP Pimp C.
ANGEL IN THE SKY
The requisite Pimp C tribute. The backing track is Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky" as reimagined by the world's most god-awful church musicians. (Random, fairly infrequent personal revelation: my grandma used to play piano in a church. See, I don't come from a long line of intellectuals. I pulled myself up!)
II TRILL TALK
Same story as the first one. My bad.
KEEP IT 100
The silly saying is now the song.
COMMENTS: This might actually be the worst album I've heard since I began reviewing albums on this site, with the caveat that I generally won't even bother with an album if it looks like it's gonna be some ol' bullshit. And I probably wouldn't have bothered with II Trill, if it wouldn't have been for the issues I've had with "Bon" over the years. But, um, yeah. This is just awful. I don't know if it's a situation like the second Nore solo album, where Bon just didn't want to make music or what.
BEST TRACKS: "Swang on 'Em" "Get Cha Issue" "Keep It 100"
BONUS VIDEO: "That's Gangsta"
