UGK, from Port Arthur, TX, the neighboring city to Beaumont, TX, released their debut EP The Southern Way in 1992. It was distributed by local record label Bigtyme Recordz and only available as an audio cassette. They quickly caught the attention of Jive Records, and were signed to a five album record contract. Their major label debut album Too Hard to Swallow was released later that same year, on November 10. While it featured several new recordings, it also featured several songs that had been culled from The Southern Way. 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 Too Hard to Swallow’s release, on an EP distributed by Bigtyme Recordz; appropriately enough, the EP was titled Banned.
Their sophomore album Super Tight… was released two years later, on August 30. Unlike their previous effort, it managed to break into the Billboard Hot 200, but ultimately peaked at a disappointing #95. Two more years passed before the release of their third album, Ridin’ Dirty. It performed better than either of its predecessors, and almost broke into the Hot 200’s top-ten, before stopping short at #15. Ridin’ Dirty would also be UGK’s last album for the time being, as they went on a five year hiatus not long afterward.
In the interim, UGK made a high-profile guest appearance on Jay-Z’s 2000 smash hit “Big Pimpin” and also appeared on Three 6 Mafia’s hit “Sippin’ on Some Sizzurp” later the very same year. Both of these collaborations greatly increased their reputation, and helped fuel anticipation for their next project. Unfortunately, Jive failed to capitalize on this new-found interest in the duo, as their sixth album, 2001’s Dirty Money, came and went with little or no fanfare.
Further problems arose in 2002, when Pimp C was incarcerated for an aggravated gun assault charge on January 28. 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. During this period, Jive released a Best of UGK album, as well as a Chopped & Screwed remix album.
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 #6 on the Billboard Hot 200, and also peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-hop Album chart. It was quickly certified gold by the RIAA.
On December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and was scheduled to be on parole until December 2009. He released his first post-incarceration album, titled Pimpalation, on July 25, 2006.
UGK released Underground Kingz, their 7th studio album in August 2007. The two-disc, 26-track album hit #1 on the Billboard charts after selling 157,000 copies in its first week, strongly supported by the hit single Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You). The single featured OutKast, and used a beat created by Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Juicy J, which was originally used in a song by Project Pat.
On December 4th, 2007, Pimp C was found dead at age 33 in his room at Hollywood’s La Mondrian hotel in Los Angeles, California, where he had been playing shows with Too $hort. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office Pimp C died from accidental overdose of Promethazine/Codeine “syrup” combined with a preexisting medical condition known as sleep apnea, which causes a person to stop breathing during sleep. He was buried on December 11th, 2007 in his hometown of Port Arthur, TX.
Pimpin' Ain't No Illusion
UGK Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Uh, Uh) One time for yo' muthafuckin'...(whuut)
Back, bitch (uh)...Kool Ace (whuut), UGK...(huh)
[Chorus (Pimp C):]
Pimpin' ain't no illusion,
And pimpin' ain't never died.
Mo' pimps was on that heroin
The dikes done came through
And straight threw off all the game;
Got all these hoes thinkin'
They could manage they own change.
[cool Ace:]
But it ain't no illusion,
I know...you all have witnessed
He rollin' in my Caady mo'
Wit' fly bitches,
Makin' ole deals: Now, ho (huh, huh)
Ain't Bob Barker
But I'm caught up in this game
Mo' like...Peter Parker.
P-I-M-P, take the P's that I am.
I want you payin' hoes in my army
Like...uh...Uncle Sam,
And we gon' jam...
I'm talkin' 'bout the world greatest show
I know my shit is extreme
But I'm all about them does.
When I'm steppin' on the scene
Be there four deep...hella clan
My reality is your favorite dream
(Stop that shit, daddy...)
Best believe cool Ace gon' keep it real.
Pimp see & Bun be to testify for the ear
Excuse me, why'all, but this about Southern shit.
Now, tell me can you...uh...feel this, bitch?
We givin' 'em brain contusions...
Pimp see, what's the conclusion?
[Pimp C:]
Pimpin' ain't no illusion...
[Chorus: (x2)]
[Pimp C:]
Pimpin' ain't dead...nigga, it just began
(How the fuck you know Sweet Jones?)
My hoes still out there sellin' ass.
