UGK
Encyclopedia
UGK 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.
under a five-album contract, releasing their major-label debut album Too Hard to Swallow
. While it featured several new recordings, it also featured several songs that had been culled from The Southern Way
. 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. 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 . 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. 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
. During this period, Jive Records
released a Best of UGK album, as well as a Chopped & Screwed
remix album. 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,. He released his first post-incarceration album, titled Pimpalation
, on July 25, 2006.
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. 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", 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. 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.
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.
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.
Bun B
was interviewed a few days later by radio DJ Madd Hatta, and an audio recording has been posted online.
Bun B recently stated in an interview that there will be one last UGK album released, before he permanently becomes a solo act. "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."
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
duo from Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur, Texas
-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
formed in 1987 by the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler
Pimp C
Chad Lamont Butler , better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper, singer, and producer...
. He then joined with Bernard "Bun B" Freeman
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
, who became his longtime partner. They released their first major label album, Too Hard to Swallow
Too Hard to Swallow
-Track listing:#"Something Good" - 5:27#"Use Me Up" - 4:29#"Pocket Full of Stones" - 6:09#"Short Texas" - 6:18#"Cocaine in the Back of the Ride" - 3:44#"It's Too Hard to Swallow" - 5:19#"Cramping My Style" - 4:45...
, in 1992, followed by several other albums charting on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
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'
Big Pimpin'
"Big Pimpin" is the last single from rapper Jay-Z's fourth album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter. It features rapping by Southern hip hop group UGK as well as production by Timbaland....
" by Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
and "Sippin' on Some Syrup
Sippin' on Some Syrup
"Sippin' On Some Syrup" is a track from Three 6 Mafia's fourth studio album, When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1. It features UGK and Project Pat...
" by Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia are an Academy Award-winning, American rap group originating from Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1991 as Triple 6 Mafia, by DJ Paul, Juicy J, & Lord Infamous, the group at its most featured six members including; Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca...
. Pimp C founded UGK Records
UGK Records
UGK Records is a record label located in Port Arthur, Texas of which Pimp C was the founding member in late 2005. The rapper was in the process of negotiating a major distribution deal for the label before he died on December 4, 2007.-Artists:...
in late 2005.
On December 4, 2007, Pimp C
Pimp C
Chad Lamont Butler , better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper, singer, and producer...
was found dead in a West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
hotel room.
History
In 1992, UGK was signed to Jive RecordsJive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
under a five-album contract, releasing their major-label debut album Too Hard to Swallow
Too Hard to Swallow
-Track listing:#"Something Good" - 5:27#"Use Me Up" - 4:29#"Pocket Full of Stones" - 6:09#"Short Texas" - 6:18#"Cocaine in the Back of the Ride" - 3:44#"It's Too Hard to Swallow" - 5:19#"Cramping My Style" - 4:45...
. While it featured several new recordings, it also featured several songs that had been culled from The Southern Way
The Southern Way
The Southern Way is an EP by UGK, which was released on cassette only in 1988. Side A is dubbed "Short Side" and Side B is dubbed "Texas Side".-Track listing:#"Cocaine in the Back of the Ride"#"Short Texas"#"Tell Me Something Good"#"Trill Ass Nigga"...
. 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
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
distributed by Bigtyme Recordz; appropriately enough, the EP was titled Banned
Banned (album)
Banned is an EP by UGK. The album includes 5 tracks, these tracks rumored to be "banned" from Too Hard to Swallow, due to content deemed too vulgar.-Muthafucka Ain't Mine:*"Darkest Light" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band...
. A popular song from the album "Pocket Full of Stones" was also included on the Menace II Society soundtrack
Menace II Society (soundtrack)
Menace II Society is the name of the official soundtrack for the movie of the same name. It was released May 26, 1993 by Jive Records. It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 11 on the Billboard 200...
in 1993.
Their second album, Super Tight
Super Tight
Super Tight... is the second album by UGK. As of 2011, it has sold 374,985 copies.-Track listing:#"Return"#"Underground"#"It's Supposed to Bubble"#"I Left It Wet for You"#"Feds In Town" #"Pocket Full of Stones Pt. 2"...
, 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
Ridin' Dirty
Ridin' Dirty is the third album by UGK. Despite no music videos or official singles being released, it is their best selling album with 847,454 copies sold as of 2011.-Track listing:-Chart positions:...
, peaked at #15. 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
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's smash hit "Big Pimpin'
Big Pimpin'
"Big Pimpin" is the last single from rapper Jay-Z's fourth album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter. It features rapping by Southern hip hop group UGK as well as production by Timbaland....
" and also appeared on Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia are an Academy Award-winning, American rap group originating from Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1991 as Triple 6 Mafia, by DJ Paul, Juicy J, & Lord Infamous, the group at its most featured six members including; Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca...
's hit "Sippin' on Some Syrup
Sippin' on Some Syrup
"Sippin' On Some Syrup" is a track from Three 6 Mafia's fourth studio album, When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1. It features UGK and Project Pat...
