Coordinates | °′″N°′″N |
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name | Pimp C |
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background | solo_singer |
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birth name | Chad Lamont Butler |
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aliases | Sweet James Jones, Tony Snow |
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born | December 29, 1973Port Arthur, Texas, U.S. |
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died | December 04, 2007Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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genre | Southern hip hop |
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occupation | Rapper, Songwriter, Producer |
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years active | 1987–2007 |
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label | UGK, Rap-a-Lot |
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associated acts | UGK, Jazze Pha, Lil Boosie, Webbie |
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website | www.pimpcmusic.com
}} |
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Chad Lamont Butler (December 29, 1973 — December 4, 2007), better known by his
stage name Pimp C, was an
American rapper,
singer, and
producer. Pimp C is best known for his work with
Bun B as a founding member of the
Underground Kingz (UGK) and is widely considered a pioneer of the signature
Houston, Texas scene and sound.
Personal life
Chad Lamont Butler was born to Charleston L. and Weslyn Jacob Butler on December 29, 1973 in
Beaumont, Texas. Chad's parents were originally from
Crowley, Louisiana where its presumed he spent a portion of his early life before moving back to Texas. He attended public schools in the
Port Arthur Independent School District. Chad’s interest in music surfaced at an early age. Given the onset and grass root popularity of urban music, Chad knew, as early as nine years old, that he wanted to be a musician. He began playing various musical instruments and received his vocal aptitude in school and church choirs. Over the next several years, with the guidance and encouragement of his step-father, Mr. Norward E. “Bill” Monroe, Chad honed his skills at writing and instrumentation. Butler married Chinara Kushana Jackson on April 29, 2003. The couple has three children, two sons, Chad II and Dahcory; one daughter, Christian.
Music career
UGK
Butler formed the rap group
Underground Kingz (colloquially known as UGK) with best friend Bernard "
Bun B" Freeman. In 1987,
Jive Records signed UGK and released ''
Too Hard to Swallow'', followed by the critically acclaimed ''
Super Tight''. The group's third album, ''
Ridin' Dirty'', reached #2 on the ''Billboard'' Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and their momentum was continued with features on the popular singles "
Big Pimpin'" with
Jay-Z and "Sippin On Some Syrup" by
Three 6 Mafia. UGK's fourth album, ''
Dirty Money'', was distributed in 2001.
Due to Butler's incarceration in 2002, UGK only released two projects prior to 2004: ''Side Hustles'' and the eponymous ''Underground Kingz'', the latter of which spawned the hit single "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)", a collaboration with the Georgia-based rap group OutKast.
Arrest and solo debut
In January 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for violating his probation stemming from an earlier aggravated assault charge. His arrest was widely protested by the hip hop community, who immediately initiated a grassroots "Free Pimp C" campaign. While Pimp C was in prison, Rap-A-Lot Records released ''
Sweet James Jones Stories'' in 2005, most of which consisted of unreleased freestyle recordings.
Pimp C spent the later portion of his sentence at the Terrell Unit in Brazoria County, Texas and was transferred to the Huntsville Unit a week prior to his release. On December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and placed on parole until December 2009.
Death and tributes
Pimp C was found dead in his hotel room in Los Angeles on December 4, 2007. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner, Butler suffered respiratory depression due to an accidental overdose of promethazine and codeine coupled with a preexisting
sleep apnea condition. Like many other Southern rappers, Pimp C frequently referenced the recreational consumption of
"sizzurp" in his music.
The funeral was held at the Bob Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, Texas on December 13, 2007. Port Arthur mayor Deloris Prince, Pimp C's mother Weslyn Monroe, and fellow UGK member Bun B were among the speakers at the service, and the eulogy was delivered by pastor Dr. John R. Randolph. Attendees included many fellow luminaries of the Houston rap scene: Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Willie D, Big Gipp, and Webbie.
Bun B continues to pay tribute to Pimp C through his music, including the tracks "You're Everything," a collaboration with Rick Ross, David Banner, and 8Ball and MJG, and "Pop It 4 Pimp" which was produced by Mouse and featured Juvenile and Webbie off of Bun B's 2008 album ''II Trill''. Bun B released the final UGK album, ''UGK 4 Life'', in 2009. ''UGK 4 Life'' had been recorded, for the most part, in the time frame between their previous album and the passing of Pimp C.
During Drake's verse in Bun B's "Put It Down" music video, Pimp C's oldest son Chad Butler II is shown climbing a set of stairs, but the video does not show his face. The chorus and last line of Drake's verse also reference Pimp C.
