PIMP C’s GREATEST HITS Words by Maurice G. Garland Photo by Julia Beverly
W
hen Pimp C passed away three years ago, he was no stranger to controversy. Much of the last years of his life were spent ruffling feathers, whether it was in interviews or songs he recorded. UGK fans knew he was never one to hold his tongue, so his public tirades never came any real surprise. Always speaking his mind and expressing himself, Pimp C has left us plenty of moments and quotables to remember him by. Here are a few we picked out.
GREATEST HITS ON WAX: “Diamonds & Wood”
Ridin Dirty is perhaps the most personal album in UGK’s catalogue, and “Diamonds & Wood” is one of the rare times in Pimp C’s lyrical history that he showed vulnerability. He touched on everything from enemies lurking in shadows to vengeful baby mamas. The song has quotables for days and some of its lines have been re-used by many rappers, including E-40.
”Aint That A Bitch”
“Bitch” is a word often used in rap songs, but here Pimp actually explained the term and made it into a double entendre that would even make Jay-Z listen harder. If you bought the Dirty Money album when it (finally) came out, you probably wanted to yell the song’s title at the top of your lungs because Jive Records edited out most of the cursing. Thankfully, the uncensored version is widely available on the internet now.
”Sippin On Some Syrup”
In hindsight, some may feel that Pimp’s enjoyment of this potion is the very thing that led to his demise. But looking beyond that, the classic line “Take that monkey shit off, you embarrassing us” has become the standard critique for any person or action that makes Southerners look bad.
”Swishas & Dosha”
On the first track of UGK’s long-awaited return Underground Kingz, Pimp came out with guns blazing, going off on the new crop of rappers who obviously were nothing like their predecessors. Calling them everything from “hoe niggas” to “homosexual on-the-low niggas,” Pimp let it be known that he didn’t think too too highly of today’s rap stars.
”Knockin Doors Down”
Did every Southern rapper in the history of rap get along? Of course not. But while Pimp was locked away, beefs between T.I. and Lil Flip, Z-Ro and Slim Thug, and Chamillionare and Paul Wall threatened to destroy the legacy that Pimp and his peers help build. So like any O.G. would do, Pimp put all of them on blast. Needless to say, all of these beefs are finished now.
30 // OZONE MAG
”Get Throwed”
One of the main verses that kept him on our minds throughout the “Free Pimp C” campaign, here he laid it out flat for low-balling hustlers “trying to get the cheaper price” and the consequences awaiting them. He even made a fashion statement: “Polo, fuck that Hilfiger.”
”The Game Belongs To Me”
Depending on how long they’re locked away, when friends and family get out of prison, the world often leaves them behind. Pimp was only gone for four years, but a lot changed in that time, especially with new technology and cell phones. Even pimpin’ changed: “pimping ain’t dead, it just moved to the web.”
”Top Notch Hoes”
A rare gem from the UGK catalog, this song only appeared on either the Dirty Money bootleg or the Trill Azz Mixes mixtape. Most of the song was about sexual escapades, but Pimp still found room to make bold statements against anyone he thought was “dissing my friends.” Namely The Roots, who he felt were mocking Too $hort in their “What They Do” video.
”Hi-Life”
Another instance of Pimp taking off of the shades and allowing the world to look him in the eye. “Tired of living fucked up, tired of living bad / Tired of hearing Grandmama say, ‘When you gonna go to church, Chad?’” is a line that most of us could relate to. “I wish that I could tell you I wore a rubber everytime / But if I told you that, nigga, you know that I be lyin’” is probably the realest line you’ll ever hear a rapper spit.
”I Feel Like I’m The One That’s Doing Dope”
In his later years, Pimp’s persona often outshadowed his actual creative talents as a producer, songwriter, rapper and storyteller. This solo song from Hard To Swallow is perhaps his darkest (or depending on who you ask, psychotic) opus. Right up there with Geto Boys’ “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” and The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Suicidal Thoughts,” Pimp’s audio nightmare of being a murderous, suicidal, diseased rapist crackhead (yes, that is a lot going on) came out way before Horrorcore became the gimmick it was in the mid-90s.