Pimp C - Death and Tributes

Death and Tributes

Pimp C was found dead in his hotel room in Los Angeles on December 4, 2007. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner, Butler suffered respiratory depression due to an overdose of promethazine and codeine coupled with a preexisting sleep apnea condition. Like many other Southern rappers, Pimp C frequently referenced the recreational consumption of "syrup" in his music.

The funeral was held at the Bob Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, Texas on December 13, 2007. Port Arthur mayor Deloris Prince, Pimp C's mother Weslyn Monroe, and fellow UGK member Bun B were among the speakers at the service, and the eulogy was delivered by pastor Dr. John R. Randolph. Attendees included many fellow luminaries of the Houston rap scene: Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Willie D, Big Gipp, and Webbie.

Bun B continues to pay tribute to Pimp C through his music, including the tracks "You're Everything," a collaboration with Rick Ross, David Banner, and 8Ball and MJG, and "Pop It 4 Pimp" which was produced by Mouse and featured Juvenile and Webbie off of Bun B's 2008 album II Trill. Bun B released the final UGK album, UGK 4 Life, in 2009. UGK 4 Life had been recorded, for the most part, in the time frame between their previous album and the passing of Pimp C.

During Drake's verse in Bun B's "Put It Down" music video, Pimp C's oldest son Chad Butler II is shown climbing a set of stairs, but the video does not show his face. The chorus and last line of Drake's verse also reference Pimp C.

Pimp C was set to appear in a song titled 'Naked Lady' by Chamillionaire after his wife gave some material to Chamillionaire, however upon realizing that Universal Records wanted to take most of the money from the song, leaving little for Butler's family, Chamillionaire returned the material in hopes that it would be sold to someone else for a higher amount of money.

Chamillionaire announced through a hidden message in his mixtape "Major Pain 1.5" that he has gained access to some new unreleased Pimp C content that he plans to put to use. However, since Chamillionaire got out of the contract with Universal he is not allowed to use anything from the album he was working on.

The group Outlawz released a song called "Brand New (Pimp C Dedication)" as the first track of their mixtape Killuminati 2K11 in 2011.

2 Chainz released a song called "Pimp C Back" in August, 2011.

Nelly and the St. Lunatics released a song entitled "Pimp C" as part of Nelly's O.E.M.O. mixtape, in December 2011.

Seattle hip hop artist Macklemore depicts Pimp C and embodies his and other drug abuse of the hip hop community in his song Otherside off the Macklemore x Ryan Lewis VS. Redux (2009)