Laugh Now, Cry Later (Lench Mob, 2006) by Ice Cube

Cube's seventh album was a great comeback after a 6 year hiatus from the mic.  Although the album is guilty of some filler, the highlights make the album totally worth it.  "The N***a Trap" is classic Ice Cube social commentary and "Why We Thugs" is a great single that still manages to keep a message intact.  Production-wise, the album is solid and Lil Jon proves with his three contributions that he's capable of more than just southern crunk.

Trill (Rap-A-Lot, 2005) by Bun B

For an album seemingly created out of necessity, this sounds a lot better than something that comes to fruition under those circumstances.  Put simply, at a time when Texas hip hop (i.e. Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Paul Wall) was getting national attention, Bun B proves why he's one of the best rappers from Texas ever.  Even with a large number of guest appearances for a solo album, Bun outshines them all.  The Ludacris assisted "Trill Recognize Trill" finds Bun and Mr. Bridges over one of the best instrumentals that I've ever heard from Lil Jon.  And  "Get Throwed" is an all-star cut with Pimp C, Jay-Z, Z-Ro and Young Jeezy.  However, the album's best moment is "The Story" wherein Bun gives a personal account of UGK's storied history- from their beginning to their mainstream break with Jay-Z to Pimp C's incarceration.  It's as personal as hip hop songs get and who better to record it than one of the game's most respected emcees.