Reflection Eternal and Bun B, "Strangers"

It’s always worth checking out Houston’s Bun B. Here he is, joining Reflection Eternal’s Talib Kwelli and DJ Hi-Tek on a new song called “Strangers.”

The song starts with a southern-hospitality-style nod towards the honored guest, as Talib, from Brooklyn, and Hi-Tek, from Cincinnati, quote a Houston rap classic, the Geto Boys’ “My Mind’s Playing Tricks On Me.” Talib then borrows a flow from Lil Wayne’s 2006 “Georgia,” which stands, strangely, as one of rap’s great protest songs. (Strangely just because Lil Wayne is not often associated with political concerns. But I guess when your president smiles and strums a guitar while your hometown drowns, one could be so inspired.) Then Bun comes on and proves, as he so often does, why he belongs in best-MC-of-all-time discussions. Did you ever read Jon Caramanica’s interview with him in The Believer from a few years back? If not, you should. It’s an excellent look at the artistic process, very much with a capital A, that goes into writing rap lyrics.