UGK | |
|---|---|
 Bun B (left) and Pimp C in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Underground Kingz |
| Origin | Port Arthur, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1987–2007 |
| Labels | Jive |
| Past members | Big Mitch |
| Website | www.the-ugks.com |
UGK (short forUnderground Kingz) was an Americanhip-hop duo fromPort Arthur, Texas, formed in 1987, by Mitchell "Big Mitch" Queen andChad "Pimp C" Butler. Big Mitch later left the group to pursue a football career,[1] and was replaced withBernard "Bun B" Freeman although Big Mitch still made guest appearances on UGK songs.
They released their firstmajor-label album,Too Hard to Swallow, in 1992, followed by several other albums charting on theBillboard 200 andTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, including the self-titledUnderground Kingz album, which contained their single "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)" and debuted at number one on theBillboard 200, in August 2007. The duo also featured on hit singles by several other artists, such as "Big Pimpin'" byJay-Z and "Sippin' on Some Syrup" byThree 6 Mafia. Pimp C foundedUGK Records in late 2005. The duo ended following Pimp C's death on December 4, 2007.
Originally from Port Arthur, Texas, UGK members Pimp and Bun were from the same town asJanis Joplin andRobert Rauschenberg. Though the town of 60,000 has a significant African American population, it was not known for its rap scene. They called themselves "Underground Kingz" because theircountry rap style was so full of "slang and twang" they thought it was inaccessible for outsiders. UGK blended "deepbluesy textures, triumphant church organs, thickfunk and meatysoul".[2]
Bun's rap style was described as a "speeding-train delivery" with lyrics that "feel sanded-down and coated by heavy lacquer". Born Bernard Freeman, his childhood nickname "Bunny" was shortened to Bun.[2]
Pimp, or Chad Butler, is the son of a trumpet player and has had an interest in music since childhood: "I come from a classical background, I came up singingItalian sonnets,Negro spirituals, and shit of that nature." Even before studyingmusical notation in school he learned to play many instruments by ear including piano, trumpet, drums and flugelhorn. His vocal style is of a "high-voiced, unstable and provocateur, as likely to slap your face as to sing you a love song". Influenced byRun-DMC, he startedsynthesizing beats to rap over after receiving adrum machine andkeyboard one Christmas. Following the advice of Pimp's stepfather to "put some music in that shit", Pimp decided to move beyond Run-DMC'skick-snare formula also known asboom bap, building on this by replacing thedrumsound specifically with theRoland TR-808 and supplementing thecymbals with mainly thehi-hats, which added another importantrhythmic layer to the whole thing..[2]
In 1992, UGK was signed toJive Records under a five-album contract, releasing their major-label debut albumToo Hard to Swallow.[3] While it featured several new recordings, it also featured several songs that had been culled fromThe Southern Way.[4] However, several songs that had been intended to be included on the album were excised at the last minute, apparently due to their overly explicit content. Five of these songs would surface two months before the release ofToo Hard to Swallow, on anEP distributed by Bigtyme Recordz; appropriately enough, the EP was titledBanned. A popular song from the album, "Pocket Full of Stones", was also included on theMenace II Society soundtrack in 1993.
Their second album,Super Tight, was released two years later, on August 30. Unlike their previous album,Super Tight managed to break into theBillboard 200 and ultimately peaked at #95; their third album,Ridin' Dirty, peaked at number 15.[5]Ridin' Dirty would also be UGK's last album for the time being, as they went on a five-year hiatus not long afterward.
The year 2000 became a breakthrough year for the group. UGK made a high-profile guest appearance onJay-Z's smash hit "Big Pimpin'" and also appeared onThree 6 Mafia's hit "Sippin' on Some Syrup". Both of these collaborations greatly increased their reputation, and helped fuel anticipation for their next project[citation needed].Jive Records failed to capitalize on this new-found interest in the duo, as their fourth album, 2001'sDirty Money, came and went with little fanfare.
