Chad Lemon Butler was born in Port Arthur, Texas, USA. There he met his friend, who would later become Bun B and together they formed the Houston-based rap group UGK. They rapped 'underground', until the duo signed with Jive Records in 1987. Pimp worked hard on the first UGK project, The Southern Way, which was available in 1988 and on cassette only.
It wasn't until 1992 that UGK really broke through into the hip hop/rap world. Jive Records signed them and they released Too Hard to Swallow. Pimp worked hard with Bun B for a while, until going on a hiatus in 1996, where the group would not work. In this time Pimp was aware that UGK's fans were slowly slipping.
Pimp C contributed to several tracks, until UGK came back on top by guest starring in tracks, such as Big Pimpin' and Sippin' on Some Syrup. Pimp C and Bun B came back with Dirty Money in 2001, but the album failed both critically and financially.
As Dirty Money was going through problems, Pimp was faced with even more problems. Pimp C was incarcerated for an aggravated gun assault charge in 2002. People cheered the catch phrase "Free Pimp C". During this time Bun B lived on the UGK name. Jive Records was forced to release a greatest hits for UGK and Bun B was forced to go solo, as Pimp C was locked up.[1]
Rap-A-Lot Records signed Pimp C, while in prison he released his solo debut Sweet James Jones Stories. Bun B also released his debut, which Pimp C slightly contributed to. Finally, on December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and was on parole until December 2009.[2]
Pimp C guest starred in many people's songs and contributed to artists, such as Slim Thug and T.I.. After that he started working again with Bun B on tracks for their upcoming UGK project UGK (Underground Kingz), which would end up being their most successful project of all time, in either artist's careers.
Pimp C released two solo albums.
4 months after the release of UGK (Underground Kingz), Pimp C died. On December 4, 2007, Pimp C was found dead at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood, California, after Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a 911 call. The department arrived at his sixth floor hotel room to find Pimp C dead in bed. This was three days after Pimp C performed with Too $hort at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.[3][4]
The Los Angeles County Coroner's office state Pimp C died from an accidental overdose of Promethazine/Codeine "syrup" mixed with a pre-existing medical condition, sleep apnea, which causes a person to stop breathing during sleep.[5][6]
After his death, he made posthumous appearances on Bun B's song "Underground Thang" (also featuring Chamillionaire) from II Trill and much later, an as-of-yet untitled track which is to be featured on Chamillionaire's third album Venom. The latter track is produced by Pimp C, making this his last production credit.
The final UGK project, 4 Life will be dedicated to Pimp C and his legendary Houston-based rapping style. Many people have shown respect to Pimp C, including David Banner, 8Ball & MJG, Rick Ross, Bun B, Slim Thug, T.I. and Lil Flip.
I'm Free
Pimp C Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where them hustlers breathe that air and drank them 4's on quarter rocks
The boy Emmitt had me shining when I stepped out the door
I thought I had enough but James told it give me some more
And the same damn day I went to the Bentley lot
Off the show room floor, I copped and spurred, that thang was hot
But I bet all you busters already knew that
Cause I was all on the internet gettin' my shine back
Everybody want a piece cause Sweet Jones is what they like
They like to pimp his steak and shrimp, hit well like a pimp
Back floor, 'lac low, UGK is back ohhh!
Free
And I'm free
It was "Free Pimp C," but now see, the pimp free
Old school gave me that before I left that CT
Terrell check my bezzle on this platinum Jacob watch
They locked up my body but my mind never stopped
Cause I was plotting, and planning, and scheming everyday
Gettin' ready for my release so I can steal the game away
From all these clone type peekers tryna sound like Pimp C
He's okay but he's not me
By a long shot cuz 'bout tryna steal to me
Them boys might run BET but trick we run the streets
It's me and Bun B, that's for life, we the trill
When you see a pimp shinin, trick, tell me how ya'feel
Free
And I'm free
I did 4 years tops, never hit PC
Did my time in Population with the real O.G.'s
I seen a whole lot of pain, men doing they bids
Most of us praying and dudes tryna get home to they kids
Wasn't nothing like "Oz," a bunch of iron and bars
Bunch of player hating snitches, talking to the guards
And a whole penitentiary being ran by broads
Some of them kept it one hundred, most of them was fraud
Seen a whole lot of chumps, con men in buckles
Some big time dealers, kidnappers and busters
Pimps and playas, I seen some kill with they hand
But I still don't believe the pen is no place for no man!
Free
And I'm free
Yeah! Dedicated to everybody ain't gon' never make it up out there
Know what I'm sayin'
To everybody doing life... keep y'all head up! (keep it up)
Don't get fed up! Uh
Do yo' time, don't let yo' time do you
Young Pimp!
Picture me rolling, know what I'm talkin' 'bout, like Pac told 'em when he came home...
Jumped in the five hundred
In the song "I'm Free" by Pimp C, he expresses his freedom after serving 4 years in prison. He says he is back on the block where the hustlers breathe and drink quarter rocks of 4s. He mentions how he shined when he stepped out of Emmitt's door, but James told him to give some more. After leaving, he went to the Bentley lot on the same day and bought the hottest car he saw. He boasts about his internet fame and how everyone wants a piece of him because Sweet Jones is what they like. He mentions that he's free now and that he was plotting, planning and scheming every day inside the prison to steal the game away from those who want to sound like him.
Pimp C says that he's free now, but it was free Pimp C movement that got him released from prison early. He mentions that he was given a platinum Jacob watch that Terrell checked and that his mind never stopped plotting, planning and scheming for this day. He talks about how he's going to take the rap game away from everyone who's trying to sound like him, and that he and Bun B are the trill.
