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UGK's Pimp C dead at 33
Chad "Pimp C" Butler, half of the popular rap duo UGK (Underground Kingz), reportedly was found dead this morning in a West Hollywood, CA, hotel room. He was 33.
In a statement confirming Butler's death--but not the circumstances--Jive Records' President and CEO Barry Weiss said: "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."
TMZ.com reported that Los Angeles County Fire officials, responding to a call at the Mondrian Hotel on the Sunset Strip, found the rapper dead in bed. Butler reportedly performed with fellow rapper Too Short at the House of Blues in West Hollywood on Saturday night (12/1). No other details were immediately available.
UGK issued its first album in five years, "Underground Kingz," in August. The set sold 160,000 copies during its first week out, and debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart.
Butler, the son of a trumpet player who played professionally with Solomon Burke, was a native of Port Arthur, TX. He met UGK partner Bernard "Bun B" Freeman in high school, where they formed their group. The duo signed to Jive Records in 1992, and released a total of eight albums for the label.
