PIMP C                                                                                                                  

 Date of birth:December 29,1973                                                        Place of birth:Port Arthur,Texas,U.S.                                                 Date deceased:December 4,2007 (aged 33)                                          Place of death:Los Angeles,California                                                Cause of death:Cough-Medicine overdose





About Pimp C:

To me,one of the most influential southside rappers ever.Not only that he was a member of world famous rap group,''UGK'',but he was also an intelligent person.The reason I'm saying that,is because Pimp C has shown something that you rearly see in the rap music,and that thing is unity.In his song,''Knockin' Doorz Down'',which is by the way,my favourite Pimp C song,he rapped about feuds in southside rap scene coummunity (which have escalated during his 4 year prison sentence,which he served because of violation of his probation).As he mentioned in the song,he tried to squash the beef between T.I. and Lil' Flip,Slim Thug and Z-Ro,and Paul Wall and Chamillionaire,saying that those feuds are stupid and that more money could be made by uniting the southside rappers than dissing each other,(even though he had some diss tracks too,earlier in his life).He was probably right,and I loved to se there are still some rappers out there,talking about unity in hip-hop,instead of dissing some fellow rapper.That's why I respect Pimp C,because he realized,after having some feuds himself,(like beef with Lil Troy or Mater P),that this kind of thinking would stop many hip-hop related murders.Of course there is nothing wrong with a little rivalry in hip-hop ,'cause,that too,makes rap music interesting,as long as it stays on spoken words,not fired bullets.

Generally about Pimp C:
Pimp C (real name Chad Lamont Butler) was born on December 29,1973,in Port Arthur,Texas,U.S.He started his career very early,in 1987,when he and his best friend,Bernard Freeman,later known as ''Bun B'',formed the group called UGK (short for Underground Kingz).After 2 EP's,they signed to ''Jive Records'',and released their debut album,''Too Hard to Swallow'' on November 10,1992.The album has produced the hit song ''Pocket Full of Stones,which was also included on the soundtrack of popular,1993  movie,''Meance II Society''.In 1994,their second album,''Super Tight'',came out.This album was also critically acclaimed.But the group's best album was yet to come.On July 30,1996,the ''Ridin' Dirty'' album was released.The album has reached nr. 2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,and to this day,it has sold almost 900,000 copies.There are two interesting facts about this album.First one is that,even though this was their best selling album,there was no singles or music videos released for the album.Second one is that, 2006 song,Ridin',by Chamillionaire,their fellow southside rapper,and later friend,was inspired by this album.The song even had almost the same name as the UGK album.Most people even think that the song tittle is actually Ridin' Dirty,but is actually just ''Ridin'''.Chamillionaire also stated that,for his rap career in general,he was inspired by local rap artist,which alongside with UGK,included The Geto Boys,8 Ball & MJG,as well as the west coast and the east coast groups,N.W.A. and Public Enemy.However,after major succsess of the Ridin' Dirty album,UGK have disappeard from rap scene,for almost 4 years.But,at the year of 2000,UGK had a big comeback,as they had guest appearances on the major hit singles,''Sippin' on Some Syrup'' by Three 6 Mafia,and Jay-Z's,''Big Pimpin'''.Those appearances led to release of UGK comeback album,''Dirty Money'' in 2001.The album had a solid success,but troubles for Pimp C have started.In January 2002,Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for violation his probation (he ignored his sentence to community service),which he got because of earlier aggravated assault charge.During his time in prison,Bun B promoted UGK name with various guest appearances on songs by other artists.He also started the ''Free Pimp C'' campaign.At March 2,2005,while still in prison,Pimp C's debut album,''Sweet James Jones Stories'' was released.Fortunately for him,he was released from prison,on December 30,2005,and was placed on parole until December 2007.More good news came,as he released his second solo album ''Pimpalation'' on July 11,2006.The album produced hit singles,''I'm Free'',''Knockin' Doorz Down'',and ''Pourin' Up''.On March 8,2007,the album was certified Gold.UGK's Billboard nr 1 album,''Underground Kingz'',also came out in the same year.It seemed like,Pimp C's life,was finally on right direction,but sudden death,has stopped it all.

