Bun B – “Way Mo Trill” review

Port Arthur, Texas emcee & entrepreneur Bun B returning for his 7th studio LP. Coming up as 1/2 of the iconic duo UGK over 3 decade ago, he eventually released his solo debut Trill in the fall of 2005 & & began focusing towards his solo career a few months after UGK’s self-titled double album when his cohort Pimp C passed away. Bun went on to release 5 more albums, with the last one being the Cory Mo-produced Mo Trill & to which Way Mo Trill serves as an official sequel to ahead of it’s predecessor turning 4 in a few months.

“There He Go” featuring 8Ball & MJG starts with them forever staying on the grind every minute & every hour whereas the final single “Everywhere We Go” by UGK featuring Juicy J & Project Pat talks about representing the south regardless of where they’re at. “Better Believe It” featuring LaRussell co-produced by DJ Toomp pulls from gospel a bit flexing that they’re back bigger & better while “I Can’t Lie” featuring Monaleo & Scotty ATL after the “Queenie Keeping It Trill 2” skit finds the trio talking about not letting hoes ride with Ray Murray of Organized Noize handling co-production.

Killa Kyleon & Young Dro appear for the soulful lead single “Can’t Stop My Hustle” refusing to pump the brakes in terms of hustling while “Down in the South” featuring Akeem Ali & 24hrs talks about bumping country rap tunes in the ride driving around the city. Woodie Woo joins Bun in clarifying that they’re “Still Outside” & after “N****s Ain’t Right” featuring Z-Ro calls out the frauds, Jay Worthy alongside Legendary Baller & Scar get together with Bun to “Put You on Game”.

Starting the deluxe run, “Be About Some Bread” featuring Talib Kweli joins forces over sample-based trap instrumental advising to get the fuck out the game if you don’t even know how to play it when they’re absolutely correct about it while the final bonus track “Fight Music” featuring Grafh & Termanology finishes up with all 3 of them over some horns & hi-hats for a song either the WWE or the UFC divisions of the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings would include in a future video game soundtrack.

Unfortunately as much as I enjoyed Mo Trill for it’s demonstration of Bun B & Cory Mo’s artistic chemistry approximately 3 & a half years earlier, I wouldn’t consider the sequel to be on par with the predecessor even though I’m very much torn coming away from it. Not because of Cory’s dirty south/trap production or the killer lyricism from the founder of II Trill Enterprises & Trill Burgers, but mainly due to the opinion that the list of guests subtly tones down in consistency.

Score: 3/5

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Bun B – “Mo Trill” review

This is the 6th full-length album from Port Arthur veteran Bun B. Coming up as 1/2 of the iconic duo UGK a little over 3 decades back, he eventually released his solo debut Trill in 2005 & began focusing towards his solo career a few months after UGK’s self-titled double album when his cohort Pimp C passed away. He went on to release 4 more albums with the last one being Return of the Trill, but is now returning after 3 & a half years by enlisting Cory Mo to produce Mo Trill in it’s entirety.

The title track starts off the album with Lil Keke & Slim Thug joining Bun on top of a jazzy instrumental talking about being triller than they were the day prior whereas “Hesitate” with David Banner & Talib Kweli finds the trio jumping on top of a glossy beat talking about Yahweh telling them that Heaven’s waiting. Wale & 2 Chainz tag along for the soulful trap ballad “My Queen” paying tribute to the special ladies in their lives just before “This World” with Big K.R.I.T. & Trae tha Truth gets socially conscious on top of an organ & hi-hats co-produced by Zaytoven.

After the “Queenie Keepin’ It Trill” skit, we have Devin the Dude coming in the picture for the twangy relaxation anthem “Feel Good” leading into the Benny the Butcher-assisted “Theme Song” paying tribute to all the playas out there & the guitar on here is so gnarly. “The Geto” is a pretty cool recreation of Too $hort joint of the same name down to Z-Ro’s hook while the song “Duces in the Wind” with Larry June & Le$ goes into a funkier route talking about living like a playa & moving like a boss. The penultimate track “The Streets” then reminds everyone that the hood don’t love nobody over a sorrowful instrumental & “Pot of Gold” ends it with a gospel-tinged ballad about how they can’t stand the rain.

Bun always comes correct whenever he drops a solo effort & I actually happen to take Mo Trill over that Bun B Day EP he put out the summers after Return of the Trill. Cory Mo been putting it down for H-Town for a little over 2 decades at this point, so for the Trill O.G. to let him shine for an entire album by letting him & his guests rap their asses off accompanied by some fresh southern production.

Score: 3.5/5

Bun B – “Return of the Trill” review

Bun B is a 45 year old MC from Port Arthur, Texas who came up as 1/2 of the iconic duo UGK. He released his solo debut Trill in 2005 under Rap-A-Lot Records & began focusing towards his solo career in late 2007 when his UGK cohort Pimp C passed away. He went on to release 3 more LPs, including II Trill well as Trill O.G. & of course the last one being Trill O.G.: The Epilogue in 2013. However, Bun is now making his official comeback with EMPIRE Distribution for his 5th full-length album.

The album begins with “Trill Over Everything”, where he & Killa Kyleon brag about their longevity over a trap beat with some interesting organ passages. The next song “Recognize” with T.I. sees the 2 continuing the message of the opener over an abrasive beat while the track “Knowhatimsayin’?” with Slim Thug & Lil’ Keke is an ode to Houston over a gritty beat. The song “Outta Season” with Big K.R.I.T. is about practicing what you’re preaching over a laidback instrumental while the track “Traphandz” with Yo Gotti & 2 Chainz is an ode to trappin’ over an instrumental with a blaring horn & rattling hi-hats.

“Blood on the Dash” vividly tells a story about being pulled over by a cop over a prominent organ while the track “Myself” with Run the Jewels is all about righting your wrongs over a futuristic instrumental. “Rudeboi” with Lil Wayne is of course reggae-tinged that comes off as VERY awkward when you have both Bun & Weezy rapping in a fake patois. The track “Hoes from da Hood” is self-explanatory with a bass-heavy instrumental while the song “Slow It Down” is a weed anthem with a jazzy Big K.R.I.T. instrumental.

The track “Never Going Back” with Giggs is about leaving their rough pasts behind & being blessed today over some prominent drums the song “U’s a Bitch” talks about snitches over a jazzy beat. The penultimate track “Grow Up” with 8Ball & MJG is about maturing over an instrumental with rubbery bass & somber piano chords. The album then finishes with “Gone Away”, which is a tribute to Pimp C over a settle instrumental with a prominently twangy guitar. However, I wish Bun had another verse.

I was wondering if Bun B would ever drop an album again & from front to back, this was a better return than I could’ve ever imagined. It’s mostly well produced, the founder of II Trill Enterprises himself sounds impeccably focused & his pen game is just as strong as it’s ever been. If you wanna hear a dirty south legend sounding like he never left, give this a listen.

Score: 4/5