Decatur Dan from Standard ATL hit up the Bun B/Scion show last night. His photo is above and his reportage is below.

Bun B ripped his ATL show last night @ The Loft. It was Bun’s VERY FIRST time playing with a live band behind him and after the performance he said it wouldn’t be his last. His set included new hits like “International Players Anthem” to classics like “Front, Back, Side to Side,” which had the entire building doing just that. Definitely a dope show in front of a packed house, UGK FOR LIFE.

Scion is having a contest to see who can be their hypeman, flying around the country, all-expense paid, and lounging with dudes like Premier and GZA. (Heard Scion’s Bun B show went off in ATL last night, too… What up Dana?)

Can you play Rampage to Busta Rhymes? Tony Yayo to Fiddy? Remember Puffy just talking in the background of every Biggie song, saying either “yeah” or “uh huh” or “right”? Are you the next Puff? ‘Cause he’s doing alright.

With over 20 years in the hip-hop industry, Bernard “Bun B” Freeman along with his other half, Chad “Pimp C” Butler managed to release nine UGK albums, collaborated with countless legendary artists and earned the undeniable title of being one of southern hip-hop’s most prestigious duos.

After the 2007 death of Pimp C, Bun B had to stay committed, dedicated and focused on the carrying on the Underground Kingz legacy. With a follow-up album II Trill, set for release later on this year and a promised UGK album underway, the Port Arthur, Texas native is gearing up to give back to the underground. Long live Pimp C.

You were hurt by the death of your other half, Pimp C. In homage of UGK, what are you doing to make sure that Pimp C’s contributions in hip-hop will not be overlooked?

I try to make sure that the legacy is made with respect and honor. I make sure that I mention his name in songs, in different interviews and definitely try to keep the name alive. We’re going to be doing a lot of things in homage of the UGK legacy over the course of the next couple of years. It won’t be hard to do it at all, because a lot of the fans, the rap community and the hip-hop community, all have a lot of love for Pimp C.

Since the beginning of the UGK experience, you two always reflected the “underground” scene in Texas, the unheard voice and the man who was not represented in mainstream America. Do you think UGK is still a reflection of that notion?

I think so, because we still relate to the streets and the struggle. Definitely, we are still part of the struggle. A lot of people look at this success and rate this success with us and people see how far they can go in life by how far we go in life and they keen themselves to that. We know that there are a lot of people who look for us to get out here and break barriers, still hope and to still run. There are a lot of people from the ’hood who don’t have those opportunities to be and we have to make sure that we do that and not be lazy.

Let’s talk about your involvement in the 2008 presidential election. You recently did a remix track with Kidz In the Hall and Talib Kweli, “Work To Do,” in support of the Obama campaign. What was your inspiration for becoming involved with the project?

It’s installing a lot of hope in people who haven’t felt that from a presidential candidate in a long time. There are a lot of disenfranchised people out there who want to get involved and who want to do a lot of things, but really don’t feel like they have seen or heard anybody in a while who they feel can do something or at least make them feel like they can do something or be something. I think Barack represents that for a lot of people and Hillary as well. This is coming from a generation and a community that I directly represent, as well as I’m affiliated with. I think Barack Obama himself and what he represents is something that should have 100 percent support.

In a land of grills, gold and drugs, money and women, as a hip-hop veteran, what is most important to you?

Really just the truth, you know what I’m saying? People always want to show what’s good about everything—and it’s alright to party—but we always got to keep it real with people and show them that everything ain’t always good all the time. It’s ignorant for anybody to always portray that. Everybody has their individual trails and tribulations and as much as you can try to relay that, people will understand you more—not just an artist but as a person.

What can we expect from the new album, II Trilla?

Really just getting back to the basic ’hood politics, because a lot of people are in violation of a lot of different things that they shouldn’t be doing in the ’hood and putting it in the name of the ’hood. We’re trying to take the ’hood back. We have production from people like Mister Lee, Jazzy Pha, Clinton Sparks, Travis Barker and a lot of up-and-coming producers.

