Chad 'Pimp C' Butler: 1973-2007

Hip-hop power put Texas rap on radars

UGK rapper, with album atop charts, found dead in hotel

By Joe Gross, Additional reporting by Deborah Sengupta Stith
AMERICAN-STATESMAN MUSIC WRITER
Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Chad "Pimp C" Butler, whose music with Houston hip-hop group UGK helped shape Southern hip-hop and who was enjoying a hit single with Grammy-winners OutKast, was found dead Tuesday at the age of 33.

"This is the most significant death in hip-hop in over a decade and the biggest loss of a Texas-born artist in recent memory," said Austin disc jockey Snoop Daniel of Beat 104.9. "He's a forefather of Texas rap."

The Port Arthur native was found dead in his Mondrian Hotel room in Los Angeles Tuesday morning by police responding to a 911 call.

"He is one of the most influential producers and rappers in modern music," Austin rapper and ME-TV urban music director Bavu Blakes said. "The UGK sound that he crafted — slower, more soulful marked by bluesy chords and often live bass, guitar and/or organ parts — has crossed over into the mainstream. They are Southern rap royalty."

With his musical partner Bernard "Bun B" Freeman in UGK, Butler's rugged voice and detailed beats made them rapper's rappers. Albums such as "Super Tight" (1994) and "Ridin' Dirty" (1996) are considered Southern hip-hop classics.

UGK gained worldwide fame with a guest appearance on Jay-Z's 2000 smash hit "Big Pimpin'," but the group's rise was put on hold in 2002 when Butler was sentenced to eight years in prison for failing to complete a community service requirement stemming from an assault charge. As Southern rap's popularity increased while Butler served time at Terrell Prison in East Texas, "Free Pimp C" became a rallying cry at hip-hop shows.

"When he was in jail, people would show up at the clubs wearing 'Free Pimp C' shirts, and since he's been out (of jail) people are always requesting their songs," said 2DQ, an Austin DJ, also with Beat 104.9.

Butler was released on parole Dec. 30, 2005. His 2006 solo album, "Pimpalation" reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

Four months ago, UGK made a triumphant return with their seventh album, "Underground Kingz," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than half a million copies — surprising for a double CD from a group who had been away from the highly competitive hip-hop scene for five years. A remix of the second single, "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" featuring OutKast, was a hit, picking up honors at the BET Hip Hop Awards for best collaboration in October, which could bode well for the Grammy nominations, which come out Thursday.

At South by Southwest earlier this year, UGK performed two powerful sets.

Word of Butler's death spread rapidly Tuesday among Austin's hip-hop community, appearing on Web sites and blogs within minutes of the first reports on the gossip blog TMZ.com.

Butler influenced a generation of Southern rappers such as popular Houstonites Chamillionaire and Paul Wall, said Austin DJ Chicken George said. "It will be a great loss for the music industry as a whole."

"He was hugely proud of being from Houston and always really proud of all the young guys coming out of that scene," said Austin DJ Ricardo "Rapid Ric" Alameda, who produced a mixtape for Freeman in 2005.

A statement released on behalf of family Tuesday confirmed Butler's passing and asked for restraint in speculating on cause of death.

"(UGK) manager Rick Martin is asking that everyone please respect his family and those close to him at this time and refrain from rumors and innuendo," it said.

An L.A. sheriff's department spokesman said the death is under routine investigation and no causes are being ruled out at this time.

Additional reporting by Deborah Sengupta Stith

jgross@statesman.com; 912-5926