Yo' bitch is out of pocket,
'Cause yo' pimpin' was scary;
Real hoes gon' front on a simp
But she gon' do it for daddy.
Fuck niggas watch them mack and pimp on my floozie;
But, boy, my bitches know the difference
Between real pimpin' and movies
It's the difference between real leather
And that shit at yo' house.
I don't know what why'all doin' up there,
But we really pimpin' in the South.
Every since I was 17,
I been stackin' my green:
Went for servin' rocks to fiends,
And rockin' club full a teens.
Went from bumpin' Screw in Houston,
Sippin' promythazine,
To ridin' in a 8 600 with sheath,
To smokin' on sticky green.
I'm still Pimp see, bitch
I'm claimin' P.A., they hate us;
But, me and cool Ace rollin' a Lexus
Sittin' on all gold Daytons.
Bitch, take a look around
Those hoes steady choosin'.
This is the conclusion: pimpin' ain't no illusion.
[Chorus: (x2)]
[Bun B:]
If you got any love fo' that broad you wit'
Nigga, move her 'fore you lose her,
'Cause a beggar ain't a muthafuckin' chooser.
Third leg is a bitch abuser, infamous
In cities where big pimpin' is my hoes clean.
No AIDS, herpies, cyphillis
Come catch a wif a this...
Damn, can't you taste it?
Now yo' money's up in smoke
Like you freebased it.
Now bitch replaced it
Wit' a sexual favor
But don't get mad at real pimpin', nigga
Check yo' behavior...and savor
The aroma from Promona to Tacoma;
Got my pimpin' diploma for bein' a Cadillac chromer.
Fuck a Sonoma...
I'm on a mission for Benzes
Knowin' 'xactly where my ends is, ballin' relentless.
And then my friends is
Slappin' niggas with glass chins
It's funny...sendin' tricks home
Broke and defenseless; and, ever since this
Boy been pimpin' the pen,
I promise never to ever leave home
Without my pimpin' again...that's why...
[Chorus: (x2)]
[Too $hort:]
You know, I got to tell you players what I'm talkin' about:
My bitch got bold opened a bank account.
When I found the bitch checkbook,
I didn't get mad
'Cause there was no doubt that I be gettin' the cash.
I broke it down to her,
She gave me the dough;
Do you remember what you was
Before I made you a ho?
You was a broke bitch,
You couldn't even smoke shit,
Couldn't stay fo-cused,
And, don't forget it, bitch...
Yo' whole life changed the day you met me.
Now you think you need a bank account,
Baby, I can't see
You managin' this money...it's too much.
All you do is look good...
And then you fuck.
Git my money, git yo' money
It's all the same.
The shit ain't even funny when you talk about this game.
They call me Too $hort, baby
I'm still in it.
Ain't no camouflage, nuttin' but this real pimpin'...beeyatch.
[Chorus: (x3)]
...pimpin' ain't no illusion
The song "Pimpin' Ain't No Illusion," by UGK featuring Pimp C, Cool Ace, Bun B, and Too $hort, is a gritty and honest illustration of life as a pimp in the South. The lyrics delve into the nitty-gritty aspects of the pimp game and how it's far more than just a facade. The chorus emphasizes that pimpin' isn't merely an illusion; instead, it's a way of life that has existed for as long as anyone can remember. The song speaks about the rise of heroin among pimps and the destruction it brought upon the profession, how women started taking up pimping themselves, and how the life of a pimp isn't for the faint of heart. The verses tell individual stories of the various artists and their experiences with pimping.
Cool Ace takes to the mic first, throwing down a smooth flow and the line "Went for servin' rocks to fiends, and rockin' club full a teens." He describes how he's progressed from being a drug dealer to a P.I.M.P, where he makes deals with fly bitches and has hoes in his army. Bun B's verse is more introspective, as he reflects upon how pimps got into the game and how their hoes are their property. He reveals that the third leg is a bitch abuser and how everything changes once a woman enters the picture as a pimp. Too $hort's verse is classic Too $hort, with his trademark sound and the line "Do you remember what you was before I made you a ho?" Pimp C's verse rounds things off, touching on everything from leather quality to money management.
