The two superstar rappers that remind Bun B of the late Pimp C
UGK emcee Bun B is one of the forefathers of Texas rap and, alongside Pimp C, created one of the most successful Southern rap groups of all time. Most known for their 1993 single ‘Pocket Full of Stones’, UGK was among the first wave of rappers from the South to start turning heads.
After a long struggle during the 1980s and 1990s, hip-hop finally gained a new respect for the South after the turn of the millennium. Now more than ever, rappers from the region are being uplifted and empowered, and Bun B could be described as the initial spark that lit the fire.
That said, Bun B spent the majority of his career alongside his friend Pimp C and, in the eyes of many, the late legend was the most impactful rapper from Texas after Scarface. That said, during an interview, the Trill OG creator spoke about MCs who he believes genuinely embody the spirit of his late friend.
During the discussion, Bun B said that although there is no one who can fully encompass everything that Pimp C was, there are particular elements of his style that he sees in certain artists. More specifically, Megan Thee Stallion and local Houston rapper BeatKing.
Speaking about how he sees Pimp C in particular artists, Bun B explained, “There is no one man I think that can replicate it, but you see some dudes with the personalities. I see that in most people. You know, Megan Thee Stallion embodies a lot of what Pimp represented. I think that’s why it was so jarring for people to see it coming from a woman. But she’s not saying nothing Pimp wasn’t saying; it just came from a female perspective.”
He continued, “I think Club God [aka] BeatKing—I think he’s talking about a lot of the crazy, nasty sh*t that Pimp would be talking about.” However, there are some artists from outside of Texas that Bun B also believes partially embody Pimp C.
Speaking about an artist from Atlanta and New Orleans, the legend listed Killer Mike and Big K.R.I.T., respectively, as MCs who have Pimp C’s values. Telling Noreaga and DJ EFN of the Drink Champs podcast what he sees in these two rappers, Bun B divulged, “I think there’s a lot of people that carry his beliefs. Like K.R.I.T. carries this passion of making Southern musical production looked at at a very high level. Killer Mike has the care and concern for his community and people that Pimp had.”
Although Bun B has overcome Pimp C’s death and now celebrates his legacy, in 2022, the Houston native admitted that following his 2007 death, he struggled mentally and creatively. Bun B admitted that he lost his passion for music shortly after Pimp C’s passing, unveiling, “I haven’t really enjoyed making music since Pimp passed away, and so now that I get to make music with friends and I’m not under any contractual obligation, I make music because I want to, not because I have to, so it’s a different experience for me. For me, it just has to be fun or I’m not going to do it. I just don’t want to do it.”
He added, “Initially, when he passed away, I didn’t want to do day-one songs that would resonate in that way, but I come from a community of people where grieving publicly was frowned upon. And so, so many people hold in so much pain. And what happens is that pain comes out at the worst time against the best people, and it just puts people in a terrible place.”