Welcome To H-Town: The Best Albums To Come From Houston

What's the deal folks!  Lately, we've been highlighting some of the very best albums to emerge from major cities such as Compton and Chicago, as well as the largest projects on Earth, Queensbridge in Queens, NY.  Now, we will take it down south.  While Atlanta may be the most notewrothy city in the south and perhaps in the entire game, they're not the only city that can hold it down, in fact before Atlanta was the big city in the south, Houston was.  In fact, acts like The Geto Boys and UGK really helped Houston become an established threat to the major cities of Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, L.A. and Compton during the very early nineties.  Sure Miami was holding it down due to Luther Campbell and memphis was gtetting a buzz due to Three 6 Mafia, but artists like the aformentioned as well as Crime Boss, South Circle, Choice (think of her as Lil' Lim, Foxy, and Nicky before Lil' Kim, Foxy, and Nicky), and the 5th Ward Boyz were repping H-Town quite heavily.  Let's get into the dopest efforts to emerge from this huge city.

20. Chamillionaire- Ultimate Victory

Who was a bigger underdog from H-town with a major deal than Chamillionaire?  Originally down with Swishahouse and Michael "5000" Watts, he and fellow Houstonite Paul Wall were the CCC (Color Changing Click).  Their album, Get Ya Mind Correct, was a southern underground gem, and officially put them as notables in the game.  They soon broke up and he delivered his debut, The Sound Of Revenge.  Although a decent debut that garnered him a platinum plaque and Grammy nomination for his collaboration with the legendary Krayzie Bone in "Ridin'", it was that was more critically favorable.  Harder production and a more cohesive project overall, Chamillionaire varied his topics from the government to dropping jewels for the kids.  What was also a very apparent change was that he limited his use of profanity and cussing, which was practically unheard of.  While not as commercially successful as his prior album, he still achieved a "victory" in his own right with this dope album.

19. Trae- Restless

Longtime Houston vet Trae (now known as Trae Tha Truth) delivered what many felt was the album of his career with Restless.  Unapologetically gangsta, the album is filled with street odes to drugs and hustling, and is as vivid as any album you would encounter during this time period.  Grittiness at its finest, this album made Trae more of a star than before and officially pout him in the mainstream eyes of the game with this certified banger of an album.

 

18. Lecrae- Church Clothes (mixtape)

Never before had a Gospel emcee been put in such a high regard within the secular hip-hop community, but Lecrae completely changed the game for the Christian emcees out here. Aiming to bring a sense of Christian morality to the secular game even more than he had done previously, he presented his Church Clothes mixtape, which was easily mentioned among the hip-hop projects all year regardless of genre or style.  Rather than going overtly preachy, Lecrae told his story as a means of knowing like to be saved as well as the sinner, which made his appeal so delightful, and Church Clothes was one very fine example of it all.

17. Z-Ro- Let The Truth Be Told

By 2005, Z-Ro had continued to obtain a fairly decent fan base in the underground south.  His true stories of drugs and hustling had more than resonated with fans and was becoming a certified made man in H-town.  He delivered his album, Let The Truth Be Told, during this time (which by the way made album number nine) and he stuck to his tried and true formula, which was "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".  Bluesy, yet hard-hitting, production and appearances by the likes of Ashanti, Devin The Dude, and Paul Wall made for an intriguing listen, and through it all, Z-Ro emerged with another collection of hits catered for the heart of a hustler.

16. Slim Thug- Already Platinum

Within Houston's underground scene, Stavye "Slim Thug" Thomas was a known fixture.  Known for numerous mixtapes and his own group, Boss Hogg Outlawz, Thugga was already gaining fans via his buzz in the streets.  By 2004, he had obtained a deal with Pharrell Williams' Star Trak label and after numerous delays due to excessive bootlegging, dropped his major label debut, Already Platinum.  Filled with very juicy and delectable production from The Neptunes, Jazze Pha, and Mr. Lee, the album certainly banged almost from top to bottom, and by the end of the album, you had a feeling that although he was "already platinum", more actual platinum plaques would definitely be in his future.

15. Paul Wall- The People's Champ

Another graduate of the Swishahouse makes their way onto the list with longtime affiliate, Paul Wall.  His former tag team partner, Chamillionaire, was already successful with his major label projects of Sound Of Revenge and the aforementioned Ultimate Victory.  However, it was time for Paul Wall to get his shine, and thanks to the hit by Mike Jones "Still Tippin'" alongside fellow Swishahouse vet Slim Thug, Paul was finally getting his exposure on a national level.  When his debut, The People's Champ, hit, we knew Mr. Wall had a sure shot future being commercially successful in the game, as this had a vintage Houston sound about it that would make 5000 Watts and even the late great DJ Screw very pleased.  This debut made him among the new, fresh voices for mainstream Houston hip-hop.