Is there anything that’s on your mind or anything else you might want to say? Here’s your opportunity.

I think if you can spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the war, there are so many other things we can be doing in our communities and educating and informing our communities. We need more AIDS research and AIDS awareness and we need more literacy programs for the kids and for the adults. UGK for life and long live Pimp C. 

Hello my name is…
Clinton Sparks.

Aka…
Mr. Get Familiar.

I was raised in…
Boston. Dorchester to be specific.

The reason that you’re reading about me is…
I’m a DJ, producer, songwriter, and a TV and radio personality.

I work for…
Myself, The Daily 10 on E!, Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, and the fans.

Right now I’m working on…
Ludacris, Beyonce, Colby O’Donis, and Bun B’s albums, as well as my album and my new artist Supastar L.T.’s album. Also working on music with Akon, Ne-Yo and the PCD’s.

But I’d rather be…
I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing in my life, if I wasn’t I wouldn’t be doing it.

I’ve worked with…
Akon, Diddy, Luda, Bun B, Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, Clipse, Kardinal Offishall…

I’d love to work with…
Teddy Riley, Weezer, Pink, Jay-Z and anybody open minded and willing to experiment with new ideas and sounds.

My most prized possessions are…
My family, my team (Daouda: manager, Kamau: engineer, DJ BK: assistant engineer), and my ability to understand different personalities and deal with irrational, difficult people.

The first thing I do in the morning is…
When I’m at home: put my contacts in, have breakfast with my son, vacuum my studio, then get to work. When I’m on the road: check my Blackberry, then get to work.

The last thing I do at night is…
When I’m at home: turn off my equipment and check out some online porn. When I’m on the road: I check out some porn then lie down and fall asleep watching TV.

I can’t travel without…
My Blackberry and laptop.

My momma always said…
I don’t know. I didn’t listen to her much, except when she yelled, “Turn that music down!”

I love it when people…
Help each other out and show courtesy to one another.

I can’t stand when people…
Are unappreciative—it’s disgusting.

I have too many…
Things I want to accomplish and friends.

I don’t have enough…
Time or real friends.

I spend too much money on…
My house and plane tickets.

The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is…
My son being born.

The ugliest thing I’ve ever seen is…
My wife’s face while that was happening! Just joking, she was beautiful.

I really should…
Hurry up and finish recording my album so I can be making more records for other people.

If you ever see me walking down the street…
I’m in a rush, so it wouldn’t be the best time to get my attention with an “I’m the hottest artist in the world” speech.

My most notable run-in with the law…
Was when I was in the judge’s chambers and the judge gave the plaintiff the choice of me going to juvenile prison or home after I was caught breaking in her house and was going to mash her with a frying pan in order to get out of the house, but she walked by without noticing me so I made a break for it. She told the judge let me go home. Bless her heart!

If I had to say sorry it would be because…
I spend all my time working. That’s the reason I wrote the “Sorry Blame It On Me” record with Akon. It’s a true story!

The last time I swore I’d never drink was after a night of…
Watching my dad as a kid almost kill my mom when he was drunk when I was 5. I decided I would never drink. If there is more negative than positive with something, then I want nothing to do with it.

You can catch me…
On The Daily 10 on E! every Tuesday at 7:30 and midnight, at Smashtime Saturdays at Body English in Las Vegas, every week on my worldwide syndicated radio show Smashtime radio (also on Shade 45 on SIRIUS and smashtimeradio.com), smashing down a club in your country or city, and on clintonsparks.com.

Future projects and plans…
My album is coming out soon, Supastar L.T.’s album, announcing my first major record deal and a massive new mixtape I’m dropping on 2008 featuring Ludacris, Rick Ross, Jim Jones, Akon, Clipse, Yung Joc, Kardinal Offishal, Busta Rhymes…

And before I leave I’d like to give a shout out to…
Everyone that enjoys what I do and comes to the clubs I smash, bumps my mixtapes, and anyone that has ever told anyone else to get familiar with Clinton Sparks. Thank you!