Pimp C Found Dead in Hollywood Hotel Room

Rapper Pimp C was found dead this morning (December 4) in a Los Angeles hotel room.The 33-year-old, whose real name was Chad Butler, was discovered at the Mondrian Hotel on the Sunset Strip when the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to an emergency 911 call, reports TMZ.

The rapper was one-half of the Houston rap duo UGK, best known for appearing on the Jay-Z track 'Big Pimpin' in 2000, and more recently with Outkast on the song 'International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)'.Pimp C had just performed with fellow rapper Too Short at the "House of Blues" in L.A. on Saturday night.

Butler's publicist Nancy Byron issued the following statement:

"It is with great regret that I must confirm that Chad Butler aka Pimp C, one half of the legendary UGK, was in fact discovered dead this morning.

"Manager Rick Martin is asking that everyone please respect his family and those close to him at this time and refrain from rumors and innuendo."

Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Butler's father was a trumpet player who played professionally with Solomon Burke. Outside of his father, the 33-year old rapper's influences varied, ranging from Bobby Bland, Jimmy McGriff, the 1960's Motown artists to Run DMC. Butler met his inseparable partner Bernard "Bun B" Freeman in high school where they formed UGK. In 1992, the duo signed to Jive Records and went on release a total of eight albums for the label. They earned their highest achievement earlier this year when their most recent album, UGK (Underground Kingz), debuted in the number one position on the album pop chart. According to the New York Times, UGK "helped inspire a generation of Southern hip-hop stars, from OutKast to Lil Wayne."