UGK (short for Underground Kingz) was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas formed in 1987 by the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler. He then joined with Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, who became his longtime partner. They released their first major label album, Too Hard to Swallow, in 1992, followed by several other albums charting on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, including the self-titled Underground Kingz album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in August 2007. The group has been featured on hit singles by other artists, such as on "Big Pimpin'" by Jay-Z and "Sippin' on Some Syrup" by Three 6 Mafia. Pimp C founded UGK Records in late 2005.

On December 4, 2007, Pimp C was found dead in a West Hollywood, California hotel room.

History[link]

In 1992, UGK was signed to Jive Records under a five-album contract, releasing their major-label debut album Too Hard to Swallow.^[1] While it featured several new recordings, it also featured several songs that had been culled from The Southern Way.^[2] However, several songs that had been intended to be included on the album were excised at the last minute, apparently due to their overly explicit content. Five of these songs would surface two months before the release of Too Hard to Swallow, on an EP distributed by Bigtyme Recordz; appropriately enough, the EP was titled Banned. A popular song from the album "Pocket Full of Stones" was also included on the Menace II Society soundtrack in 1993.

Their second album, Super Tight, was released two years later, on August 30. Unlike their previous album, Super Tight managed to break into the Billboard Hot 200 and ultimately peaked at #95; their third album, Ridin' Dirty, peaked at #15.^[3] Ridin' Dirty would also be UGK's last album for the time being, as they went on a five-year hiatus not long afterward.

The year 2000 became a breakthrough year for the group. UGK made a high-profile guest appearance on Jay-Z's smash hit "Big Pimpin'" and also appeared on Three 6 Mafia's hit "Sippin' on Some Syrup". Both of these collaborations greatly increased their reputation, and helped fuel anticipation for their next project^{[citation needed]}. Jive Records failed to capitalize on this new-found interest in the duo, as their fourth album, 2001's Dirty Money, came and went with little fanfare.

Further problems arose when Pimp C was incarcerated for an aggravated gun assault charge in 2002.^[4] Throughout the time of his incarceration, Bun B carried on the UGK name by making numerous guest appearances on songs by other artists, with every appearance either mentioning Pimp C or featuring a "Free Pimp C!" or "Free the Pimp" chant. Many of UGK's peers did the same, and mentioned Pimp C in their own songs with or without Bun B.^[5] During this period, Jive Records released a Best of UGK album, as well as a Chopped & Screwed remix album.^[6] As a result of Pimp C's incarceration, both members of UGK began solo careers out of necessity.

Rap-A-Lot Records released Pimp C's solo debut, Sweet James Jones Stories, on March 1, 2005. Bun B later released his own solo foray, Trill, on October 18, 2005. It opened at #6 on the Billboard Hot 200, and also peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-hop Album chart.

On December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and was to be on parole until December 2009,.^[7][8] He released his first post-incarceration album, titled Pimpalation, on July 25, 2006.^[9]

On August 7, 2007 the group released their fifth studio album, the self-titled Underground Kingz. It was a double album, containing 26 tracks and spanning two discs.^[10] Featured guests included Talib Kweli, Too Short, Rick Ross, Z-RO, Three 6 Mafia, Slim Thug, OutKast, as well as hip-hop legends Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane on a Marley Marl-produced track titled "Next Up". The album also featured British rapper Dizzee Rascal on the track "Two Types of Bitches",^[10] following UGK's guest appearance in Rascal's own album Maths + English for the track "Where's Da G's". The album featured production by DJ Paul & Juicy J, Jazze Pha, Swizz Beatz, The Runners, Lil' Jon, fellow Texas legend Scarface, and Pimp C.^[11] DJ Paul and Juicy J produced the second single, "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)". They had used a similar beat on Project Pat's album titled Layin' Da Smack Down in 2002.

The album got a positive reception both commercially and critically. It received a 4-star rating from Allmusic, and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts. "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" became the group's only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts, where it peaked at #70.

Death of Pimp C[link]

On December 4, 2007, Pimp C was found dead at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood, California, after Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call. They arrived to his sixth-floor hotel room to find him dead in bed. This was three days after he performed with Too Short at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.^[12][13]

On February 4, 2008, the Insite received a call from the Los Angeles County Coroner's office with the cause of death. Officials there say the Houston rapper died from a Promethazine/Codeine syrup overdose combined with sleep apnea. His death was ruled an accident.^[14]

Bun B was interviewed a few days later by radio DJ Madd Hatta, and an audio recording has been posted online.^[15]

Bun B recently stated in an interview that there will be one last UGK album released, before he permanently becomes a solo act.^[16] "We were heavy into the meat of the album before Pimp passed," says Bun. "The dedication song-the night I wrote it, I wanted it to be one of the last records recorded for this album after what happened."

"Yea, we’re still putting together this last UGK record too, because there’s a lot of music that we’ve already recorded for it," adds Bun B. "I think that album itself is going to be a little bit weird."

Discography[link]

Studio albums

Awards[link]

• BET Awards
  • 2008, Video of the Year ("International Players Anthem") with Outkast (Nominated)
  • 2008, "Best Group"

• BET Hip-Hop Awards
  • 2007, Video of the Year ("International Players Anthem") with Outkast (Awarded)

• Grammy Awards
  • 2001, Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group ("Big Pimpin") (Nominated)
  • 2008, Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group ("Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)") (Nominated)

• Ozone Awards
  • 2006, Living Legends Award (Awarded)
  • 2008, Best Rap Group (Awarded)
  • 2008, Best Rap Album (Underground Kingz) [Nominated]
  • 2008, Best Video ("International Players Anthem") with Outkast (Awarded)

References[link]

External links[link]

• UGK Website (Jive Records)
• UGK on Myspace
• Bun B on Myspace
• Pimp C on Myspace
• Official UGK YouTube Page

Chad Lamont Butler^[1] (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.

Music career[link]

UGK[link]

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,^[2] 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 wouldnt release another studio album until 2007's Underground Kingz which included "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" featuring Outkast.

Arrest and solo debut[link]

In January 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for violating his probation stemming from an earlier aggravated assault charge.^[3] His arrest was widely protested by the hip hop community, who immediately initiated a grassroots "Free Pimp C" campaign.^[4] 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.^[3]

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.^[5] On December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and placed on parole until December 2007.^[6]

Death and tributes[link]

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 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 "syrup" in his music.^[7]

The funeral was held at the Bob Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, Texas on December 13, 2007.^[8] 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.^[9]

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^[10] 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.^[11]

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.^[12]

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^[when?] 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.

The group Outlawz released a song called "Brand New (Pimp C Dedication)" as the first track of their mixtape Killuminati 2K11 in 2011.

2 Chainz released a song called "Pimp C Back" in August, 2011.

Nelly and the St. Lunatics released a song entitled "Pimp C" as part of Nelly's O.E.M.O. mixtape, in December of 2011.

Seattle hip hop artist Macklemore depicts Pimp C and embodies his and other drug abuse of the hip hop community in his song Otherside off the Macklemore x Ryan Lewis VS. Redux (2009)

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Studio albums[link]

Singles[link]

Featured singles[link]

Guest appearances[link]

Music videos[link]

References[link]

http://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Hits-Pimp-C/dp/B0015I2P6I

External links[link]

	Texas portal
	Biography portal
	Hip hop portal

• Official website
• Pimp C at the Internet Movie Database
• Pimp C on Myspace
• Chad "Pimp C" Butler at Find A Grave

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