Rapper Pimp C Found Dead, Apparently of Natural Causes

Southern rap legend Pimp C (real name: Chad Butler) was found dead in a West Hollywood hotel room on Tuesday morning (December 4).

According to TMZ.com, L.A. County Fire responded to a 911 call at the Mondrian hotel, arriving at the rapper's sixth-floor room to find him dead on his bed, fully clothed and alone.

Although the rapper's death is being investigated by the homicide division, an update from TMZ.com indicates that the 33-year-old may have died of natural causes. He did not seem to have any injuries and there were no drugs or drug-related items in his room.

On Saturday night he had performed with West Coast rapper Too $hort at the House of Blues in L.A.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Butler's mother, Weslyn "Mama Wes" Monroe, spoke to her son by phone last week. She said he was looking forward to an upcoming collaboration with Oscar-winning Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia.

Pimp C was best known as one-half of the legendary Houston rap duo UGK. Along with partner and friend Bun B, Pimp C helped to usher in a new brand of hip-hop; as a pioneer of Southern rap, he became a role model to many up-and-coming Southern rappers.

Although UGK formed in 1987 and released their first album in 1992, it wasn't until 2000 that the pair gained international acclaim with their appearance on the Jay-Z smash "Big Pimpin.'" In 2007 they scored a major hit with "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" featuring OutKast. The collaboration was the first single off the album UGK (Underground Kingz), which debuted at No. 1.

Pimp C took a forced hiatus from his music career when he spent almost four years in prison for an aggravated gun assault charge. He was released in 2005.

UGK's record label, Jive Records, issued the following statement regarding Pimp C's death:

"It is with great sadness that Jive Records announces the passing of Chad 'Pimp C' Butler, a member of the celebrated rap duo UGK (Underground Kingz)," said Jive Records' President and CEO Barry Weiss. "We mourn the unexpected loss of Chad. He was truly a thoughtful and kind-hearted person. He will be remembered for his talent and profound influence as a pioneer in bringing southern rap to the forefront. He will be missed and our prayers remain with his family and Bun B. I've known Chad since he was 18, and we loved him dearly and he was a cherished member of the Jive family."

Pimp C was born in Port Arthur, Tx. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.