The ultimate rap icon, according to Megan Thee Stallion
Texas lyricist Megan Thee Stallion has been at the forefront of female rap in recent years and, alongside figures such as Cardi B and GloRilla, has become a hip-hop sensation. However, the ‘Savage’ lyricist didn’t begin rapping in a vacuum and was influenced by one legend in particular.
In various interviews, the Houston artist highlighted the importance of local radio in exposing her to hip-hop and helping her develop her unique style. Speaking about her childhood, during a recent appearance on Shanon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, Megan explained to the NFL star, “I’m such a big fan of UGK! Everybody knows I’, ‘Tina Snow’ because of ‘Tony Snow’, which is Pimp C’s alter-ego. This is who I grew up listening to.”
She continued, “These are the dudes who you here when you turn on the radio every morning in Houston. Every afternoon. Every night…With [UGK], I don’t feel like they would endorse something they didn’t believe in.”
She even revealed that she was shocked and excited when she realised that she had received a posthumous Pimp C verse, disclosing, “Juicy J and [Lil] Ju are my guys, and they been knowin’ I been looking for a pimp verse. He played it for me and I was like, ‘Ju shut the fuck up!’ After he played it, I cried a little bit.”
The late Pimp C was one-half of the iconic Texas duo UGK. However, in 2007, the rapper died as a result of excess Lean consumption, with the toxicologist revealing codeine and promethazine were the leading causes of death.
Despite this, he continues to influence Megan Thee Stallion and Bun B of UGK has supported Meg as the latest emcee out of Houston to burst into the mainstream. When the female lyricist first signed with 1501 Certified Entertainment in 2018, she spoke with local hip-hop media outlet Broadcast Houston to explain her love for the icon.
She labelled the UGK legend as her “number one favourite rapper” and insisted she wanted her music to evoke the same emotions Pimp C does for her unveiling, “Pimp C make me feel confident, you know, real cocky, like, just real swagged out. So, like, I want people to feel like that when they listen to me.”
Expressing similar sentiments in an interview with Moriah Marie, Meg she continued to highlight the power of Pimp’s music and how it affected her, telling the outlet, “Tony Snow was one of Pimp C’s many aliases. Pimp C is my favourite rapper, he just makes me feel so cool and so laid back… I get into my act when I’m listening to Pimp C, so I turned myself into Tina Snow, like his opposite.”
Megan has such an appreciation for the UGK rapper that her second EP, Tina Snow, was made to honour the Houston rhymer.