UGK

UGK
Bun B (left), Pimp C (right) in 2007
Background information
Also known as	Underground Kingz
Origin	Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop, Southern hip hop, Gangsta rap
Years active	1987–2007
Labels	Epic, No Limit, Jive, UGK, Bigtyme Recordz
Associated acts	DJ Screw, Paul Wall, Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG, Slim Thug, Outkast, Jay-Z
Website	www.the-ugks.com
Members	Pimp C (deceased) Bun B

UGK (short for Underground Kingz) was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas, formed in 1987, by Chad "Pimp C" Butler and Bernard "Bun B" Freeman. They released their first major-label album Too Hard to Swallow, in 1992, followed by several other albums charting on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, including the self-titled Underground Kingz album, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, in August 2007. The duo has also been featured on hit singles by several other artists, such as on "Big Pimpin'" by Jay-Z and "Sippin' on Some Syrup" by Three 6 Mafia. Pimp C founded UGK Records in late 2005. On December 4, 2007, Pimp C was found dead in a West Hollywood, California hotel room.

In 1992, UGK was signed to Jive Records under a five-album contract, releasing their major-label debut album Too Hard to Swallow. While it featured several new recordings, it also featured several songs that had been culled from The Southern Way. However, several songs that had been intended to be included on the album were excised at the last minute, apparently due to their overly explicit content. Five of these songs would surface two months before the release of Too Hard to Swallow, on an EP distributed by Bigtyme Recordz; appropriately enough, the EP was titled Banned. A popular song from the album "Pocket Full of Stones" was also included on the Menace II Society soundtrack in 1993.