Pimp C's Death:
On December 4,2007,Pimp C was found dead in hotel room of Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood,California (Los Angeles County).Official cause of death was Promethazine/Codeine syrup overdose combined with sleep apnea.He died just 3 days after performing with Too Short at the House of Blues (interestingly,the same place,where 2pac had his most famous concert,just 2 months before his death).But,to this day,there are many rumors about Pimp C actually being killed.The most common rumor is that someone in the record label business,or even the group of powerful people in business have killed him,because he often rapped against them,especially after releasing from jail.The second most common rumor is that,Master P got him killed,because of their earlier altercation,when Mater P allegedly pistol whipped him,because of money dispute.Interestingly,this is the second murder in rap business (after Soulja Slim's murder),in which Master P was mentioned as posibble murder client.Of course,those are all just rumors,and unfortunatelly it's almost inpossible to find out the real truth.However,southside rap scene lost,one of the best rappers,and the second part of the UGK,whose last album UGK 4 Life was released in 2009.

Pimp C discography:

1992: The southern way EP (for UGK)
1992: Banned EP (for UGK)
1992: To Hard to Swallow (for UGK)
1994: Super Tight (for UGK)
1996: Riddin' Dirty (for UGK)
2001: Dirty Money (for UGK)
2005: Sweet James Jones Stories
2006: Pimpalation
2007: Underground Kingz (for UGK)

Posthumous albums:

2008: Greatest Hits
2009: UGK 4 Life (UGK album)
2010: The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones
2011: Still Pimping

                                                 

                                               

                                      SOULJA SLIM

Date of birth:September 9,1977
Place of birth:New Orleans,Louisiana
Date deceased:November 26,2003 (aged 26)
Place of death:Gentilly,New Orleans
Cause of death:Murder




About Soulja Slim:
If you looking for some real gangsta rapper,the one who could really call himself like that,whose violent lyrics were real,then Soulja Slim is your type of rapper.Raised in Magnolia Projects,one of the most dangerous projects,not only in New Orleans,but in the whole USA.Fellow rappers VL Mike,and Magnolia Shorty were also killed there,which also proves how dangerous was to live there,even for the rap stars.That's why Soulja Slim was for me,really like a soldier on the streets of New Orleans,a real dangerous guy (of course for his opponents on the streets),whose lyrics were like a live reports from the projects.There are many stories about him,and his possible involvement in many crimes,for two of which he was convicted (armed robbery,illegal possession of weapon),and also I read somewhere,that after his death,he was accused for several murders.But let's leave that stories for now,cause they might be or might not be true,and concentrate on his rap career.

I first heard about him on C-Murder's track,''I'm Not Just'',and in my opinon,he completely outshined C-Murder on this song.Since then,I started to listening Soulja Slim songs,and to this day,''I'm not just'',is my favourite song with Soulja Slim,even though,he was a guest on this song,and even though,he had many other great songs like ''From What I was told'',or ''Slow motion''(which was really a masterpiece).Soulja Slim's death was just another proof,how dangerous life on the streets can be,and how many rappers,unfortunately,end up with violent deaths,just like there lyrics were.