". Both of these collaborations greatly increased their reputation, and helped fuel anticipation for their next project . Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
failed to capitalize on this new-found interest in the duo, as their fourth album, 2001's Dirty Money
Dirty Money (album)
Dirty Money is the fourth album by UGK. The album came after a five-year hiatus. "Take It Off" was also featured on the soundtrack to The Corruptor. "Money, Hoes & Power" with Jermaine Dupri was also featured on Dupri's Instructions album. The album was released in explicit and edited versions...
, came and went with little fanfare.
Further problems arose when Pimp C
Pimp C
Chad Lamont Butler , better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper, singer, and producer...
was incarcerated for an aggravated gun assault charge in 2002. Throughout the time of his incarceration, Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
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
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
. During this period, Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
released a Best of UGK album, as well as a Chopped & Screwed
Chopped and screwed
Chopped and screwed refers to a technique of remixing hip hop music which developed in the Houston hip hop scene in the 1990s...
remix album. As a result of Pimp C's incarceration, both members of UGK began solo careers out of necessity.
Rap-A-Lot Records
Rap-A-Lot Records
Rap-a-Lot Records is a Houston hip hop record label. Rap-a-Lot was created in 1986. Sublabels include Smoke-a-Lot Records. The label was founded by James Prince in the mid-1980s and, with its most famous act the Geto Boys, put the South on the hip hop map. Since then, it has maintained its success...
released Pimp C's solo debut, Sweet James Jones Stories
Sweet James Jones Stories
Sweet James Jones Stories is the solo debut album by Pimp C. Released on Rap-A-Lot Records. Producers include Leroy Williams, Wendell Springer, & Mike Dean...
, on March 1, 2005. Bun B later released his own solo foray, Trill
Trill (album)
-Samples:The Inauguration*"Hail to the Chief"Draped Up/Draped Up *"Pimp Tha Pen" by DJ ScrewPushin*"Keep On Pushing me" by The ImpressionsThe Story*"All The Time You Need" by ChansonGit It...
, 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,. He released his first post-incarceration album, titled Pimpalation
Pimpalation
Pimpalation is the second solo album by Pimp C released on July 11, 2006."I'm Free," featuring a sample of Free Fallin' by Tom Petty, is the first single from the album. Rolling Stone voted the single one of the year's best, placing it at #80 on its Top 100 list...
, on July 25, 2006.
On August 7, 2007 the group released their fifth studio album, the self-titled Underground Kingz. It was a double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
, containing 26 tracks and spanning two discs. Featured guests included Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
, Too Short, Rick Ross
Rick Ross
Rick, Ricky or Richard Ross may also refer to:* Rick Ross , American rapper* Richard J. Ross, a Massachusetts State Senator* Richard Ross , an American photographer...
, Z-RO
Z-Ro
Joseph Wayne McVey , better known by his stage name Z-Ro, is an American rapper, singer and producer from Houston, Texas. He was named one of America's most underrated rappers by the New York Times.-Early life:...
, Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia are an Academy Award-winning, American rap group originating from Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1991 as Triple 6 Mafia, by DJ Paul, Juicy J, & Lord Infamous, the group at its most featured six members including; Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca...
, Slim Thug
Slim Thug
Stayve Jerome Thomas , better known as Slim Thug, Boss Hogg or Thug Boss, is an American rapper. He gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the popular single from rapper Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'"....
, OutKast
OutKast
Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
, as well as hip-hop legends Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
and Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
on a Marley Marl
Marley Marl
Marlon Williams , better known as Marley Marl, is an American DJ and record producer, who is considered one of the most important and influential hip-hop producers in the history of hip hop.-Biography:...
-produced track titled "Next Up". The album also featured British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rapper Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
on the track "Two Types of Bitches", following UGK's guest appearance in Rascal's own album Maths + English
Maths + English
- Track listing :*1 Samples Lyn Collins' "Think " and Galactic Force Band's "Space Dust Gurnhill EZI".*2 Co-mixed by Shy FX.*3 Samples "So You Wanna Be a Boxer" from the film musical Bugsy Malone.*4 Omitted from US version.-Charts:...
for the track "Where's Da G's". The album featured production by DJ Paul
DJ Paul
Paul Beauregard, better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee. He is one half of the current Memphis-based rap group Three 6 Mafia. He is also the half brother of former Three 6 Mafia member Lord Infamous. He won an Academy Award for Best...
& Juicy J
Juicy J
Jordan Michael Houston, better known by his stage name Juicy J is an Academy Award winning American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee and is the co-founder and a member of the duo Three 6 Mafia . He is also the younger brother of Project Pat...
, Jazze Pha
Jazze Pha
Phalon Anton Alexander , also known as Jazze Pha , is an American singer, and songwriter.raised in Memphis, TN; son of James Alexander ....
, Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
, The Runners
The Runners
The Runners is a hip hop production duo from Orlando, Florida, consisting of Andrew "Dru Brett" Harr and Jermaine "Mayne Zayne" Jackson. They came together to form the team in 2000, but they have known each other since they were in kindergarten. They are best known for producing the hit singles "Go...
, Lil' Jon, fellow Texas legend Scarface
Scarface (rapper)
Brad Terrence Jordan , better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, and recording artist from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston.-Life and career:...
