Pimp C, one-half of hip-hop duo UGK, was found dead Tuesday morning in his room at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. He was 33 years old.
Craig Harvey, chief investigator at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, said the rapper's body would be examined Wednesday but a cause of death will likely be deferred pending additional tests. His officers were still at the scene Tuesday evening.
"At this time there's no signs of foul play," Capt. Ed Winter of the coroner's office told the Associated Press later Tuesday. "It appears to be possibly natural, but pending autopsy and toxicology we can't say the cause."
L.A. County Fire found the rapper, whose real name was Chad Butler, dead in his bed at the Mondrian after responding to a 911 call by hotel security. The hotel released a statement that Pimp C's family called and said the rapper was to have checked out the day before.
"Security personnel went to Mr. Butler's room and found him in bed, apparently expired," according to the hotel.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman said the death is being investigated by its homicide division.
A statement by Pimp C's publicist said his manager "is asking that everyone please respect his family and those close to him at this time and refrain from rumors and innuendo."
In Port Arthur, Butler's mother, Weslyn "Mama Wes" Monroe, said she spoke with her son by telephone last week and found him excited about his latest project, a collaboration with Oscar-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia.
"He was in L.A., doing what he loved most," Monroe said.
Pimp C's death follows a commercial peak for UGK. Its first studio album in five years, Underground Kingz, was released in August. The two-CD opus tallied six-figure sales and gave the group its first No. 1 album, behind the popular single and video Intl' Players Anthem (I Choose You).
The rapper had performed Saturday in Los Angeles with labelmate Too Short.
"It's a sad day in the city. A legend has passed," said Mike Jones, who traded verses with Pimp C on 2006 single Pourin' Up.
"Pimp C is a true legend. As far as the South goes, as far as Houston goes, he was the definition of a true pioneer," said rapper K-Rino, They knocked down a lot of doors and let a lot of people shine."
"I know a lot of guys that call themselves pimps, but he's a real pimp," said Brooke Valentine. .
His label painted a kinder portrait of the artist. "He was truly a thoughtful and kind-hearted person," said Jive Records president and CEO Barry Weiss. "I've known Chad since he was 18, and we loved him dearly."
Pimp C is the second area rapper to die in the past few months. Kenneth "Big Moe" Moore died two months ago of a heart attack. Hip-hop artist John "Big Hawk" Hawkins was shot and killed outside his home in 2006.
"The situation is we have to step our game up," K-Rino says. "The people who die, their job is done. They're examples for the people who are still here. We have to see what a person's death can teach us. What adjustments we can make on our life to make sure we get the best quality of life while we're still around.
Screw World sends prayers out to his family. We lost a true legend, but more than that, he had friends and a family, he had children.
Rest in Peace homie, you will truly be missed...
Lil Flip's Pimp C Triubte Song
http://www.zshare.net/audio/53890221ba5e45/
Comments
RIP Pimp C!