Pimp C was set to appear in a song titled 'Naked Lady' by Chamillionaire after his wife gave some material to Chamillionaire, however upon realising that Universal Records wanted to take most of the money from the song, leaving little for Butler's family, Chamillionaire returned the material in hopes that it would be sold to someone else for a higher amount of money.
Chamillionaire recently announced through a hidden message in his mixtape "Major Pain 1.5" that he has gained access to some new unreleased Pimp C content that he plans to put to use.
Also Otherside by Macklemore is about him.
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Title
!colspan="3"|Peak chart positions
!rowspan="2"|Certifications
|-
!width=40|
U.S.
!width=40|
U.S. R&B;
!width=40|
U.S. Rap
|-
|2005
|
''Sweet James Jones Stories''
Released: March 2, 2005
Label: Rap-A-Lot/Asylum
Format: CD, LP, digital download
| style="text-align:center;"|50
| style="text-align:center;"|7
| style="text-align:center;"|3
*
|-
|2006
|
''Pimpalation''
Released: July 11, 2006
Label: Rap-A-Lot/Asylum
Format: CD, LP, digital download
| style="text-align:center;"|3
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|
US: Gold
|-
|2008
|
''Greatest Hits (Pimp C album)|Greatest Hits''
Released: June 3, 2008
Label: Asylum
Format: CD, LP, digital download
| style="text-align:center;"|-
| style="text-align:center;"|-
| style="text-align:center;"|-
|
*
|-
|2010
|
''The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones''
Released: October 5, 2010
Label: Rap-A-Lot
Format: CD, LP, digital download
| style="text-align:center;"|25
| style="text-align:center;"|8
| style="text-align:center;"|5
*
|-
|2011
|
''Still Pimping''
Released: July 12, 2011
Label: Rap-A-Lot
Format: CD, LP, digital download
| style="text-align:center;"|72
| style="text-align:center;"|15
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|}
Singles
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Title
!colspan="3"|Chart chart positions
!Rowspan="2"|Album
|-
!width="40"|
U.S.
!width="40"|
U.S. R&B;
!width="40"|
U.S. Rap
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2005
|"Is A Playa" (featuring Bun B,
Twista, and
Z-Ro)
| style="text-align:center;"|105
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
||''Sweet James Jones Stories''
|-
|rowspan=3|2006
|"I'm Free"
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|12
|rowspan="3"|''Pimpalation''
|-
|"Pourin' Up" (featuring
Mike Jones and
Bun B)
| style="text-align:center;"|103
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
|"
Knockin' Doorz Down" (featuring P.O.P. and
Lil' Keke)
| style="text-align:center;"|108
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|}
Featured singles
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Song
!colspan="3"|Peak chart positions
!Rowspan="2"|Album
|-
!width="40"|
U.S.
!width="40"|
U.S. R&B;
!width="40"|
U.S. Rap
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1997
|"I Miss My Homies" (
Master P featuring
Silkk the Shocker and Pimp C)
| style="text-align:center;"|25
| style="text-align:center;"|16
| style="text-align:center;"|2
||''
Ghetto D''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|1998
|"Ghetto Life" (
Master P featuring Bun B and Pimp C)
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
||''Da Last Don''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|2006
|"Get Throwed" (
Bun B featuring
Jay-Z, Pimp C,
Z-Ro, and
Young Jeezy)
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|49
| style="text-align:center;"|24
||''
Trill''
|-
|"Love Song" (
Missez featuring Pimp C)
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|53
| style="text-align:center;"|—
||''Single Only''
|-
|"D-Girl (DopeGirl)" (
Brooke Valentine featuring Pimp C)
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|92
| style="text-align:center;"|—
||''Single Only''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2009
|"Top Notch" (Z-Ro featuring Pimp C)
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
||''
Crack''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|2010
|"Right Now" (
Bun B featuring Pimp C,
2Pac &
Trey Songz)
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
||''
Trill O.G.''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|Unreleased
|"Naked Lady" (
Chamillionaire featuring Pimp C)
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
||''Unknown''
|}
Music videos
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Title
!Director
|-
|2006
|"Pourin' Up"
|Mr. Boomtown
|-
|2007
|"Knockin' Doorz Down"
|Benny Matthews
|}
References
http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Hits-Pimp-C/dp/B0015I2P6I
External links
Official website
Chad "Pimp C" Butler at Find A Grave
Category:1973 births
Category:2007 deaths
Category:Accidental deaths in California
Category:African American rappers
Category:American people convicted of assault
Category:Asylum Records artists
Category:Drug-related deaths in California
Category:People from Port Arthur, Texas
Category:Rappers from Houston, Texas
Category:Screwed Up Click members
Category:Deaths from heart failure
Category:Southern hip hop musicians
Category:Rappers from Texas
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