Hundreds of UGK fans lined up outside of a Midtown clothing store Sunday afternoon to get their hands on exclusive merch, which included T-shirts, jewelry, ashtrays and a chance to take a photo wearing a replica of Pimp C’s iconic white fur coat.
Throughout the Did It Ourselves clothing brand store at 3917 Main, fans were surrouned by memorabilia reflecting the Houston rap groups career, such as the 2008 BET award the duo received for their “International Players Anthem (I Choose You)” music video and handwritten lyrics written by the late Pimp C (whose real name was Chad Lamont Butler). A DJ, meanwhile, played many of the group’s hit songs.
Pimp C died in December 2007 of an accidental drug overdose complicated by sleep apnea.
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The event comes as the clothing brand store, owned by Houston rapper LE$ and visual art director Jorge Casanova, collaborated with Bun B and Pimp C’s widow Chinara Butler to produce a short film, about a minute long, honoring the group’s legacy and cultural impact.
“UGK literally started 35 years ago,” Bun B said. “This is proof of a lasting legacy that Pimp and I were able to build together. It’s very easy to be forgotten in this world. Millions of people have made music. But the staying power that we’ve been able to sustain, not just musically but identity wise. … I’m so proud of what him and I were able to contribute.”
The short film made about UGK, it shows Bun B and Pimp C during their rise to fame, with portions of it filmed in the duo’s old stomping ground – Port Arthur.
The film begins inside the house of Pimp C’s mother, with both rappers appearing to be making a mixtape.
“I love the detail, from the blankets to the wooden panel on the wall,” Butler said. “It just brought back memories of Chad’s mom’s house.”
The film continues with the duo posting flyers around Port Arthur, to the rappers inside of their recording studio working on their song “Front, Back & Side to Side,” signing autographs for fans, and ending with Bun B walking inside his own restaurant, Trill Burgers.
“Since we’re from a small town, Port Arthur…I want people to know that they can do whatever they want to do,” Butler said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re at, small town or big town, no fans, if you just keep going you’re going to make it.”
Iris Karami, a producer of the film, said it was important for them to “not only honor UGK’s legacy, but the messaging behind of what it means to be from Houston, what this music means for us, our visions and our goals.”
Both Casanova and LE$ said they felt honored to be a part of the project being that they were both die hard fans.
“From the jump, my projects were called ‘Steak & Shrimp,'” LE$ said referring to a UGK lyric. “That’s direct influence from Pimp C.”
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