I Need Mine

Following the crossover success of Undaground Legend and U Gotta Feel Me, Lil’ Flip could easily have sold out to the mainstream. Instead, 2007’s I Need Mine reaffirmed his allegiance to homespun Houston rap. While guest appearances by Nate Dogg, Lyfe Jennings, and Mya reflect the respect that Flip had won in the larger music industry, the album doesn't use any pop producers; it was overseen by a cabal of young Texas beatmakers, including Carnival Beatz, Play-N-Skillz, and The Symphony, the last of whom provided music for more than half the album. Among the standouts are “I Get Money” and “Bustaclip,” both of which incorporate the aggressive-yet-muted beats so beloved by Flip throughout his career. The huge vertiginous bass that reverberates through “Starched and Cleaned” is a distinctly Texas effect, and it's well served by three of Houston’s most respected underground veterans: Big Pokey, Lil’ Keke, and Flip. Mike Jones, Z-Ro, and Chamillionaire form a younger trio of H-Town heroes, and they help make “Playa 4 Life,” “White Cup,” and “Say It to My Face” three of the album’s strongest cuts.