<\/p>\n
‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
MJG of 8Ball & MJG onstage at the ‘Bun B Presents Been Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
Bun B onstage at the ‘Bun B Presents Been Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
8Ball & MJG onstage at the ‘Bun B Presents Been Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
8Ball onstage at the ‘Bun B Presents Been Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
Kendrick Perkins onstage at the ‘Bun B Presents Been Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n
Jamaal Ellis\/Contributor<\/p>\n
No one shows up and shows out for Houston quite like Bun B.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He is so identified with the city that it has earned him the title of, among many others, the unofficial mayor of Houston. He’s an ambassador of culture, goodwill and all things trill. Everything he does feels like a momentous occasion, an all-hands call to action and a family reunion. It’s the energy that turned Bun’s RodeoHouston shows into must-attend events and Trill Burgers into a national phenomenon.<\/p>\n
MORE FROM JOEY GUERRA: Bun B talks about what made UGK’s ‘Ridin’ Dirty’ a turning point for\u00a0Southern rap\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n That same care filled Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Saturday night for “Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty,” a celebration of UGK’s groundbreaking 1996 album. The vibe was hype from the moment doors opened. Much of the\u00a0merch, including a gold cassette from Screwed Up Records and limited run T-shirts, sold out within the first hour. \u00a0Trill Burgers and Tenders were selling through batches as fast as they could make them.<\/p>\n Lil’ Keke onstage at the ‘Bun B Presents Been Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n Joey Guerra<\/p>\n When “Ridin’ Dirty” was released in 1996, it elevated UGK from regional Southern act to national prominence, selling almost a million copies with no label assistance. Pimp C’s production\u00a0fused traditional hip-hop with live instrumentation and old-school soul samples. It also balanced a hard edge with unexpected vulnerability and elevated Houston’s slab culture to a national audience. It was also one of the first albums to use Pro Tools, digital music software that allows artists to edit vocals on a computer rather than physical tape.<\/p>\n The show kicked off just after 9\u00a0p.m. with the “Ridin’ Dirty” album performed in sequence, including spoken-word prison skits recreated live by Smoke D, who recorded the originals from behind bars three decades ago. Singer\u00a0Ronnie Spencer and producer N.O. Joe, key players on the\u00a0original album, were also part of the show. Houston native Jack Freeman provided some of the night’s smoothest hooks. LED backdrops flashed familiar landmarks and neighborhood imagery from\u00a0Houston and Port Arthur.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n LE$ at ‘Bun B Presents Been\u00a0Ridin’ Dirty’ 30th anniversary concert, Aug. 1, 2026 at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land.<\/p>\n Joey Guerra<\/p>\n Bun was onstage for the duration of the show, rapping his verses and introducing guests. The late\u00a0Pimp C’s parts were handled by everyone from 8Ball & MJG (“One Day”) to Botany\u00a0Boyz (“3 in the Mornin'”) to Quiet Money Dot (“Touched”). Each artist was also given time to perform one or two of their own songs. It was a breakneck pace that kept the energy up for almost two hours.<\/p>\n “I ain’t get to do the Rodeo,” Bun said, referencing his\u00a0head-scratching absence<\/a>\u00a0from this year’s lineup. “So we’re\u00a0gonna have to do it like this.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Killa Kyleon brought a fierce flow and energy to “Murder,” an album standout also heralded for Bun’s rapid-fire verses. Kyleon was equally ferocious on his own “One of the Ones,” a recent single that again makes you wonder why he remains one of the city’s most slept-on talents.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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