| UGK 4 Life | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | UGK |
| Cover: | UGK 4 Life.jpg |
| Recorded: | 2007–2008 |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Label: | Jive |
| Prev Title: | Underground Kingz |
| Prev Year: | 2007 |
| Chronology: | UGK |
UGK 4 Life is the sixth and final studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. It was released on March 31, 2009, by Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at Mad Studios in Houston, Swagger Studios in Los Angeles, Trill Cave Studios in Port Arthur, Maximedia Studios in Dallas, Chung King Studios and Legacy Recording Studios in New York, and Silent Sound Recording Studios in Atlanta. Production was handled by Cory Mo, Pimp C, Steve Below, Averexx, DJ B-Do, Mannie Fresh and Akon, with Mike Dean and Giorgio Tuinfort serving as co-producers. It features guest appearances from 8Ball & MJG, Akon, Big Gipp, B-Legit, E-40, Lil' Boosie, Raheem DeVaughn, Ronald Isley, Sleepy Brown, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort and Webbie.
In the United States, the album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and topped the Rap Albums charts, selling 77,000 copies in its first week.[1]
The album was supported with the only single "Da Game Been Good to Me", which peaked at number 84 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
The album marks the first posthumously released album for the Underground Kingz member Pimp C, as the rapper was found dead in his room at the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles on December 4, 2007.[2]
In March 2008, Bun B confirmed the final UGK studio album would be dedicated to the late Pimp C.[3]
The first single "Da Game Been Good to Me" was released onto the Internet on January 16, 2009.[4] It was made available on iTunes on February 12, 2009.[5] Bun B stated he recorded a song dedicated to his late partner Pimp C.
Bun B stated that he would not experiment with new collaborations or producers.[6]
UGK 4 Life was met with universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on eleven reviews.
Chase Hoffberger of The Austin Chronicle praised the album, calling it "one fantastic curtain call".[7] Jeff Weiss of Los Angeles Times called it "the rare swan song that manages to be essential for the music alone". Steve Juon of RapReviews wrote: "from the 'Intro' to the 'Outro' there's very little to not like about UGK 4 Life other than the fact it can never be done again, and any music videos released off this album won't feature Pimp doin' his thang". Jordan Sargent of PopMatters concluded: "the fact that this has been UGK's music for nearly two decades doesn't blunt the impact of the album, and so UGK 4 Life is comfort food for Southern rap heads: not as invigorating as the first time, but still the best all the same". Ian Cohen of Pitchfork resumed: "though probably not the best UGK album, it might be the strongest illustration of what they do best". Clayton Purdom of Cokemachineglow found the album "leaves listeners wondering where they might go next". Thomas Golianopoulos of Spin called it "a fitting capper to this Texas duo's storied career--nothing groundbreaking, just funky, rough-hewn, celebratory tracks".
| Chart (2009) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[8] | 191 | |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] | 37 | |
| US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[10] | 12 |