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UGK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| UGK | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Underground Kingz |
| Origin | Port Arthur, Texas, USA |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop, Southern rap |
| Years active | 1992 - 2001 2006 - 2007 |
| Label(s) | Jive Records |
| Associated acts |
Outkast, Lil Flip, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Lil Keke, Three 6 Mafia, Too $hort |
| Website | www.the-ugks.com |
| Members | |
| Bun B Pimp C (Deceased) |
|
UGK (short for Underground Kingz) is a hip-hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas formed in 1987 by long-time friends the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler and Bernard "Bun B" Freeman. They released their first album, Too Hard to Swallow in 1992, followed by several other albums charting on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. The group has also been featured on hit singles by other artists, such as on "Big Pimpin'" by Jay-Z, "Sippin' on Some Syrup" by Three 6 Mafia, and "Front Back" by T.I.. On December 4, 2007, UGK member Pimp C was found dead in a hotel in Hollywood, California.[1]
Contents |
In 1992, UGK was signed to Jive Records under a five-album contract, releasing their major label debut album Too Hard to Swallow.[2] While it featured several new recordings, it also featured several songs that had been culled from The Southern Way.[3] 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 the release of Too Hard to Swallow, on an EP distributed by Bigtyme Recordz; appropriately enough, the EP was titled Banned.
Their second album, Super Tight, was released two years later, on August 30. Unlike their previous album, Super Tight managed to break into the Billboard Hot 200 and ultimately peaked at #95; their third album, Ridin' Dirty, peaked at #15.[4] 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 Syrup". Both of these collaborations greatly increased their reputation, and helped fuel anticipation for their next project.[citation needed] Jive Records failed to capitalize on this new-found interest in the duo, as their sixth album, 2001's Dirty Money, came and went with little fanfare.
Further problems arose when Pimp C was incarcerated for an aggravated gun assault charge in 2002.[5] 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.[6] During this period, Jive Records released a Best of UGK album, as well as a Chopped & Screwed remix album.[7] 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.
On December 30, 2005, Pimp C was released from prison and was to be on parole until December 2009.[8][9] He released his first post-incarceration album, titled Pimpalation, on July 25, 2006.[10] On August 7, 2007, he and Bun B released UGK's seventh album, the eponymous Underground Kingz containing 26 tracks and spanning two discs.[11] Featured guests included Talib Kweli, Too $hort, Rick Ross, Z-Ro, Three 6 Mafia, Slim Thug, OutKast, as well as hip-hop legends Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane on a Marley Marl-produced track titled "Next Up". The album featured production by DJ Paul & Juicy J, who produced the second single, "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)", Jazze Pha, Swizz Beatz, The Runners, Lil Jon, fellow Texas legend Scarface, and Pimp C. [12] The album also featured British rapper Dizzee Rascal on the track "Two Types of Bitches"[11], following UGK's guest appearance in Rascal's own album Maths + English for the track "Where's Da G's".
On December 4, 2007, Pimp C was found dead in a Mondrian Hotel room in West Hollywood, California, after Los Angeles County Fire responded to a 911 call. They arrived to his sixth floor hotel room to find him dead in bed. The post mortem later confirmed that he died of natural causes and that there was no foul play involved.[1] Bun B was interviewed a few days later by radio DJ Madd Hatta, and an audio recording has been posted online.[13]
- 1988: The Southern Way
- 1992: Banned EP
- 1992: Too Hard to Swallow
- 1994: Super Tight
- 1996: Ridin' Dirty
- 2001: Dirty Money
- 2002: Side Hustles
- 2007: UGK (Underground Kingz) (US #1) U.S. Sales: 327,200 [14], Worldwide Sales: 383,775 [15]
- TBA: TBA
| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | UK Singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Something Good" | - | - | - | Too Hard to Swallow |
| 1993 | "Use Me Up" | - | - | - | Too Hard to Swallow |
| 1993 | "Pocket Full of Stones" | - | - | - | Too Hard to Swallow |
| 1994 | "It's Supposed to Bubble" | - | - | - | Super Tight... |
| 1994 | "Front, Back, Side to Side" | - | - | - | Super Tight... |
| 1999 | "Dirty Money" | - | - | - | Dirty Money |
| 1999 | "Take It Off" | - | - | - | Dirty Money |
| 1999 | "Belts to Match" | - | - | - | The Wood (Soundtrack) |
| 2001 | "Let Me See It" | - | - | - | Dirty Money |
| 2006 | "The Game Belongs To Me" | - | - | - | UGK (Underground Kingz) |
| 2007 | "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" (featuring OutKast) | 70 | 12 | 10 | UGK (Underground Kingz) |
| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 | U.S. R&B | UK Singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Big Pimpin'" Jay-Z (featuring UGK) | 3 | 1 | - | Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter |
| 2000 | "Sippin' on Some Syrup" Three 6 Mafia (featuring UGK & Project Pat) | - | 30 | - | When the Smoke Clears |
| 2006 | "Front Back" T.I. (featuring UGK) | - | - | 46 | King |
| 2007 | "Where's da G's" Dizzee Rascal (featuring UGK) | - | - | - | Maths and English |
| 2007 | "Suicide Doors" David Banner (featuring UGK) | - | - | - | The Greatest Story Ever Told |
| 2007 | "Won't Let You Down (Texas Takeover Remix)" Chamillionaire (feat. Slim Thug & Lil Keke & Mike Jones & Trae & Paul Wall & UGK & Z-Ro) | - | - | - | Ultimate Victory |
- 2006: Ozone Awards -WON- Living Legend Award
- 2007: BET Hip Hop Awards -WON- Best Collaboration with Outkast for "International Players Anthem"
- ^ a b Rapper Pimp C Found Dead in Hollywood Hotel Room. TMZ: December 4, 2007
- ^ Bush, John. UGK biography. All Music Guide. Accessed December 9, 2007.
- ^ Jeffries, David. Too Hard to Swallow. All Music Guide
- ^ UGK Billboard Album Chart Positions. All Music Guide. Accessed December 9, 2007
- ^ Harris, Chris. UGK's Pimp C To Be Released From Prison Within A Month. MTV News: December 6, 2005.
- ^ Jeffries, David. Pimp C biography. All Music Guide. Accessed December 9, 2007
- ^ Jeffries, David. Jive Records Presents: UGK Chopped and Screwed. All Music Guide: 2004
- ^ Rapper Pimp C Released from Prison. Associated Press/Billboard: December 30, 2005.
- ^ Rodriguez, Jayson. Ex-Con Pimp C Juiced For UGK Album, Says He Has Lessons To Teach. MTV News: November 13, 2006.
- ^ Jeffries, David. Pimpalation. All Music Guide: 2006
- ^ a b Jeffries, David. Underground Kingz. All Music Guide: 2007
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan. UGK Dropping Double Album In December. Billboard: October 25, 2006
- ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/audio/id.3774/title.bun-b-madd-hatta-interview
- ^ http://sohh.com/articles/article.php/12646
- ^ http://worldwidealbums.com