This is from the L.A. Times:
Rapper Pimp C was found dead this morning at an upscale hotel on Sunset Strip.
L.A. County Fire Department paramedics, responding to a 911 call, found him in his bed at the Mondrian Hotel. Pimp C, whose real name is Chad Butler, was a member of UGK, a rap duo that had a No. 1 album in August.
The hotel released the following statement: "Mondrian received calls this morning from the family of Chad Butler inquiring about his whereabouts. Mr. Butler had checked into the hotel on 28 November and, according to the callers, was to have checked out yesterday. Security personnel went to Mr. Butler's room and found him in bed, apparently expired. A 911 call was placed at about 9:20 a.m. and paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and pronounced Mr. Butler dead."
It's unclear how Butler, 33, died. The L.A. County Sheriff's Department is investigating.
A member of the acclaimed Texas hip-hop duo UGK, Butler was considered an important figure in rap circles -- an underground hero who was frequently name-checked on other artists' songs and boasted impeccable street credibility. UGK's seventh album, "Underground Kingz," reached No. 1 on the national album chart in August, but mainstream stardom eluded him for most of the group's 15-year career.
In the early '90s, Butler and partner Bun B became known for their sharp, original rap style, ribald chronicles of gangsta life and stripped-down beats. Although their collaborations with more high-profile artists such as Jay-Z and the Oscar-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia (with whom UGK recorded "Sippin on Sizzurp," an ode to getting high from drinking cough medicine) are considered hip-hop classics, UGK's more enduring claim to fame may be helping usher in an era in which Southern rap has become a dominant national sales force.
In 2002, Butler was sentenced to eight years in prison after falling behind on court-ordered community service. The rapper-producer pleaded no contest to aggravated assault charges after brandishing a gun during an argument with a woman at a shopping mall.
He served about half his sentence at Terrell Prison in Livingston, Texas, before being paroled in 2005. But during that time, rap fans made a cause célèbre of Butler's incarceration. "Free Pimp C" T-shirts and baseball caps became popular with UGK fans across the country and a host of rap stars appeared in music videos and at concerts calling for his release.
Over the summer, the rapper-producer made headlines for disparaging a number of hip-hop celebrities, including rapper Young Jeezy, mogul Russell Simmons and R&B singer Ne-Yo.
Hella sad! He will be missed!
R.I.P Pimp C
Rapper Pimp C was found dead this morning at an upscale hotel on Sunset Strip.
L.A. County Fire Department paramedics, responding to a 911 call, found him in his bed at the Mondrian Hotel. Pimp C, whose real name is Chad Butler, was a member of UGK, a rap duo that had a No. 1 album in August.
The hotel released the following statement: "Mondrian received calls this morning from the family of Chad Butler inquiring about his whereabouts. Mr. Butler had checked into the hotel on 28 November and, according to the callers, was to have checked out yesterday. Security personnel went to Mr. Butler's room and found him in bed, apparently expired. A 911 call was placed at about 9:20 a.m. and paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and pronounced Mr. Butler dead."
It's unclear how Butler, 33, died. The L.A. County Sheriff's Department is investigating.
A member of the acclaimed Texas hip-hop duo UGK, Butler was considered an important figure in rap circles -- an underground hero who was frequently name-checked on other artists' songs and boasted impeccable street credibility. UGK's seventh album, "Underground Kingz," reached No. 1 on the national album chart in August, but mainstream stardom eluded him for most of the group's 15-year career.
In the early '90s, Butler and partner Bun B became known for their sharp, original rap style, ribald chronicles of gangsta life and stripped-down beats. Although their collaborations with more high-profile artists such as Jay-Z and the Oscar-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia (with whom UGK recorded "Sippin on Sizzurp," an ode to getting high from drinking cough medicine) are considered hip-hop classics, UGK's more enduring claim to fame may be helping usher in an era in which Southern rap has become a dominant national sales force.
In 2002, Butler was sentenced to eight years in prison after falling behind on court-ordered community service. The rapper-producer pleaded no contest to aggravated assault charges after brandishing a gun during an argument with a woman at a shopping mall.
He served about half his sentence at Terrell Prison in Livingston, Texas, before being paroled in 2005. But during that time, rap fans made a cause célèbre of Butler's incarceration. "Free Pimp C" T-shirts and baseball caps became popular with UGK fans across the country and a host of rap stars appeared in music videos and at concerts calling for his release.
Over the summer, the rapper-producer made headlines for disparaging a number of hip-hop celebrities, including rapper Young Jeezy, mogul Russell Simmons and R&B singer Ne-Yo.
Hella sad! He will be missed!
R.I.P Pimp C