Overall, the song is a banger with a heavy beat, catchy hooks, and hard-hitting lyrics that are true to life. It's a song about hustling, self-reliance, and making it on your own. It portrays the harsh reality of the pimp game in the South and emphasizes that it is a way of life that is unlikely to fade away.
Line by Line Meaning
Pimpin' ain't no illusion,
Pimpin' is a real profession, not a myth
And pimpin' ain't never died.
Pimpin' has been around for a long time and will continue to be around
Mo' pimps was on that heroin
Many pimps in the past used to be addicted to heroin
And yo' pimp tripped out on that fry.
The person who was pimping you was likely mentally unstable from drug abuse
The dikes done came through
Lesbians have interfered with the pimp scene
And straight threw off all the game;
Lesbians changed the dynamic of the pimping scene
Got all these hoes thinkin'
The lesbians influenced the prostitutes
They could manage they own change.
Prostitutes started believing that they could/wanted to manage their own money
But it ain't no illusion,
It’s not a figment of your imagination
I know...you all have witnessed
People have seen it happen
He rollin' in my Caady mo'
My friend drives a Cadillac often
Wit' fly bitches,
With attractive women
Makin' ole deals:
Making business deals and transactions
Now, ho (huh, huh)
Now, let me finish what I'm saying
Ain't Bob Barker
My friend is not Bob Barker (American former TV host)
But I'm caught up in this game
But he is a pimp and caught up in the pimping scene
Mo' like...Peter Parker.
More like Peter Parker (Spiderman’s alter ego) to describe his role in the scene
P-I-M-P, take the P's that I am.
I'm proclaiming myself to be a P-I-M-P (pimp)
I want you payin' hoes in my army
The prostitutes are part of my business and I want them to make money
Like...uh...Uncle Sam,
Similar to how the government collects taxes, I want the prostitutes to give me money
And we gon' jam...
And we're going to have a good time doing it
I'm talkin' 'bout the world greatest show
The biggest and best pimping scene
I know my shit is extreme
I'm aware that my lifestyle is unconventional
But I'm all about them does.
But I'm focused on making money
When I'm steppin' on the scene
When I arrive and make my appearance
Be there four deep...hella clan
There will be a lot of people with me, like a family
My reality is your favorite dream
The life I'm living is something many people dream about
(Stop that shit, daddy...)
Someone might have interrupted me and told me to stop what I'm saying
Best believe cool Ace gon' keep it real.
You can trust that I'm speaking honestly
Pimp see & Bun be to testify for the ear
My friends Pimp see and Bun B will confirm what I'm saying
Excuse me, why'all, but this about Southern shit.
This song is about the pimp scene in the South (of America)
Now, tell me can you...uh...feel this, bitch?
Can you understand and empathize with what I'm saying?
We givin' 'em brain contusions...
Our lyrics might be causing brain damage or a serious impact on listener’s thoughts
Pimp see, what's the conclusion?
Pimp see, what’s the conclusion of everything we’re talking about?
Pimpin' ain't no illusion...
Pimping is real
(How the fuck you know Sweet Jones?)
Who are you to talk about Sweet Jones (the producer of this song)?
My hoes still out there sellin' ass.
My prostitutes are still selling their bodies
Yo' bitch is out of pocket,
Your prostitute is misbehaving
'Cause yo' pimpin' was scary;
The pimp who was controlling her was frightening
Real hoes gon' front on a simp
Professional prostitutes won’t work with average pimps
But she gon' do it for daddy.
She'll work with me because I'm her 'daddy' (pimp)
Fuck niggas watch them mack and pimp on my floozie;
Other people are watching me work with my prostitute
But, boy, my bitches know the difference
But my prostitutes know what's real and what's not
Between real pimpin' and movies
They know the difference between how it really is and how it’s shown in movies/books
It's the difference between real leather
It's like the difference between genuine leather and faux leather
And that shit at yo' house.
And that cheap fake stuff that you have at your house
I don't know what why'all doin' up there,
I don’t know what y’all are doing up north
But we really pimpin' in the South.
But we're really working as pimps in the south
Every since I was 17,
Ever since I was 17 years old
I been stackin' my green:
I've been earning and saving money
Went for servin' rocks to fiends,
From selling drugs to addicts
And rockin' club full a teens.
