Ridin’ Dirty

UGK

Released

UGK’s third album is commonly regarded as their masterpiece, mostly on the basis of its first two songs: “One Day,” an introspective and fatalistic tale of gangster melancholy every bit as potent as the Geto Boys’ “Mind Playing Tricks On Me,” and “Murder,” a breathless sprint of murderous aggro-braggadocio. Bun B’s verse on the latter will leave your head spinning. Of course, the album also contains “Diamonds And Wood,” “Fuck My Car,” “That’s Why I Carry” and the title track. Bun B and Pimp C lay out vivid lyrical tales of drug dealing and slick cars, but it’s the music that really sets UGK apart: old soul and funk grooves (Ridin’ Dirty features samples from the Isley Brothers, Bootsy Collins, Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield and even jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery) set to slowly ticking, spaced-out beats.

Phil Freeman

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