Generally about Soulja Slim:
Soulja Slim (real name James Adarryl Tapp, Jr.) was born on September 9,1977 in New Orleans,Louisiana.He grow up in Magnolia Projects,one of most notorious projects in New Orleans.After dropping out from highschool,he released his debut album ''Soulja Fa lyfe'' in 1994.That album was released under the name of ''Magnolia Slim'',which was the name,Soulja Slim used at the beginning of his career in reference to already mentioned ''Magnolia Projects'',in which he was raised.In 1995,he released the e.p. called, ''The Dark Side''.That e.p. was sort of introduction to his ''No Limit Records'' career,as his song ''You Got It'',appeared on No Limit Records,double disc compalation,Down South Hustlers:Bouncin' and Swingin'.That led him to signing for No Limit Records,and now under the name Soulja Slim (which he will be known as,until the rest of his career),he released the album,''Give It 2 'Em Raw'',in 1998.That album produced the hit single and music video ''From What I was Told''.But instead of rising his career to a higher level,he was convicted for armed robbery.Now,I can't confirm that information 100%,but some sources say that,he did that to support his addictions to drugs.He was also shot in one dispute,and again incarcerated for illegal possession of weapon.After release from prison,he released ''The Streets Made Me'' album,in 2001.That was his last album under the ''No Limit Records'',as he started his own record label ''Cut Throat Committee Records''.He released only one album (titled Years Later),under the Cut Throat Committee label,before his death.His last album titled,''Years Later...A Few Months After'',was released just 3 months before his death,on August 26,2003,under the Koch Records.Shortly before his death,Soulja Slim collaborated with Juvenile on the song ''Slow Motion'',which was released on Juvenile's album,''Juve the Great''.The song reached Nr. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100,and was first and only,nr. 1 spot of the list,for both of them.Also Soulja Slim became only the sixth artist with posthumous No. 1 song.




Soulja Slim's Death:
On November 26,2003,Soulja Slim went to his performance for Thanksgiving.He stopped at his mother's house in Gentilly neighborhood at approximately 6:00 pm,to pick up a fresh-filmed video for the song ''Love Me Or Love Me Not'',to show a friend.Just as he got out of his car,unknown man shoot him 4 times:3 times in the face,and once in the chest.Soulja slim was buried with his Cut Throat Comitty chain,and his camouflage outfit,he wore on his No Limit debut.On December 31,2003,Garelle Smith was arrested for Soulja Slim's murder.Police even found the Smith's gun,whose bullets matched the one,that was found in Slim's body.However Smith was released from prison,because no witnesses would testify against him.After that,Garelle Smith was arrested several times for other murders,and each case was dropped,due to lack of evidence or witnesses.But some will say that,justice did get to him,beacuse he was murdered in August,2011.Interesting,he was also found with gunshot wounds to the face and the chest,just like Soulja Slim was.There are few rumors about the motives for killing Soulja Slim.One of them is that,it was because Soulja Slim allegedly killed his rival rapper ''Robert Lee Paige Jr.'',who was killed just two months before Slim.Police conected that murder with Soulja Slim,when they were investigating his murder.However,nothing was ever proved.Second one is,that it was the retaliation from some guy who was at the Soulja Slim's performance in a west bank club,and was insulting Magnolia projects.That guy was beaten up,after that insults,and was seen in New Orleans,days after that.He was wearing bullet-proof vest and was seeking for people connected with Soulja Slim.Last rumor was the most controversial.Rumor says that famous rapper,Master P,owner of Soulja Slim's former record label,No Limit Records,and brother of Slim's friend C-Murder,ordered his death.Alleged motive was Soulja Slim's song,''Bootin' Up'',in which he was dissing No Limit's artists.http://www.complex.com/music/2012/05/the-40-most-ratchet-music-rumors/master-p-killed-soulja-slim
But to be honest,that rumor is the most unlikely.Especially knowing that,Mater P,wouldn't risk it all,because of one diss.However,to conclude the story about Soulja Slim's murder,Ican only say that New Orleans is the most dangerous place for rappers.Even more dangerous than Hunters Point,Detroit,or L.A.




Soulja Slim discography:
1994: Soulja Fa Lyfe
1995: Dark Side
1998: Give It 2 'Em Raw
1999: Hype Enough Records: Limited Edition
2001: The Streets Made Me
2002: Years Later
2003: Years Later...A Few Months After


Posthumous albums:
2004: Cutthroat Mixtape Vol. 1
2004: Cutthroat Mixtape Vol. 2
2005: Greatest Hitz
2008: Thug Brothers (Mixtape)