Daily -ist List: Tuesday

Movies Houstonians Love:
Houston Rapper Bun B presents "Style Wars"

It's just that Larry Dierker, Barbara Bush, and
B-U-N-B! That's right, folks. Houston's hometown rap impresario, and one half of UGK, Bun B joins the Movies Houstonians Love series at the Museum at Fine Arts tonight.

Bun will be presenting "Style Wars", regarded by many as the definitive document of the emerging hip-hop culture.

An emblem of the spirit that burst forth from underground tunnels, uptown streets, and clubs. The film chronicles an extraordinary epoch of youthful creativity and civic controversy. Teenage graffiti artists made New York City´s subway system their playground, battleground, and artistic canvas. Opposing them were Mayor Ed Koch, the police, and the Transit Authority. As DJs rocked the city with new sounds, street-corner break-dance battles became performance art. Today this superbly photographed, world-acclaimed film, hailed at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival, is timelier than ever." —New Day Films

Bun B (born Bernard Freeman) and Pimp C formed UGK (Underground Kingz) in the late '80s. Based in Port Arthur, Texas, UGK independently released their debut album, The Southern Way, on cassette in 1988. They signed with Jive Records and with 1992's Too Hard to Swallow began a series of Southern rap albums that were successful regional sellers.

In 2000, Jay-Z, a longtime admirer of the group invited both Bun B and Pimp C to guest on "Big Pimpin'", a Timbaland-produced single. Bun B wrote and performed what is commonly regarded as a show-stealing guest verse. The song earned a Grammy nomination, and UGK acquired significant nationwide attention.

With Houston's emergence as a hip hop hotbed in 2005, Bun made guest appearances on numerous albums by Houston rappers as well as other artists throughout the South. Among his more notable collaborations are "3 Kings" by Slim Thug (also featuring T.I.), "They Don't Know" by Paul Wall (also featuring Mike Jones), "23-Hr. Lockdown" by the Ying Yang Twins. He also made his mark on albums from other regions including Lil' Kim's The Naked Truth and Beanie Sigel's acclaimed The B.Coming.

Uh! So whatcha'll know 'bout them Texas boys? Well, apparently we know they love their films. Big up to the MFAH for inviting this prolific Houston rapper to be a part of the series. Wonder if he'd serve on the panel of 10 Coolest Houstonians? We sure think he'd be a better candidate than Ken Hoffman.
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place: Museum of Fine Arts, Brown Auditorium
time: 7pm
tickets: $7
pssst. after party: Deco in Midtown, hosted by HoustonSoReal