Pimp C

Chad Butler (December 29, 1973 – December 4, 2007) was a Houston based rapper. Known professionally as Pimp C, he was one-half of southern hip hop act UGK. UGK, which also includes Bun B, was a successful act in the Southern U.S. during the late-1990s and early-2000s, and also made prominent guest appearances on hit singles by Jay-Z ("Big Pimpin'", 2000) and Three 6 Mafia ("Sippin' On Some Sizzurp", 2000).

On January 28, 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for not completing community service which he got for an aggravated gun assault charge. Though still incarcerated, Pimp C released his debut solo album, The Sweet James Jones Stories, in March 2005 through Rap-A-Lot Records.

Pimp C was released on Friday, December 30, 2005 from the Terrell Prison Unit in Livingston, Texas.

Pimp C was treated for minor injuries on April 18, 2006, after he was involved in a car accident while leaving the video shoot for his single "Pourin' Up." [3] A Port Arthur Police officer that was escorting the rappers responded to gunfire and pursued the shooters. As the suspects fled through local neighborhoods on a flat tire, they crossed over Gulf Way Drive, ran a red light and struck Pimp C's Bentley at high speed. He was treated for minor injuries and released.

On August 15, 2006, Pimp C appeared on BET's "Rap City". He was interviewed and gave his thoughts on multiple topics, including his current album, Pimpalation, and beefs in the music industry.

On Tuesday, December 4, 2007 Pimp C was found dead at the Mondrian hotel in Los Angeles, California. The story was first reported by celebrity gossip website TMZ.com and the news was later confirmed to the public by Houston radio station KBXX 97.9 The Box, where Bun-B, Pimp-C's partner in UGK, confirmed the news of Pimp C's sudden death.

Pimp C was a musical pioneer and an originator defining and creating a sound that still influences a lot of popular music today.

Pimp C, born Chad Butler, is survived by a wife and three children.