Pimp C

Background

Chad Mathew Lamont Butler, widely known by his stage name Pimp C, was born in Crowley, Louisiana on December 29, 1973. He was the only child of Weslyn “Mama Wes” Butler Jacob Monroe and Charleston Butler. He grew up in Port Arthur, Texas. Because his father was a trumpet player, he found his interest in music at a young age. He was part of a choir in his teens and played several instruments at school. His earlier music was mostly influenced by the hip-hop group Run-DMC. His stepfather, Bill Monroe, encouraged him to write and make his music. Soon, he met his best friend, Bernard “Bun B” Freeman due to their shared passion for music, and formed the rap group Underground Kingz or U.G.K in 1987. The duo signed to an independent label, Big Tyme Recordz, and released two E.P.s in 1992, titled “The Southern Way” and “Banned.” Both E.P.s amassed moderate success and U.G.K later signed to Jive Records. In November 1992, they released their first major-label album, “Too Hard to Swallow.” It placed 37th on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. U.G.K’s next album, “Super Tight,” was released in 1994. It was both a critical and commercial success, placing 95th on the Billboard 200 and grabbing ninth place on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Their most successful album was the 1996’s “Ridin’ Dirty.” It became a runner-up on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and placed 15th on Billboard 200. Thus far, the album has sold more than 850,000 copies.

Following a brief hiatus in the late 1990s, the duo returned as a featured artist in Jay-Z’s smashing ‘Big Pimpin’ and Three 6 Mafia’s ‘Sippin’ on Some Syrup’ in 2000. U.G.K’s reputation soared sky-high after and they launched their fourth studio album, “Dirty Money,” in 2001. Unfortunately, the group had to go on hiatus once more after his arrest. He released his debut solo album, “The Sweet James Jones Stories,” in March 2005. It contains songs that he recorded before his incarceration. He released his second solo album about half a year later in July 2006, titled “Pimpalation,” which became a huge commercial success by grabbing the third spot on the U.S. Billboard 200 and peaked the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

The U.G.K reunited on August 7, 2007, and released the fifth studio album titled after their group, Underground Kingz. It debuted first on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts and the Billboard 200, featuring their universally acclaimed hit single ‘International Players Anthem (I Choose You).’ He was found dead by hotel staff in West Hollywood’s Mondrian Hotel on December 4, 2007, just a mere 25-days away from his 34th birthday. The cause of his death, according to the coroner’s report, was alleged over-consumption of “purple drank” combined with his pre-existing sleep apnea. Not long after, his body was returned to Port Arthur, Texas. His funeral was held on December 13, 2007, at the Bob Bowers Civic Center.