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 Gotta Thang
Pimp C Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody doing something
Know what I'm talkin' bout?
I gotta thang, you gotta thang (hold up)
Everybody gotta thang (that's the truth)
When we get together start doing our thing (smoke something)
We don't wanna hurt no body (bitch)
I got some partners addicted to that pussy hoe
They got em fucked, think it's better than gold
I got some other partners like to go to Las Vegas
Addicted to gambling,' cause they some table players
Fucking off everything they ever worked for
I know some partners that can't live without a dirty whore
Cause they addicted to that head and good mouth
I got some boys addicted to lean in the south
I know some old people gone off that
Medicine from the doctor give em at [?]
Now check it
Heart medicine high blood pressure
Motherfuckers ain't learn they fuckin' lesson
You want to know why we die young?
Cause we all got the fuckin' pills under our fuckin' tongue
I gotta thang, you gotta thang (hold up)
Everybody gotta thang (and that's the truth)
When we get together start doing our thing (smoke something)
We don't wanna hurt no body (bitch)
All we wanna do is party
I gotta thang, you gotta thang (hold up)
Everybody gotta thang (that's the truth)
When we get together start doing our thing (smoke something)
We don't wanna hurt no body (bitch)
All we wanna do is party
In Pimp C's song I Gotta Thang, the lyrics revolve around people enjoying their vices and having fun without hurting anyone. The first few lines "Swang down sweet cherry, Everybody doing something, Know what I'm talkin' bout?" refers to people driving around in their cars with their music at full blast and enjoying their day. He then talks about how everyone has a vice, whether it's addiction to sex, drugs or gambling. He mentions how some people lose everything they worked for due to gambling, and some can't live without the high of getting head or lean. He then talks about how even elderly people are addicted to medicine they receive from doctors for heart medicine and high blood pressure. The lyrics suggest that we all have something that we feel as though we can't live without.
However, the song also critiques people's reliance on these vices as a way of living, and how it causes harm to themselves and others around them. The line "You want to know why we die young? Cause we all got the fuckin' pills under our fuckin' tongue" suggests that people are not necessarily taking care of themselves by relying on these vices. Pimp C encourages people to have fun and party, but without hurting anyone.
Overall, the lyrics of I Gotta Thang emphasize the idea that everyone has their own thing they enjoy but it's important to not let it take over our lives or cause harm to ourselves or others.
Line by Line Meaning
Swang down sweet cherry
We are casually driving around in a nice car.
Everybody doing something
Each person has their own vice or addiction.
Know what I'm talkin' bout?
Do you understand the culture we are a part of?
I gotta thang, you gotta thang (hold up)
I have my own addiction, and so do you.
Everybody gotta thang (that's the truth)
Everyone has something they are addicted to.
When we get together start doing our thing (smoke something)
When we gather, we indulge in our vices - like smoking marijuana.
We don't wanna hurt no body (bitch)
We're not trying to cause harm to anyone.
All we wanna do is party
We just want to celebrate our lifestyle and culture.
I got some partners addicted to that pussy hoe
I know some men who are addicted to having sex with prostitutes.
They got em fucked, think it's better than gold
These men are so addicted to sex with prostitutes that they are willing to spend all their money on it.
I got some other partners like to go to Las Vegas
I know some people who are addicted to gambling in Las Vegas.
Addicted to gambling,' cause they some table players
These people are addicted to gambling at the tables in Las Vegas casinos.
Fucking off everything they ever worked for
They are so addicted to gambling that they are willing to risk everything they have earned.
I know some partners that can't live without a dirty whore
I know men who are addicted to having sex with dirty or promiscuous women.
Cause they addicted to that head and good mouth
These men are addicted to oral sex from women.
I got some boys addicted to lean in the south
I know some men in the Southern US who are addicted to drinking codeine cough syrup.
I know some old people gone off that
I know elderly people who are addicted to prescription medication.
Medicine from the doctor give em at [?]
They are addicted to medication prescribed by their doctor.
Now check it
Listen to what I have to say.
Heart medicine high blood pressure
Some people are addicted to medication for heart problems and high blood pressure.
Motherfuckers ain't learn they fuckin' lesson
People haven't learned from their mistakes with addiction.
You want to know why we die young?
We die young because of the consequences of our addictions.
Cause we all got the fuckin' pills under our fuckin' tongue
We all have pills in our mouths, showing how heavily we rely on them.
I gotta thang, you gotta thang (hold up)
I have my own addiction, and so do you.
Everybody gotta thang (that's the truth)
Everyone has something they are addicted to.
When we get together start doing our thing (smoke something)
When we gather, we indulge in our vices - like smoking marijuana.
We don't wanna hurt no body (bitch)
We're not trying to cause harm to anyone.
All we wanna do is party
We just want to celebrate our lifestyle and culture.
Writer(s): Chad L Butler, Daniel Castillo, Michael G Dean
Contributed by Caden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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!