Pimp C

Pimp C
Pimp C in mid-2006.
Background information
Birth name	Chad Lamonte Butler
Born	(1973-12-29)December 29, 1973 Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Died	December 4, 2007(2007-12-04) (aged 33) Los Angeles, California
Genres	Southern hip hop, Hip Hop
Occupations	Rapper, songwriter, singer producer
Years active	1987–2007
Labels	UGK, Rap-a-Lot, Trill Entertainment (founder), Cash Money Records (producer), No Limit Records (producer), Jive Records
Associated acts	UGK, Bun B, Too $hort, Jazze Pha, Lil Boosie, Webbie, Chamillionaire, Young Buck
Website	www.pimpcmusic.com

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 was best known for his work with Bun B as a founding member of the Underground Kingz (UGK).

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,^[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 would not release another studio album until 2007's Underground Kingz, which included the hit "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)", featuring Outkast.

Arrest and solo debut

In January 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for violating his probation by ignoring his sentence to community service stemming from an earlier aggravated assault charge.^[3] His arrest was widely protested by the hip hop community, who along with Bun B, 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]

On July 11, 2006, Pimp C released his debut solo album, Pimpalation.

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 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" (also known as Purple Drank) 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. Adolph. Attendees included many fellow luminaries of the Houston rap scene: Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Big North, Bi-Bi, 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]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Singles

Featured singles

Guest appearances

Music videos

References

External links

• Official website
• Pimp C at the Internet Movie Database