14. Devin- The Dude

Former Odd Squad member, Devin The Dude, was a known fixture due to his affiliation with his former Odd Squad mates and being a part of Scarface's collective, Facemob.  His oft-times blunted humor and lazy drawl made him an instant favorite, and his debut album The Dude, was evidenced of the talent he possesses to this day.  A beloved album, primarily within the underground, Devin doesn't take himself too seriously, as cuts like "Ligole Bips" and the cult classic "Boo Boo'n" pushed this album into becoming a treasure for H-town.  One of the most consistent and prolific artists to come from Houston, this was the start of quite a career, even if he's never hit gold or platinum before.

13. Lecrae- Rehab

Christian/Gospel Rap had always been scrutinized and stigmatized.  Artists like Gospel Gangstas came off as gimmicky, while others like Grits and Boogiemonsters invaded shows like Rap City with spiritual gems while not sounding overtly churchy or preachy.  Hoping to totally eliminate any type of stigmas or pre-attached judgements was Lecrae, and although he was pretty known within the Gospel Hip-Hop community, mainstream secular hip-hop fairly much slept on him.  With his album, Rehab, the secular hip-hop world started to take notice, due to not just fairly decent and dope production, but the true heartfelt honesty of his lyrics and his message.  His ability to relate to the everyman and the struggling Christian was admirable and showed vulnerability and transparency.  It was from here where Lecrae was finally on mainstream hip-hop's radar.

12. Scarface- Deeply Rooted

After a long seven year absence since Emeritus, the legendary Brad Jordan returned with Deeply Rooted in 2016, and in many instances sounded better than he had in years.  Not since The Fix had we heard him sound this focused and this fresh on the mic while tackling subjects such as spirituality, the streets, hustling, and redemption.  This was a true return to form by Scarface with cuts like "Mental Exorcism", "All Bad", and "Steer", all vintage face cuts.  As definite Face classic, if this was his final album, he deserves to take a bow with this memorable effort.

11. Devin The Dude- Just Tryin' Ta Live

After the release of the aforementioned The Dude, Devin (now officially going by Devin The Dude) was out to conquer the world, one project at a time, and the closest he came was his dynamite sophomore effort, Just Tryin' Ta Live.  Obtaining help from legendary producers Dr. Dre, as well as DJ Premier, he brought both the west and east coasts to H-Town while keeping that bluesy, southern feel.  Still a blunted out weirdo with his own bit of crass, misogynistic toilet humor, Devin was riding a wave that was quickly making him among the most checked for talents to emerge from the entire south as a whole.

10. Bun B- Trill

With partner in rhyme Pimp C incarcerated during this time, it was up to Bernard "Bun B" Freeman to hold down UGK, and with his debut solo album, Trill, he absolutely did just that.  With guests all over this album from Jeezy to Paul Wall, Scarface, the Screwed Up Click, and even Jay-Z, the album was loaded with that UGK signature hustling aura and was an instant smash with any UGK fan.  To this day, it's highly regarded as quite an impressive body of work for a debut from anyone out the south over the past decade.

9. Scarface- The Untouchable

It was no easy task to follow the masterwork known as The Diary, but Scarface definitely attempted for lightning to strike twice with The Untouchable, and honestly, it came close to the same acclaim.  Occasionally hard-hitting yet also just as much redemptive, this album foir Face followed his formula of honest hip-hop with very vivid storytelling.  Chilling cuts like "Faith" and "Ya Money Or Ya Life" are classic Face, but he cracked the biggest moment of his career with the 2Pac-assisted "Smile", and ended up having the album go platinum.  An album regard as an instant classic, Face had already proven he was a future legend with The Diary, but The Untouchable got him a step closer to that distinction.

8. Geto Boys- Grip It! On That Other Level

Who knew that in the era of N.W.A. that there would be another group of guys that were easily as shocking if not more so?  Enter The Geto Boys.  The fellas of DJ Reddy Red, Bushwick Bill, Scarface, and Willie D first presented themselves with their mostly slept-on debut Making Trouble, but it was their debut that came out that next year that made much bigger noise.  Their sophomore album, Grip It! On That Other Level was draped in mayhem, drugs, and enough shocking lyrics at that time to have the government almost shut the album and the Geto Boys themselves down.  Considered their breakout effort, this was just the start of one of hip-hop's most controversial, yet highly revered groups.

7. Scarface- The Fix

After delivering some of the most compelling hip-hop albums to ever exist, Mr. Jordan wanted to keep his momentum going with his Def Jam debut, The Fix.  If The Diary was the beginning of his transition from hardcore, unapologetic psychopath to introspective complexity, The Fix was the final product of it.  Never abandoning his streets, he blends his tried and true gangsta with someone trying to find more of a peace with God and wanting a better life for himself and the duality of the two.  This is nothing short of a classic, as he delivered some of his all-time best work on this project, and had many debating that this was his best project ever.

6. UGK- Underground Kingz

After a prison stint that put Pimp C behind bars for a while, the Pimp and Bun reunited for would end up being their final effort together, Underground Kingz.  Their finest overall effort since their absolutely stellar album, Ridin' Dirty, this sounded like a return to the old and true UGK.  It was almost like they picked up where they left off at and then added new elements that still maintained the UGK sound and style.  A momentous double album, the album presented their biggest hit, the Outkast-assisted "Int'l Players Anthem", and another gold plaque for the legends themselves.  The Pimp could rest well with the legacy they had earned and this was one exelmpary reason.

