UGK:“Diamonds and Wood” Classic beat. Let’s let some of the lyrics speak for themselves: “…I got a baby but it’s momma act like he ain’t mine / Wicked women using children to live on / When I hurt and try to hate ‘cause she knows the thrill is gone…” “...Niggas talk a lot of shit in a safe place, I know cause he can’t look me eye-toeye when he in my face…” “…Niggas frown when you up and smile when you down / And when you make a change for the better shife fools stop coming ‘round…” “…Got to the point where I could not decipher day from night / She say she love me but all we do now is fuckin’ fight / My conscience fuck with me so much I can’t eat or sleep / The other side of sellin’ dope and out there runnin’ the streets…” UGK:“Bumper and Grill” This became instant vintage the minute it dropped. All of the usual Pimp C production suspects are here: sweaty drums, light cymbals, jook joint guitars and church organs. He knew it was tight, and if you weren’t convinced he demanded that you “tell your bitch ass brother he can’t fuck with my beats / so if you wanna be bangin’ nigga the good shit don’t come cheap.” He also reminded you that “down in Texas nigga, we got our stars, we got the baddest bitches and we ride the freshest cars.” The beat reappeared as “Simply Beautiful” on Sleepy Theme’s The Vinyl Room. C-Murder f/UGK:“Akickdoe” Co-produced by Beats By the Pound, this is another example of Pimp’s penchant for working guitars into Hip Hop production. His opening verse is also another example of his unique braggadocio, setting the tone for rest of the song. The hook, also courtesy of Pimp, came from his verse on Master P’s “Break ‘Em Off.” UGK:“Hiside” One of Pimp’s more jazz influenced productions sounds like it could have been conceptualized during the Super Tight era, but it actually appeared on Sic Wit It Records’ 1997 compilation Southwest Riders. One of UGK’s many songs when they call a bitch a bitch, but the song’s most poignant moment comes when Pimp says, “The preacher got the clothes and the hoes with his dick on swoll / Trickin’ off my peoples’ bank roll / I peep that shit, I read my Bible at home / ‘Cause I ain’t payin for that nigga’s brough’m.” PSK-13 f/UGK:“Like Yesterday” One of the highlights of Pimp’s production career, this song (and others he did with Adamshame, Critical Condition and X-Mob) is a testament to his Underground King status, showing that Pimp and Bun were truly dedicated to the streets and independents. Pimp’s trademark drum sounds and live guitars make this song an equally dope rap track and instrumental. UGK:“Take It Off” When he got the chance, C would justify the meaning of the “Pimp” in his moniker and on this track that originally appeared on The Corruptor soundtrack, he had strip clubs buzzing. “Take it off chick, bend over, let me see it / If you lookin’ for a trill-type figure, let me be it.” Even though the video was a bit comical (UGK pimping in Chinatown?), Pimp’s charisma coupled with his straightforward lyrics made “Take It Off” a standout. Pimp C:“Top Notch Hoes” This song first popped up on the infamous 1999 Dirty Money bootleg and later appeared on Trill Azz Mixes. Bluesy guitars and synths served as a smooth bed for Pimp C’s voice as spoke on everything from BET not playing Southern Hip Hop artist videos to serving a slight diss to The Roots in response to their “What They Do” video. This verse also appeared on his collabo with Meen Green “Deep In the Game.” Save for the hook and last verse, the song didn’t really say much about hoes at all. UGK:“Piece and Chain” This song has Pimp C coining the phrase “country rap tunes” for the first time on record, asking people to “separate us from the rest.” An unfinished version of the song first appeared on the Dirty Money bootleg while the final one was placed on The Wood soundtrack. UGK:“Woodwheel” Appearing on Rap-A-Lot’s 1999 compilation Realest Niggas Down South, “Woodwheel” helped UGK fans through the drought between Ridin’ Dirty and Dirty Money. “Hoe niggas scream and talk, trill niggas bust and leave / How the fuck you gonna go to war when you bitch ass niggas ain’t go no cheese?!” will go down as one of Pimp’s trillest lines ever. Crooked Lettaz f/Pimp C:“Get Crunk” One of the highlights on Crooked Lettaz’ (David Banner and Kamakaze) criminally slept-on Grey Skies album. Another example of Pimp’s ability to make a
