The Radiohead album Bun B found at a “very strange” time
Some songs remind us of happy times, some songs will remind us of sadder times. This is general rule of thumb within music, and nobody is exempt from the emotive range that great sonic prowess can inspire.
Not even, as it transpires, Bun B. Best known as one half of the iconic hip-hop duo UGK alongside Pimp C, the Texan rapper was a pivotal figure of the Southern rap scene, helping shape and define this subgenre of American hip-hop with his vivid storytelling and clear, commanding voice.
Perhaps most famous for their 1996 album Ridin’ Dirty, which would become one of the most important albums in Southern hip-hop, UGK would have, assumedly, been on top of the world in the late 90s. Rising to number 15 on the US Billboard, and number 2 on the Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums, and counting Tupac himself as a fan, Bun B and his partner Pimp C had successfully built upon the success of their former albums Super Tight and Too Hard to Swallow for an album that proved to the world who UGK were.
And yet that wasn’t the case. Speaking to Pitchfork magazine in a feature on musicians and their favourite albums, Bun B revealed that, actually, the summer following the release of Ridin’ Dirty was a strange time for him; and it was a Radiohead album that aided this period.
“Summer 1997,” he said in the interview. “I was in a very strange place at this time. I was more famous than I’d ever been due to the recent release of Ridin’ Dirty. I was also in the first year of the relationship with my now-wife Queenie.
“So there was a lot of professional as well as personal stress on me,” the rapper continued. “I couldn’t find anything to relax me. Then one night, watching MTV, I saw the “Paranoid Android” video. Suddenly, for some reason, this calm washed over me. It seemed like this song was speaking to me. I bought the album the next day and everything about it made sense. While very dense and layered at times, it was still very melodic and easy to listen to. And a lot of what they spoke about then still resonates to this day. So even now, when life starts moving too fast, OK Computer is still there to help slow it down for me.”
Ok Computer, released one year after Ridin’ Dirty, was a landmark album for Radiohead and the brand’s respective genre, in a manner reflective of UGK and the duo’s success. The album blends alternative rock with experimental production, electronic textures and marks a notable transition from the band’s earlier, guitar-led music. Songs like the aforementioned “Paranoid Android”, as well as “Karma Police” and “No Surprises” combine gorgeous melodies with an unshakeable sense of unease for a futuristic sound that also sounded deeply humane. It was released to major acclaim, and remains today a pivotal tenet in modern rock music.
As for UGK, a five-year hiatus followed the release of Ridin’ Dirty, concluding with an appearance on Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin’”. As fans will know, Pimp C sadly died in 2007 at the age of 33.