5. Bun B- Trill O.G.

After the unexpected and tragic passing of longtime partner and rhyme brother Pimp C, Bun was left to hold it down on his own to uphold the UGK name.  While his debut album, the aforementioned Trill, showed that he could in fact hold it down himself, and the follow-up II Trill was every bit as hard, it was the third installment in the Trill series, Trill O.G. where he truly saw his identity as one of the best to do it from the south.  This project had him mixing up different styles over different sounds but still showed his lyrical firepower.  He shows that he can burn with the best of them over a fire DJ Premier (another H-Town native) track "Let 'Em Know", while going ten toes in with megastar Drake on the cuts "Put It Down" and "It's Been A Pleasure", over tracks that sound like vintage UGK cuts.  This was without question his most lyrical and most cohesive album and we have all the faith that it made the Pimp proud.

4. Geto Boys- We Can't Be Stopped

After causing trouble with their previously mentioned Grip It! On That Other Level, the Geto Boys were starting to be on a roll, but they hit national paydirt with the timeless piece "My Mind's Playin' Tricks On Me", and before we knew it, Bushwick, Face, and Willie were the talk of the hip-hop world.  With their third full-length album, We Can't Be Stopped, they give us more of the same disturbing, yet vivid, tales of revenge, nihilism, paranoia and dark fantasies while also addressing detractors that always had something to say about them.  Widely known for being controversial, this didn't do anything but piss the uppity Black people and ultra consservatives off even more, but served as their most commercially successful album.  Let's not foget to mention the graphic, yet memorable, album cover.  It didn't get more real than that.

3. Scarface- Mr. Scarface Is Back

Widely regarded as the hardest record ever recorded, Scarface's solo debut, Mr. Scarface Is Back, is a brutal, graphic, and at times deeply distrubing album covering nihilism, drugs, suicide, depression, and mayhem.  It made for the type of album that, although it may have offended and shocked you at various points in the album, you were also deeply intrigued based on cuts such as "A Minute To pray, A Second To Die", "Murder By Reason Of Insanity", and "Diary Of A Madman".  This is a look inside the mind of a psychotic human being with tons of issues, but it also was among the most fascinating albums to come out during the early nineties.  A legend was born.

2. UGK- Ridin' Dirty

One of the most impeccable breakout albums the south has ever been blessed to hear was the third album from UGK in the form of Ridin' Dirty.  This was the perfect UGK album, as it contained soul, blues, and street thumping production, as we finally saw Pimp and Bun come into their own.  This album was a masterpiece from top to bottom, and was cold, it went nearly platinum with no mainstream radio airplay.  This album was the soundtrack for your cadillac on a Saturday evening on the late night when just cruisin the ave, and helped the change the landscape of hip-hop from not just Houston, but the South as a whole.

1. Scarface- The Diary

There was never an album that made as much of an impact from Houston and the south as a whole as Scarface's breathtaking third solo album, The Diary.  A true game-changer, this was a macabre masterpiece.  Dark and filled with vicious threats, Face also faced and reflected on human mortality on the epuc "I Never Seen A Man Cry", and that became the turning point of his career.  Face has come close on a few different occasions to repeat the acclaim of this album, but there will never be another Diary from Brad Jordan.  THis was THAT album from him.  His legacy had started to officially began to be cemented.

Honorable Mentions

Scarface- The World Is Yours

Scarface- Last Of A Dying Breed

Scarface- Made

Z-Ro- The Life Of Joseph W. McVey

Devin The Dude- Waitin' To Inhale

5th Ward Boyz- Rated G
5th Ward Boyz- Ghetto Dope

Mr. Mike- Rhapsody

Slim Thug- Boss Of All Bosses

Z-Ro- Heroin

UGK- Super Tight

UGK- Too Hard To Swallow

Geto Boys- Til Death Do Us Part

Geto Boys- The Resurrection

Chamillionaire- The Sound Of Revenge
Odd Squad- Fadanuf Fa Erybody
Convicts- Convicts
Blac Monks- Secrets Of The Hidden Temple
Facemob- The Other Side Of The Law
Pimp C- Pimpalation
Pimp C- The Naked Soul Of Sweet Jones
Pimp C- Long Live The Pimp
Lil' Keke- Loved By Few, Hated By Many
Lil' Keke- Don't Mess With Texas

As you can see, Houston contains some of the most respected hip-hop there is, regardless of region or section.  The city's contribution proves that without Houston, the southern renaissance wouldn't have even begun.  Most well known and respected southern artists such as T.I., Ludacris, Jeezy and Rick Ross were all influenced by Scarface, Geto Boys, or UGK, who are all from Houston (technically UGK are from Port Arthur, which is about ninety miles from Houston).  Also, regrettably, I accidentally omitted Odd Squad from the top list but I did include them in Honorable Mentions, as the album was among the most slept-on Houston albums ever.  Respect the legacy of H-Town and its widely regarded influence, especially towards the success of southern hip-hop.  Until next time!