beat, write a verse and sing a hook on one song. Banner’s line: “Pimp done told me, ‘Vell, these niggas ain’t nothing but hoes / You make most of your cheese off production and shows,” shows the impact Pimp had on his peers. UGK f/Jay-Z:“Big Pimpin’” This was a song Pimp C was very hesitant about doing. Bun told MTV, “He didn’t want to do [the Jay-Z collaboration] ‘Big Pimpin’,’ but he rolled with me on that.” The song rolled all the way to the number 3 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 on the Rap/R&B chart. It was the biggest track of UGK’s career and in the June 2007 issue of OZONE, it was declared that UGK’s outshining of Jay-Z was one of the 25 most important moments in southern rap history. Pimp and Bun upstaged Jigga on his own track long before Em’ proved who the real “Renegade” was. Three Six Mafia f/UGK:“Sippin’ On Some Syrup” “Take that monkey shit off, you embarrassing us.” Enough said. Hopefully the right ears will take heed to that suggestion. UGK:“Let Me See It” In 2001 when Dirty Money was released, UGK was witnessing a growing fan base beyond the South, but for some reason this album didn’t translate into the commercial success that was due. “Let Me See It” debuted with little fanfare but still became a classic UGK record. It was a strip club anthem before strip club anthems were standard on rap albums. UGK f/ Devin the Dude:“Ain’t That A Bitch” The highlight of the long-awaited but slightly disappointing Dirty Money album. Sampling B.B. King’s “Chains & Things” for the beat, Pimp dropped some life game on what happens when you think with the head in your pants. Only thing wrong with this instant vintage was Jive’s bonehead decision to alter the song’s flow and blur out the curse words. Bun B f/Pimp C,Young Jeezy, Z-Ro & Jay-Z: “Get Throwed” After serving nearly four years in prison, Pimp C was reunited with his UGK counterpart on this single from Bun B’s solo debut album Trill. The song was the first time Pimp C worked with Young Jeezy and his first time working with Jay-Z since “Big Pimpin’.” Hearing him start off the track “Pimp C P.A. trill nigga / Polo fuck that Hilfiger / Made myself a ghetto star / On the slab, sippin barre,” seemed to breathe life into the South. Pimp C f/P.O.P. & Lil Keke:“Knockin’ Doorz Down” Pimp C was never one to hold his tongue. On this single from Pimpalation, Pimp speaks out on the state of rap music in Houston, urging Lil’ Flip and T.I., Paul Wall and Chamillonaire, Z-Ro and Slim Thug to end their feuds and make their money together for the betterment of the rap industry in H-Town. Many rappers took heed to his words, proving the influence and respect that Pimp C had amongst his peers. UGK:“Swishas & Dosha” Underground Kingz could not have had a more appropriate opening track. Lines like “I remember when a rapper was a go getta, now all these rappers are some hoe niggas / Hide behind the guards at the show nigga, don’t want no pussy, homosexual on the low nigga” and “I’ma tell you pussy niggas once again, ain’t had no friends since I left the pen / It’s some niggas I respect in the rap game and it’s some niggas I bet’ not hear saying my fucking name” let you know that the original Trill Ass Nigga was back in rare form. UGK:“Quit Hating the South” When critics started taking shots at Southern rap, UGK spoke up to defend the South’s movement. A boisterous Pimp C spoke up for country rap tunes and the South’s place at the top of Hip Hop charts, screaming, “Fuck how you feel, country rap tunes NIGGA! Let’s put all y’all records on one side of the store and put all the country rap music on the other side of the store, and see who sell out first!” UGK f/Outkast:“International Player’s Anthem” This single, produced by Three 6 Mafia and featuring Outkast, was a sample of the 1970’s hit “I Choose You” by Willie Hutch. It was the last official UGK single of Pimp C’s life, and fittingly the most commercially successful song to ever appear on a UGK album. The video, with cameos by Bishop Don Magic Juan, Pimpin Ken, DJ Paul, Juicy J, Chamillionaire, David Banner, T-Pain, Big Gipp, and Fonsworth Bentley, among others, became an instant hit. At the 2007 BET Hip Hop Awards, Kanye West refused to accept his Best Video Award for “Stronger,” instead offering the honor to UGK for “International Player’s Anthem.” This bold statement from the notoriously award-hungry Kanye is even further proof of the lasting influence Pimp C left behind for both fans and peers for many years to come. // OZONE MAG // 75