Pimp C

Pimp C
Background information
Birth name	Chad Lamont Butler
Born	December 29, 1973(1973-12-29) Port Arthur, Texas
Origin	Port Arthur, Texas
Died	December 4, 2007 (aged 33) West Hollywood, California, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, Producer
Years active	1987—2007
Labels	UGK, Rap-a-Lot, UGK Records
Associated acts	Bun B, Mitchell Queen, DJ DMD, DJ Bird, DJ Screw, Screwed Up Click, Scarface, E-40, Too $hort, Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG, Dungeon Family, Ludacris, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Mike Jones
Website	pimpcmusic.com

Chad Lamont Butler^[1] (December 29, 1973 — December 4, 2007), better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper and producer. He was one half of the influential hip-hop group UGK.

Early life

Butler was born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas. His father, who played trumpet professionally with Solomon Burke, exposed Butler to a variety of music throughout his youth.^[2] Butler studied classical music while in high school, and, as a testament to his singing ability, Butler also received a Division I rating on a tenor solo at a University Interscholastic League choir competition.^[3] He began to be interested in hip-hop when a friend of his gave him a Run-DMC album.^[4]

Music career

UGK

With best friend Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, Butler formed the rap group Underground Kingz, colloquially known as UGK. In 1992, 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,^[5] 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 2009: Side Hustles and the eponymous Underground Kingz, the latter of which spawned the hit single "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)", a collaboration with Atlanta's OutKast.

Arrest and solo debut

In 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for violating his probation.^[6] His arrest was widely protested by the hip-hop community, who immediately initiated a grassroots "Free Pimp C" campaign.^[3] While Pimp C was in prison, Jive released Sweet James Jones Stories in 2005, most of which consisted of unreleased freestyle recordings.^[6] On December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and placed on parole until December 2009.^[7]

Death

Pimp C died on December 4, 2007. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner, Butler suffered respiratory depression caused by an accidental overdose of promethazine and codeine cough syrup coupled with a preexisting sleep apnea condition. Like many other Southern rappers, Pimp C frequently referenced the recreational consumption of "sizzurp" in his music.^[8]

Legacy

Pimp C undoubtedly played a huge role in shaping the archetypal Houston rapping style.^{[citation needed]} His contemporaries often reference his contributions to the Houston rap scene as indelible.^{[citation needed]}

After his death, Pimp C made posthumous appearances on Bun B's song "Underground Thang" (also featuring fellow Houston rapper Chamillionaire) from II Trill and much later, an as-of-yet untitled track which was to be featured on Chamillionaire's third album Venom. The latter track was produced by Pimp C, marking his final production credit. Chamillionaire announced on June 5 that Venom has been canceled, but later stated his third studio album would maintain the same title.^[9]

Bun B dedicated the final UGK album, UGK 4 Life, to Pimp C's memory.

YTCracker sampled a lyric referencing the Internet from Butler's I'm Free for the hook on his song Shineback, released in 2006 on the album Nerd Life. In 2009, Method Man & Redman sampled Pimp C for the hook on their song City Lights (featuring Bun B) on the album Blackout! 2.

Discography

Albums

• 2005: Sweet James Jones Stories
• 2006: Pimpalation
• 2009: The Naked Soul of Sweet James Jones

Singles

• 2006: "I'm Free"
• 2006: "Pourin' Up" (featuring Mike Jones & Bun B)
• 2006: "Knockin' Doorz Down" (featuring P.O.P. & Lil' Keke)

References

External links

• Official website
• Pimp C at the Internet Movie Database
• Pimp C at MySpace