The horrors.

Rapper Pimp C found dead at Sunset Strip hotel

David J. Phillip / Associated Press
By David Pierson and Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
December 5, 2007
Rapper Pimp C, an influential hip-hop figure credited with helping launch the popularity of Southern rap, was found dead Tuesday morning at an upscale hotel on the Sunset Strip.

Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics responding to a 911 call found the 33-year-old native of Port Arthur, Texas, lying on his bed at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood.

"It appears that he died naturally," said Capt. Ed Winter of the county coroner's office. "There were no signs of trauma, no signs of drug paraphernalia."

An investigation is pending.

Pimp C, whose real name was Chad Butler, was a member of the Texas hip-hop duo UGK, which scored a No. 1 album earlier this year.

The Mondrian released a statement Tuesday saying staffers checked Butler's room after family members called asking his whereabouts.

"Mr. Butler had checked into the hotel on 28 November and, according to the callers, was to have checked out" Monday, the statement read. "Security personnel went to Mr. Butler's room and found him in bed, apparently expired. A 911 call was placed at about 9:20 a.m. and paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and pronounced Mr. Butler dead."

UGK's seventh album, "Underground Kingz," reached No. 1 on the national album chart in August, but mainstream stardom eluded Butler and his partner, Bun B, for most of the group's 15-year career.

In the early 1990s, the two became known for their sharp, original rap style, ribald chronicles of "gangsta life" and stripped-down beats.

Although their collaborations with higher-profile artists, including Jay-Z (on the hit "Big Pimpin' ") and the Oscar-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia (with which UGK recorded "Sippin on Sizzurp," an ode to getting high from drinking cough medicine), are considered hip-hop classics, UGK's more enduring claim to fame may be helping establish Southern rap.

Barry Weiss, Jive Records' president and chief executive, said in a written statement: "We mourn the unexpected loss of Chad. He was truly a thoughtful and kind-hearted person. He will be remembered for his talent and profound influence as a pioneer in bringing Southern rap to the forefront. He will be missed and our prayers remain with his family and Bun B. I've known Chad since he was 18, and we loved him dearly and he was a cherished member of the Jive family."

In 2002, Butler was sentenced to eight years in prison after falling behind on court-ordered community service.

That sentence had been imposed after the rapper-producer pleaded no contest to aggravated assault charges; he had brandished a gun during an argument with a woman at a shopping mall.

He served about half his sentence at Terrell Prison in Livingston, Texas, before being paroled in 2005. During that time, rap fans made him a cause celebre. "Free Pimp C" T-shirts and baseball caps became popular with UGK fans across the country, and a host of rap stars called for his release.

Over the summer, the rapper-producer made headlines for disparaging a number of hip-hop celebrities, including rapper Young Jeezy, mogul Russell Simmons and R&B singer Ne-Yo.

Butler's manager, Rick Martin, released a statement Tuesday extending condolences to Butler's wife and children.

"Chad was finally seeing the results of the years of love and labor that he and Bun B have put in over the years, culminating in the tremendous success of their album, 'Underground Kingz,' " Martin said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-rapper5dec05,1,5553687.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true

Pimp what now?

Who?

Thank the powers that be now if the rest would just do the same

Zzzzz...

His hoes must be devastated.

This is one of those moments, like JFK's assassination, where we'll all remember exactly where we were when we heard the news.

He was trying to clean up and walk the straight and narrow

y'all better not start jumping to race motivated conclusions

Hmm.  I wonder if they can say "died from natural causes at 33" with a straight face.

I know what vitamin C is, does that get me any street creds?

Sounds like a real fuckin tragedy if you ask me.

I am not on a ship.

Sorry

credited with helping launch the popularity of Southern rap

Did someone flush?

Quoted: This is one of those moments, like JFK's assassination, where we'll all remember exactly where we were when we heard the news.

