Bun B | |
|---|---|
 Bun B in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bernard James Freeman |
| Also known as | Big Bun |
| Born | (1973-03-19)March 19, 1973 (age 52) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Origin | Port Arthur, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Discography | |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of | UGK |
| Spouse | |
Bernard James Freeman (born March 19, 1973),[1][2] known professionally asBun B, is an American rapper. He is best known as one half of the southern rap duoUGK (UnderGround Kingz), a group he formed in 1987 alongsidePimp C. Aside from his work with UGK, Bun B has released five solo albums, including 2010'sTrill OG, which received the rare 5-mic rating fromThe Source.[3]
He is also a guest lecturer atRice University, located inHouston,Texas.[4][5]
In the late 1980s,Pimp C started the rap duoUGK. He first released a demo tape titled "Underground King" which didn't feature Bun B on the track. Instead, it featured Pimp C's friend Mitchell Queen. Bun B and friend Jalon Jackson had their own group called P.A. Militia. Both groups joined forces and formed the group 4 Black Ministers. Queen and Jackson later left the group leaving Pimp C and Bun B so they decided to revert to UGK.[6] The demo Pimp C recorded with Mitchell Queen,Underground King, caught the attention of an independent label inHouston called Bigtyme Records. They then released anextended play titledThe Southern Way. The release of this record caught the attention ofJive Records. While recording their debut album,Too Hard to Swallow, many of the songs had content too explicit for the album, so Bigtyme Records released an extended play titledBanned before the album was released, including all the songs that were too explicit forToo Hard to Swallow.[7] The song "Pocket Full of Stones" became the first UGK song to get major airplay throughout the United States. Their second album,Super Tight..., followed in 1994. Their third album,Ridin' Dirty, peaked at number 2 on the R&B Charts in 1996, and at number 15 on theBillboard 200. After releasing their fourth studio album,Dirty Money, Pimp C got sentenced to jail.[8]
When Bun B'sUGK partner, the lateChad "Pimp C" Butler, entered a jail sentence on an aggravated gun assault charge in 2002, Bun B made guest appearances on numerous albums by other rappers and released a 2005mixtape titledLegends.[9] Singles featuring a Bun B guest appearance included "They Don't Know" byPaul Wall, "Gimme That" byWebbie and "I'm A G" byYung Joc. Bun B also appeared in a documentary titledScrewed In Houston produced by VBS/Vice that details the history of the Houston rap scene.
In October 2005, Bun B's debut solo albumTrill was released.[10] Singles included "Draped Up",[10] "Git It", and "Get Throwed".[11] The album peaked at the number 6 spot on the AmericanBillboard 200 chart and number 1 on theTop R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.[12]
After Pimp C died in 2007, Bun B returned to a solo career. In 2008, he released his second album,II Trill.[9] The first single was "That's Gangsta" featuring Jamaican American artistSean Kingston. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 98,000 copies.[13] Other singles were "Damn I'm Cold" featuringLil Wayne and "You're Everything" featuringRick Ross,David Banner, DJ Corbett and8Ball & MJG, the latter of which was dedicated to the late Pimp C.
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Bun B's third album isTrill OG. In an interview with MTV Live, Bun B stated that2Pac was set to feature on the album, claiming "It's a brand new verse."[14] The album was released underUniversal Music Group[15] on August 3, 2010.[16]
On October 28, 2011, a song titled "The Life" and produced by 14KT was leaked. On March 3, 2012, Bun B leaked a song featuringRoyce da 5'9" andRedman titled "Stop Playin'" after he reached 400,000 followers on Twitter. He has not announced the song's appearance on his upcoming album[17]
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His fourth studio album was rumored to be titled,Trill 4 Life and scheduled for a 2013 release.[18] On August 22, 2013,Rap-A-Lot Records revealed that his Sony distributed fourth studio album will be released in October 2013. The album is to feature guest appearances fromRick Ross and2 Chainz.[19] On October 4, 2013, the album was then officially announced to be titledTrill OG: The Epilogue and be released on November 12, 2013. The album was revealed to contain primarily leftover tracks from theTrill O.G. recording sessions. It was also confirmed to feature Pimp C, 2 Chainz, Rick Ross,Lil Boosie,Kirko Bangz,Big K.R.I.T.,Raekwon, Z-Ro andDevin The Dude.[20][21]
Bun B announced "The Trillest Tour" in January 2014. On January 30, the Houston native revealed the tour dates, where he was accompanied by fellow Houston nativeKirko Bangz. The tour ran from March 6 until April 17, 2014.[22]
On June 24, 2014, Bun B made a guest appearance to the Htown Beatdown concert hosted by local radio stationHot 95.7. He was awarded the 360 Legend Award for his successful music career and his impact on the local community.
At the start of the Spring 2011 semester, Bun B joined the faculty ofRice University as a Distinguished Lecturer. He taught a course in the School of the Humanities onHip hop andReligion.[23] Into 2013 Bun B continues to teach the course twice a week.[24]
On September 17, 2013, Freeman released a coloring book titled "Bun B's Rap Coloring Book" along with authorShea Serrano. Freeman and Serrano had previously talked about working together to make a book. At first they agreed on a "hip hop survival guide", but both agreed against the project. Later on, Serrano drew coloring pages of rappers that he posted onTumblr. The pages quickly went viral. Freeman and Serrano then decided to make a whole coloring book.[25]
Bun B opened up Trill Burgers located on South Shepherd and Richmond Avenue inHouston, Texas.[26]
Bun B has been married to Angela "Queenie" Wells since 2003 and has two stepchildren and seven step-grandchildren.[27] His stepson is American rapper Young-B, who is a member of the rap group Youngest N Charge, which is Bun B's opening act.[28]
On April 24, 2019, Bun B shot an armed intruder who was attempting to rob his Houston home. The intruder fled on foot. The suspect, DeMonte Jackson, was taken into custody by Houston police after arriving at the hospital.[29]
Studio albums
Collaborative albums
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