And performing at clubs with a young audience
Went from bumpin' Screw in Houston,
From listening to Screw’s music in Houston
Sippin' promythazine,
From drinking cough syrup with promethazine for recreational use
To ridin' in a 8 600 with sheath,
To going on car rides with a firearm on me
To smokin' on sticky green.
To smoking high-quality weed
I'm still Pimp see, bitch
I'm still calling myself Pimp see
I'm claimin' P.A., they hate us;
I'm claiming Port Arthur, where I'm from, and people don't like that
But, me and cool Ace rollin' a Lexus
But my friend and I are driving around in a fancy car
Sittin' on all gold Daytons.
With gold rims on the wheels
Bitch, take a look around
Look around
Those hoes steady choosin'.
Prostitutes are continuously choosing the life of a prostitute
This is the conclusion: pimpin' ain't no illusion.
The point of all of this is that pimping is a real profession, not a fantasy
If you got any love fo' that broad you wit'
If you care about your prostitute
Nigga, move her 'fore you lose her,
You better move her from her current pimp before you lose her to me
'Cause a beggar ain't a muthafuckin' chooser.
You can’t afford to be picky when you're broke
Third leg is a bitch abuser,
Big genitalia is known to hurt a woman
infamous
commonly known
In cities where big pimpin' is my hoes clean.
In cities where there are many pimps, my prostitutes are the cleanest
No AIDS, herpies, cyphillis
No STDs (sexually transmitted diseases)
Come catch a wif a this...
Come be with me and work for me
Damn, can't you taste it?
Can't you see what I'm offering and how great it is?
Now yo' money's up in smoke
Now you’ve used all your money
Like you freebased it.
like you've used a lot of drugs
Now bitch replaced it
And now your prostitution earnings are gone too
Wit' a sexual favor
You got nothing in return but a sexual favor
But don't get mad at real pimpin', nigga
Don't blame me for the truth about the pimp business
Check yo' behavior...and savor
Check yourself and remember this situation
The aroma from Promona to Tacoma;
This fragrance can be smelt From Pomona to Tacoma (possibly indicating a wide reach of southern pimpin')
Got my pimpin' diploma for bein' a Cadillac chromer.
I call myself a pimp graduate because of my success with expensive Cadillacs
Fuck a Sonoma...
I don't want small cars(Sonoma is a small car reference)
I'm on a mission for Benzes
I’m focused on getting luxurious cars like Mercedes-Benz
Knowin' 'xactly where my ends is,
Knowing precisely where I stand with how much money I'm making
ballin' relentless.
Always hustling and making money non-stop
And then my friends is
And then my friends come in
Slappin' niggas with glass chins,
Beating up weaker people whose faces crumble easily
It's funny...sendin' tricks home
It's amusing to send prostitutes with their clients home but without their earnings
Broke and defenseless;
In some helpless situation
and, ever since this
and since then
Boy been pimpin' the pen,
I’ve been writing raps and spitting rhymes as a pimp would speak
I promise never to ever leave home
I've promised to never leave this lifestyle
Without my pimpin' again...
Without my pimping accentuationg my future rhymes
That's why...
And this is why…
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Todd Anthony Shaw, Bernard James Freeman, Chad L. Butler, Brian Keith Fleming
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K Williams
Never gets old.. classic
Richard Gaiser
U.G.K. is my shit has been and always will be. R.I.P. Pimp C. I miss hearing you rap but I always listen to your other shit. Shout out to Bun B. Keepin It 100
Jermaine Render
THE REAL PIMP C AT HIS FINEST!!! UGK 4 LIFE $$$
shaun thomas
Ugk best rap group. Definitely underground kings
CancerExl
i was 16 when this dropped awe man this is the soundtrack to my life of being a Pimp so much fun pain hurt confusion Love drugs and Money damn I'm going to start on the book about my life "MEMORIES of a SOCIOPATH" tonight I have to get it all on paper
Around The Way Trucker
This is straight Cadillac music nothing else!!🔥🔥🔥
THE URBAN ARTIST
Oh nooo pimp, set ya game up. This 550 music. PIMP’N Ain’t No ILLUSION ❤️🩹💯🏆✌🏽😎
tom
you gotta rewind that Pimp C verse!!! straight facts
Bruh Bruh
That shit mandatory Pimpin'😎
Bernard Otey
@Bruh Bruh u ciood