Half Mast?-You Are a Ass

Half Mast is for Respected Heroes and yours is a Fallen DIPSHIT at the Least with a likely following

He ain't dead, it's a conspriracy...they are gonna throw him in the same room as 2pac.  Then in a couple years Pimp C and 2pac are gonna release a new album and make a comeback tour.  You'll all see....

In 2002, Butler was sentenced to eight years in prison after falling behind on court-ordered community service. That sentence had been imposed after the rapper-producer pleaded no contest to aggravated assault charges; he had brandished a gun during an argument with a woman at a shopping mall. He served about half his sentence at Terrell Prison in Livingston, Texas, before being paroled in 2005. During that time, rap fans made him a cause celebre. "Free Pimp C" T-shirts and baseball caps became popular with UGK fans across the country, and a host of rap stars called for his release.

Request granted.

Praise Jehovah!!

Quoted: Half Mast?-You Are a Ass Half Mast is for Respected Heroes and yours is a Fallen DIPSHIT at the Least with a likely following

I think he was being facetious.

Can we get some more "rap stars" to check into that hotel?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Damn, I kinda liked UGK too.

(For those who don't know - check out Jay-Z's song "Big Pimpin" - UGK guest rapped on that song, and on Three 6 Mafia's "Sippin on Some Syrup"; Pimp C is the one wearing the glasses in both videos (not sunglasses - real glasses))

While it's not quite as big of a loss as when Biggie and 2Pac died...it's still a big loss in the rap world - especially to the Houston rap scene.

If i wasnt rappin' baby
I would still be ridin' mercedes!!!

PIMP C fo' life!!!!!!!!!!!

another one bites the dust

Good ridance.

ETA: Post count is my Birth year

That should be good for his record sales.

Quoted: Hmm.  I wonder if they can say "died from natural causes at 33" with a straight face.

I know two people who died of heart attacks in their early 30s.  Docs aren't usually looking for heart problems that young.

Quoted: His hoes must be devastated.

Well, he had a pocket full of stones.

Pimp C-orpse

In an effort to show his dedication to hard work and education, rapper “Pimp C” took his name from a combination of his mother’s boss’s job title and the highest grade he ever earned in school.

There is a higher power.

Quoted: Hmm.  I wonder if they can say "died from natural causes at 33" with a straight face.

Was he obese?

I've never heard of A or B, forget about C.

Quoted: In the early 1990s, the two became known for their sharp, original rap style, ribald chronicles of "gangsta life" and stripped-down beats. Although their collaborations with higher-profile artists, including Jay-Z (on the hit "Big Pimpin' ") and the Oscar-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia (with which UGK recorded "Sippin on Sizzurp," an ode to getting high from drinking cough medicine), are considered hip-hop classics, UGK's more enduring claim to fame may be helping establish Southern rap. That sentence had been imposed after the rapper-producer pleaded no contest to aggravated assault charges; he had brandished a gun during an argument with a woman at a shopping mall.

Good riddance.

Quoted: credited with helping launch the popularity of Southern rap

Really... WTF is Southern rap?  I guess if the lyrics have "Y'all" in them, it will be considered southern rap.

Quoted: He was born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas, near here.  The local paper has this as the headlines today. His Mother's minister said what a wonderful boy he was and that he always "loved the Lord". Somehow, I find that hard to believe.

Perfect example of how blinded parents can get with their kids... I hear stuff like that on the news from time to time (watching the local Detroit news channels) and it cracks me up.

A guy with a rap sheet longer than my (long) arms gets killed breaking into someone's house, the family holds a vigil outside and the news interviews the parents ... All they can say is how good of a son and father he was and how he provided for his family, etc...

Another 'gangsta rappa' died?



I can't say that Im sad.... I lead more towards


Fuck 'em I say... good riddance.

Quoted: Who?

Indeed...

Quoted: Quoted: Who? Indeed...

You don't know these guys?



www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnP1XmxyqxA


Ok so I had to G00gle