, and Pimp C. DJ Paul
DJ Paul
Paul Beauregard, better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee. He is one half of the current Memphis-based rap group Three 6 Mafia. He is also the half brother of former Three 6 Mafia member Lord Infamous. He won an Academy Award for Best...
and Juicy J
Juicy J
Jordan Michael Houston, better known by his stage name Juicy J is an Academy Award winning American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee and is the co-founder and a member of the duo Three 6 Mafia . He is also the younger brother of Project Pat...
produced the second single, "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)
International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)
"International Player's Anthem " is a single by UGK on their album Underground Kingz, featuring OutKast.-Background:The beat was produced by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia, and utilizes a sample of "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch. It was originally used on a song by Project Pat, "Choose U";...
". They had used a similar beat on Project Pat
Project Pat
Patrick Houston, better known as Project Pat is an American rapper originating from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the older brother of Juicy J, co-founder of the Three 6 Mafia....
'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)
International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)
"International Player's Anthem " is a single by UGK on their album Underground Kingz, featuring OutKast.-Background:The beat was produced by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia, and utilizes a sample of "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch. It was originally used on a song by Project Pat, "Choose U";...
" became the group's only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
pop charts, where it peaked at #70.
Death of Pimp C
On December 4, 2007, Pimp C was found dead at the Mondrian HotelMondrian Hotel
The Mondrian Hotel is the name of three boutique hotels owned and/or operated by the Morgans Hotel Group.-Mondrian Los Angeles:The original Mondrian Hotel is located on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. The structure was built in 1959 as an apartment building. It was later renovated...
in West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
, after Los Angeles County Fire Department
Los Angeles County Fire Department
The Los Angeles County Fire Department , serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including La Habra. It should not be confused with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, which serves the city of...
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
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
in Los Angeles.
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
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing, during sleep. Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last from a few seconds to minutes, and may occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Similarly, each abnormally low...
. His death was ruled an accident.
Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
was interviewed a few days later by radio DJ Madd Hatta, and an audio recording has been posted online.
Bun B recently stated in an interview that there will be one last UGK album released, before he permanently becomes a solo act. "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
Studio albums| Year | Album | US 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
U.S. Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | The Southern Way The Southern Way The Southern Way is an EP by UGK, which was released on cassette only in 1988. Side A is dubbed "Short Side" and Side B is dubbed "Texas Side".-Track listing:#"Cocaine in the Back of the Ride"#"Short Texas"#"Tell Me Something Good"#"Trill Ass Nigga"... (EP) |
– | ||
| 1992 | Banned Banned (album) Banned is an EP by UGK. The album includes 5 tracks, these tracks rumored to be "banned" from Too Hard to Swallow, due to content deemed too vulgar.-Muthafucka Ain't Mine:*"Darkest Light" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band... |
– | ||
| 1992 | Too Hard to Swallow Too Hard to Swallow -Track listing:#"Something Good" - 5:27#"Use Me Up" - 4:29#"Pocket Full of Stones" - 6:09#"Short Texas" - 6:18#"Cocaine in the Back of the Ride" - 3:44#"It's Too Hard to Swallow" - 5:19#"Cramping My Style" - 4:45... |
– | 37 | 369,511 |
| 1994 | Super Tight Super Tight Super Tight... is the second album by UGK. As of 2011, it has sold 374,985 copies.-Track listing:#"Return"#"Underground"#"It's Supposed to Bubble"#"I Left It Wet for You"#"Feds In Town" #"Pocket Full of Stones Pt. 2"... |
95 | 9 | 374,985 |
| 1996 | Ridin' Dirty | 15 | 2 | 847,454 |
| 2001 | Dirty Money Dirty Money (album) Dirty Money is the fourth album by UGK. The album came after a five-year hiatus. "Take It Off" was also featured on the soundtrack to The Corruptor. "Money, Hoes & Power" with Jermaine Dupri was also featured on Dupri's Instructions album. The album was released in explicit and edited versions... |
18 | 2 | 522,943 |
| 2002 | Side Hustles Side Hustles Side Hustles is a compilation album by rap group UGK. It includes non-album UGK tracks and tracks from other artists that feature UGK or its members... |
70 | 10 | 88,570 |
| 2007 | Underground Kingz | 1 | 1 | 498,454 |
| 2009 | UGK 4 Life | 6 | 2 | 217,220 |
Awards
- BET Awards
- 2008, Video of the Year ("International Players Anthem") with Outkast (Lost)
- 2008, "Best Group"
- BET Hip-Hop Awards
- 2007, Video of the Year ("International Players Anthem") with Outkast (Won)
- 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)International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)"International Player's Anthem " is a single by UGK on their album Underground Kingz, featuring OutKast.-Background:The beat was produced by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia, and utilizes a sample of "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch. It was originally used on a song by Project Pat, "Choose U";...
") (Nominated)
- Ozone Awards
- 2006, Living Legends Award (Won)
- 2008, Best Rap Group (Won)
- 2008, Best Rap Album (Underground Kingz) [Nominated]
- 2008, Best Video ("International Players Anthem") with Outkast (Won)