Further problems arose whenPimp C was incarcerated for an aggravated gun assault charge in 2002.[6] Throughout the time of his incarceration,Bun B carried on the UGK name by making numerous guest appearances on songs by other artists, with every appearance either mentioning Pimp C or featuring a "Free Pimp C!" or "Free the Pimp" chant. Many of UGK's peers did the same, and mentioned Pimp C in their own songs with or without Bun B.[7] During this period,Jive Records released aBest of UGK album, as well as aChopped & Screwed remix album.[8] As a result of Pimp C's incarceration, both members of UGK began solo careers out of necessity.
Rap-A-Lot Records released Pimp C's solo debut,Sweet James Jones Stories, on March 1, 2005. Bun B later released his own solo foray,Trill, on October 18, 2005. It opened at number 6 on theBillboard 200, and also peaked at number 1 onBillboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
On December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and was to be on parole until December 2009.[9][10] He released his first post-incarceration album, titledPimpalation, on July 25, 2006.[11]
On August 7, 2007, the group released their fifth studio album, the self-titledUnderground Kingz. It was adouble album, containing 26 tracks and spanning two discs.[12] Featured guests includedTalib Kweli,Too Short,Rick Ross,Z-RO,Three 6 Mafia,Slim Thug,OutKast, as well as hip-hop legendsKool G Rap andBig Daddy Kane on aMarley Marl-produced track titled "Next Up". The album also featuredBritish rapperDizzee Rascal on the track "Two Types of Bitches",[12] following UGK's guest appearance in Rascal's own albumMaths + English for the track "Where's Da G's". The album featured production byDJ Paul &Juicy J,Jazze Pha,Swizz Beatz,The Runners,Lil Jon, fellow Texas legendScarface, and Pimp C.[13]DJ Paul andJuicy J produced the second single, "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)".
The album got a positive reception, both commercially and critically. It received a 4-star rating from AllMusic, and reached number 1 on theBillboard 200 albums chart. "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" became the group's only single to chart on theBillboard Hot 100 pop charts, where it peaked at number 70.
On December 4, 2007, Pimp C was found dead at theMondrian Hotel inWest Hollywood, California, afterLos Angeles County Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call. They arrived to his sixth-floor hotel room to find him dead in bed. This was three days after he performed withToo Short at theHouse of Blues in Los Angeles.[14][15]
Bun B was interviewed a few days later by radio DJ Madd Hatta, and an audio recording has been posted online.[16]
In 2008, Bun B stated in an interview that there would be one last UGK album released, before he permanently becomes a solo act: "Yea, we’re still putting together this last UGK record too, because there’s a lot of music that we’ve already recorded for it," said Bun B. "I think that album itself is going to be a little bit weird."[17]UGK 4 Life was released in 2009.
Bun B said that they grew up listening to theGeto Boys,Eric B and Rakim,N.W.A[18] andA Tribe Called Quest.[19] UGK (most notablyPimp C) has also influenced other rappers such asBig Boi ofOutKast,Boosie Badazz andPaul Wall.[20]
Studio albums
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| BET Awards | |||
| 2008 | "International Players Anthem"(featuring Outkast) | Video of the Year | Won |
| UGK | Best Group | Won | |
| BET Hip Hop Awards | |||
| 2007 | "International Players Anthem"(featuring Outkast) | Best Collabo, Duo or Group | Won |
| Best Hip Hop Video | Nominated | ||
| Grammy Awards | |||
| 2001 | "Big Pimpin'"(with Jay-Z) | Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group | Nominated |
| 2008 | "International Players Anthem"(featuring Outkast) | Nominated | |
| Ozone Awards | |||
| 2006 | UGK | Legend Award | Won |
| 2008 | Best Group | Won | |
| "International Players Anthem"(featuring Outkast) | Best Video | Won | |
| Underground Kingz | Best Album | Nominated | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
