Pimp C

{ Chad Lamont Butler (December 29, 1973 – December 4, 2007), better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper and record producer. He was best known for his work with Bun B as one half of the hip-hop duo Underground Kingz (UGK). Signing with Jive Records in 1992, UGK released their major-label debut studio album Too Hard to Swallow to critical acclaim. Their subsequent albums, Super Tight (1994) and Ridin' Dirty (1996), both entered the Billboard 200. The group received national attention after appearing on Jay-Z's 2000 single "Big Pimpin'", which peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. The group went on hiatus for the first half of the 2000s after Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for a probation violation. During this time both members pursued solo careers, with Pimp C releasing his solo debut, The Sweet James Jones Stories, in 2005, composed of material recorded prior to his sentencing. After being released from prison in December 2005, he released his second solo album, Pimpalation, in 2006. UGK released their eponymous fifth studio album (2007); it spawned the single "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)" (featuring OutKast), which peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100. Pimp C was found dead in his hotel room on December 4, 2007, with a coroner's report attributing his death to complications from his heavy consumption of lean and pre-existing sleep apnea. {