Choosey Heads Choose Kast
UGK f/ Outkast – “International Players Anthem”
from Underground Kingz (Jive, 2007)
Outkast f/ UGK – “Tough Guys”
from Shaft Soundtrack (Arista, 2000)
Project Pat – “Choose U”
from Layin’ The Smack Down (Loud, 2002)
So I can think of a half dozen tracks on the once again delayed UGK record (May 8th!?) where a pair of phoned in Kast verses would better fit, in both an aesthetic and thematic sense. For one thing I’ve never heard either of those guys rap over a Pimp C beat and I imagine it would be a near perfect fit since ONP went AWOL (if we’re armchair A&Ring Ten The Hard Way, I wouldn’t mind production split between the two, but I’m just saying). Still I guess it wasn’t meant to be, and what was once a recycled Three Six Mafia beat from a five year old Project Pat record (don’t Kingz deserve better?) suddenly becomes an “event” record. At least Pat got a drop from the mack himself.
What I’ve come to call Big Boi syndrome is in full effect here. Since Outkast became the biggest rap group in the world, the poet the playa/poet paradigm has shifted, with Andre becoming the center of the Kast universe. When Andre does wrong Outkast is overlooked, when Andre does good Big is overlooked. Even now the fruit flies are abuzz with Andre solo album talk. Can’t we just get a (real) last Outkast album? Both of these guys can rap circles around your favorite rapper and when they rap together it only makes them stronger. Big damn near steals the show on “International Players Anthem,” but Dre is the only person anybody’s going to be talking about. It’s annoying when Andre spits over a drum-less beat (oxymoron?) so he can run roughshot with his flow for an entire verse (although it’s a trick that a rapper like Kweli could probably be wise to pick up). Though I’d rather that than the infamously awkward Put my glock away I got a stronger weapon that never runs out of ammunition so i’m ready for war ok run on that remains the only blemish on the otherwise perfect ATLiens.
It’s not the first UGK/Outkast collab either – “Tough Guy” from the Shaft soundtrack seemed more organic than designed, seeped in Stankonia era electro funk and featuring a massive Bun verse.
Still, all things considered, “IPA” is a fucking UGK & Outkast record. Which means it’s better than just about everything in the universe.
EDIT: Art of Storytelling Pt. 4?!? (did I miss 3?): In the Grand Hustle studio, Dram shares a big City of Brotherly Love smile with fellow Philadelphia native DJ Sense, his manager and business partner. He plays “Art of Storytelling 4,” featuring Outkast and Floetry’s Marsha Ambrosius, a definite highlight from the official Gangsta Grillz LP. Although they’ve played the record a thousand times over the past couple of months, it sounds just as fresh as if they had recorded it yesterday. When you hear Andre 3000’s leadoff narrative verse, you almost want to pray that his rhyme never ends. They also quote the verse but I’m not trying to ruin it.
And this song has really grown on me since I wrote this post. It may even be better than “Watch My Feet.” Nah, the only thing that could possibly be better than “Watch My Feet” would be a “Watch My Feet” remix feeturing Andre 3000.
March 31st, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I never knew about “Tough Guys”. Jesus titty fucking Christ.
I am ENORMOUSLY pissed that that achingly boring “Player’s Anthem” thing is a buzz record. Paul an’ J just stuck the Willie Hutch sample there an’ ain’t did SHIT wid it. They just leave it there. Bad form, fellas.
Question, please, Mistanoz– would you kindly link us up with a “Watch My Feet” mp3? That thing is the bee’s knees an’ I wantsa hurr it on my iPod e’ry day. Thank you. You mos’ gracious.
March 31st, 2007 at 12:47 pm
i’m just glad antawn’s continuing to develop his vocal pitch shifting gimmick that’s now three years old and still going strong. “cc:’d every girl that i see see round town.”
April 1st, 2007 at 8:21 am
Noz- I agree with everything you say (I wish the UGK verses were better, and the mixing is awkward…but that could be fixed on the finished version), but how grumpy can you really get about UGK and Outkast over “I Choose You”?
And the reason “IPA” is great is because Paul and Juicy DIDN’T do shit to “I Choose You”! You don’t wreck a song that good by fucking with it (see that lame Cormega song, which speeds Hutch up, K. West style). Just let it play–it’s already perfect.
That some people would rather hear Cormega rap over a tinkered-with “I Choose You” than UGK and Outkast say ANYTHIGN over the real “I Choose You” is baffling to me.
Anyway, what any of us internet turds wants to say couldn’t matter less–this shit is meant to be played in the cars of Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, not on “audioblogs”.
April 1st, 2007 at 9:07 am
yeah syl read my whole post, i agree completely. i’m not grumpy just ranting. i love this record.
noah i just ripped that shit from their myspace, still waiting on a good mp3 to leak.
April 1st, 2007 at 9:17 am
“Anyway, what any of us internet turds wants to say couldn’t matter less–this shit is meant to be played in the cars of Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, not on “audioblogsâ€.” – Blogger guilt?
The nicest use of I Choose You is that Allah Mathematics track.
Was listening to Tough Guys this week. Been on an Outkast odds and ends week. “Everlasting” is that shit.
April 1st, 2007 at 7:38 pm
“infamously awkward Put my glock away I got a stronger weapon that never runs out of ammunition so i’m ready for war ok run on that remains the only blemish on the otherwise perfect ATLiens.”
that verse is tight. i dont know what your smoking
oh wait… cocaine.
April 1st, 2007 at 8:23 pm
dr. spaceman – love the verse, hate the line, never touched the shit.
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:08 am
[...] Man mÃ¥ste hÃ¥lla med Noz om att det är lite synd att det är ett gammalt beat frÃ¥n Project Pats “Choose U” men jag tänker bara pÃ¥ Jaheims “Chosen One” (alla lÃ¥tarna använder Willie Hutchs “I Choose You”). Sommar sommar. [...]
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:24 am
“Glock Away” line is wack?!! You are buggin’!!!
April 4th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Jason – rhythmically, yes. It’s proto-Kwelian.
April 6th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
i like da three 6 version better
April 7th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
even with a recycled beat ( a slayin recycled beat mind you) the track is an absolute stunner. Big Boi’s rhymes deserve the last spot on the track. “Ask Paul McCartney/ the lawyers couldn’t stop me…” “Dump in the gut raw from the giddyup/ better choose the right one or pick the kiddies up!!!!!!!” BIG BOI HANDS DOWN
April 14th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Now that you mention it, that Dre “glock” verse does seem a bit akward. Thanks for the track, I’m definitely gonna cop the UGK album once it drops.
Hope it doesn’t disappoint like my last purchase (Waiting to Inhale), and Devin’s one of my favorite rappers. (I own all his albums and saw him in concert about two years ago)
June 4th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
you suck!
October 25th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
tough guy has been one of my favorite outkast cameo tracks, that and watch for the hook.. that is, until Andre starting making a bunch of already good singles fucking incredible this past year – THROW SOME D’S, WALK IT OUT and IPA! dude came out of nowhere, well, not exactly nowhere, but I wasn’t expecting it… and just showed whose runnin thangs
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:26 am
that glock away line in ATLiens was FIRE, idk how you can hate that.
and the new art of storytellin track is the 4th because the first one had an original version that was just big boi and dre and a different version with slick rick. so the pt 2 should really be pt 3 and they made this one pt 4