What happened to Pimp C? Fans remember late rapper on 18th death anniversary

Rapper and record producer Pimp C, whose real name was Chad Lamont Butler, passed away on December 4, 2007. He was 33. He was found unresponsive lying on his bed in a hotel room in the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, California.

Initial autopsy revealed that the cause of death was “promethazine/ codeine effects and other unestablished factors.”

Two months later, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office ruled it an accidental death. A spokesperson told The Guardian:

"He had prescription medication (codeine) in him when he passed away and the levels were elevated but not real high, so it wasn't an overdose, but we think it was a result of taking the cough medication with his sleeping problems."

Pimp C also suffered from sleep apnea, which often had symptoms of blocked airways.

Now, on his 18th death anniversary, fans are paying tribute on social media.

“Legends never fade, they just keep playing through the speakers,” a fan wrote on X.

“Bro was a living legend,” another fan wrote.

“Gone, but the legacy still moves the culture. Rest easy, Pimp C,” a netizen wrote.

Others continued to share similar tributes.

“Gone that long and people still talk about him like he dropped a track yesterday. Eighteen years later and the culture’s still orbiting around the space he left open. The impact didn’t fade at all; it just made everyone realize how big the gap really was,” another netizen wrote.

“Time flies… 18 years already. Rest in power, Pimp C,” an individual wrote.

“18 years and the game still misses him every day. Legends never die,” wrote another.

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All about Pimp C and the circumstances surrounding his death

Pimp C was best known as one-half of the Texas hip-hop duo Underground Kingz or UGK alongside Bun B, aka Bernard James Freeman. They were pioneers in Southern and dirty rap.

Born and raised in Crowley, Louisiana, in December 1973, Pimp later spent his life in Port Arthur, Texas. During his career, he was known by various nicknames, including Jack Tripper, Percy Mack, Sweet James Jones, and Tony Snow.

UGK’s debut album, Too Hard to Swallow, was released under the Jive Records label in 1992. It was followed by Super Tight in 1994 and Ridin’ Dirty in 1996. They went on a hiatus for five years and later released a self-titled album in 2007.

Pimp C also released two solo albums, The Sweet James Jones Stories and Pimpalation. UGK’s collaboration with Jay-Z on his 2000 single Big Pimpin’ was a hit.

In 2002, Butler pleaded no contest to an aggravated assault charge after waving his gun at a woman inside a shopping mall during a heated exchange. He was ordered to do community service. However, when he violated his probation, he faced eight years in prison, but was paroled after three.

It is noteworthy that Chad Lamont Butlet’s music often revealed his liking for the codeine-based cough syrup or “purple jelly,” which was a kind of recreational drug in the hip-hop scene in the early 2000s, despite being a prescription-only controlled medicine.

For instance, the 2000 song, Sippin’ On Some Syrup, mentioned the joys of getting high from codeine. It had the lyrics:

“I’m choking on that doja sweet and sipping on that sizz-erp.”

It was UGK’s collaboration with the Oscar-winning group, Three 6 Mafia. Unfortunately, the same contributed to his untimely death.

Following his passing, Underground Kingz was nominated for a Grammy for International Players Anthem (I Choose You), featuring OutKast, from their fifth eponymous album. Back then, Bun B told MTV News:

"15 years later, a song I told him we should do and he was adamant about it - and he got his Grammy nomination, just like he always wanted."

Meanwhile, his manager and close friend, Rick Martin, shared a public statement in the aftermath of Pimp’s demise.

“Chad was finally seeing the results of the years of love and labor that he and Bun B have put in over the years, culminating in the tremendous success of their album, ‘Underground Kingz.’ Chad had everything to live for.”

Martin also extended his heartfelt condolences to Pimp C’s family, comprising his wife Chinara and their kids.