He says that he did four years tops, but he never hit PC. He talks about how he was with the real OGs in the open population and how he saw a lot of pain in the prison but still managed to stay sane. He mentions how the penitentiary was controlled by broads and how most of them were fraud. He saw a lot of chumps, con-men, big-time dealers, kidnappers and busters, and how he still does not believe that the pen is a place for a man.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm back on the slab, back on the block
I'm back in the streets where I belong
Where them hustlers breathe that air and drank them 4's on quarter rocks
I'm back where life is tough and drugs are prevalent
The boy Emmitt had me shining when I stepped out the door
My outfit was so fresh, I was shining when I walked out
I thought I had enough but James told it give me some more
I thought I had enough money but James convinced me to spend more
And the same damn day I went to the Bentley lot
The same day I went to the Bentley dealership
Off the show room floor, I copped and spurred, that thang was hot
I bought the car fresh off the showroom floor
But I bet all you busters already knew that
I'm sure you already heard about my new car
Cause I was all on the internet gettin' my shine back
I was posting online about my success
Making rhymes stack, pimping with my mic
I was making music and being a successful rapper
Everybody want a piece cause Sweet Jones is what they like
Everyone wants a piece of my success since my nickname is Sweet Jones
They like to pimp his steak and shrimp, hit well like a pimp
People enjoy the luxurious lifestyle of a pimp and want to be like me
Back floor, 'lac low, UGK is back ohhh!
UGK (Underground Kingz) is back in full force
It was "Free Pimp C," but now see, the pimp free
People used to chant "Free Pimp C," but now that I'm out of jail, I'm truly free
Old school gave me that before I left that CT
Someone gave me the nickname "Old School" before I left Correctional Treatment
Terrell check my bezzle on this platinum Jacob watch
Terrell checked the diamonds on my platinum Jacob & Co. watch
They locked up my body but my mind never stopped
I was still thinking and strategizing even while in prison
Cause I was plotting, and planning, and scheming everyday
I was constantly devising ways to come back stronger after being released
Gettin' ready for my release so I can steal the game away
I was preparing to come back stronger and take the music industry by storm
From all these clone type peekers tryna sound like Pimp C
I'm not impressed with artists who copy my style
He's okay but he's not me
Others may try to emulate me, but they will never be me
By a long shot cuz 'bout tryna steal to me
They are far from being able to steal my sound
Them boys might run BET but trick we run the streets
They may run a TV network, but we are the real bosses in the streets
It's me and Bun B, that's for life, we the trill
Bun B and I are partners for life and we represent the realness
When you see a pimp shinin, trick, tell me how ya'feel
When you see a successful and powerful person (like me), how do you feel?
I did 4 years tops, never hit PC
I served a four-year sentence and never went to Protective Custody
Did my time in Population with the real O.G.'s
I was in the general population with other hardcore criminals
I seen a whole lot of pain, men doing they bids
I witnessed a lot of suffering and men serving out their sentences
Most of us praying and dudes tryna get home to they kids
Most of us were praying and trying to get back to our families
Wasn't nothing like "Oz," a bunch of iron and bars
It wasn't like the TV show "Oz" with a bunch of cells and bars
Bunch of player hating snitches, talking to the guards
There were many snitches who talked to the guards and hated on other inmates
And a whole penitentiary being ran by broads
The whole prison was being run by women
Some of them kept it one hundred, most of them was fraud
Some of them were honest, but most were fake
Seen a whole lot of chumps, con men in buckles
I saw many weak and manipulative people in prison
Some big time dealers, kidnappers and busters
There were also some high-level drug dealers, kidnappers, and violent criminals
Pimps and playas, I seen some kill with they hand
I saw some pimps and players who were killers with their bare hands
But I still don't believe the pen is no place for no man!
But I still don't believe that prison is a suitable place for any man
Yeah! Dedicated to everybody ain't gon' never make it up out there
This song is dedicated to those who will never leave prison
Know what I'm sayin', To everybody doing life... keep y'all head up! (keep it up)
For those serving life in prison, keep your head up and stay strong
Do yo' time, don't let yo' time do you
Serve your sentence, don't let your sentence consume you
Young Pimp! Picture me rolling, know what I'm talkin' 'bout, like Pac told 'em when he came home...
Picture me rolling like Tupac told everyone to do when he was released from prison
Jumped in the five hundred
I got into a Mercedes-Benz 500 series car
Free
I am finally free from prison
And I'm free
I am reveling in the freedom I have after being released from prison
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: CHAD L BUTLER, CLAY DIXON, ANZEL JENNINGS, JEFF LYNNE, TOM PETTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sobriquét Tru
on I Know U Strapped
The lyrics of Pimp C's song "I Know U Strapped" address the issue of bravado and violence among some men who carry firearms, but are not willing or prepared to use them in the face of danger. The song uses a confrontational tone to call out these men, who Pimp C refers to as "cowards" and "bitches." The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that getting drunk, high, or hyped up on cocaine can lead to reckless behavior that can end in tragedy.
The lyrics also describe several encounters that Pimp C had with people who tried to test him, but he ultimately came out on top. He recounts an incident in which he was confronted by some women in Dallas, but he refused to back down and instead asserted his dominance. In another verse, he talks about a person who screwed him out of some money and whom he considered having attacked at a later date.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Know U Strapped" paint a picture of a world in which firearms are omnipresent, and the line between bravado and real danger is often blurred. Through his lyrics, Pimp C seems to be warning listeners about the consequences of taking violent actions, as well as urging a more thoughtful approach to conflict resolution. Also, he's straight up disrespecting Master P!