Video summary
In this interview, Bun B reflects on the profound legacy of UGK and the unique respect they commanded within hip-hop culture, particularly from gangsters who wore glasses—a rare distinction shared only with Pimp C and DMC. He discusses his role in curating a tribute album that honors the group's impact by selecting artists who not only possess the talent to perform their verses but also share a deep personal connection to the music. Bun B emphasizes that he seeks collaborators who already have these songs woven into their lives, viewing them as mentors or influences that helped shape their careers. This approach ensures that every participant represents the love for Houston and the culture authentically, rather than just claiming an affiliation without substance.
The conversation takes a humorous yet poignant turn when Bun B recounts a specific incident involving a guest who was supposed to appear on the album but ended up going to jail before the recording sessions could take place. The story involves a group waiting at a Denny's restaurant where police were called due to suspicious activity, resulting in everyone in the car being detained while one person managed to escape via a payphone call. Although this individual never got to record his verse that night and reportedly considers it a major regret, Bun B expresses relief that he was not involved in the situation. He notes that despite the missed opportunity, the artist eventually found another chance to perform the song at a live show, highlighting how these unexpected events shape the history of the project.
Bun B also provides insight into the visual storytelling behind the album cover, explaining how it depicts a day in the life of the South Side neighborhood. The iconic image features the Botany Boys holding up a large bag of marijuana, a detail that many fans were unaware of until now. He reveals that these individuals were constant studio companions and friends who supported the group daily, making their inclusion on the cover a natural decision to acknowledge their integral role in the UGK lifestyle. This behind-the-scenes look underscores the importance of recognizing not just the main artists but also the everyday people who contributed to the group's environment and success.
Ultimately, the video serves as a testament to the enduring influence of UGK and Jermaine Dupri's belief that they may be the most impactful hip-hop group ever. Bun B concludes by reflecting on how he initially misunderstood the term "UGK alumni" but came to appreciate it after seeing how many talented artists genuinely felt inspired by Pimp C and Bun B's work. He asserts that anyone who claims this title has put deep thought into their connection to the music, and their talent is undeniable upon listening. Through this project, he aims to give opportunities to those who truly embody the spirit of the city and culture, ensuring that the legacy of UGK is preserved with the respect and authenticity it deserves.
Read the full video transcript
And then listen to the people that are
calling themselves UGK alumni. I was
like, that makes sense. I I can see
where Pimp or I impacted that person. I
can see that. And they're And they're
legitimately very, very [ __ ]
talented. The people that call
themselves cuz they already know they
can't say that if they don't think I'm
going to approve of it.
>> [laughter]
>> But I haven't had to tell anybody, man,
you can't say that. I haven't had
Everybody that thought to use that, they
put deep thought into that [ __ ] And I
can go and listen to their music and I
can literally hear the influence.
>> Wow.
>> Jermaine Dupri once said that he
believes UGK might be the single most
impactful hip-hop group.
>> Yeah, we on Boss Talk 101.
Yeah, we going to talk
>> really wanted to make sure that it stood
out and did the right the right respect
to the album. So, for me, obviously
there's songs I can't do by myself, you
know, cuz a lot of them have 3-2 on it.
All of them have Pimp on it. And I
didn't want to like play the music all
of that. So, my thing is to try to find
people for whatever song that we're
doing that are aligned with that. That's
all it is. So, if we're doing a car
song, I got to have somebody that speaks
the car coach. They don't even deserve
to be on it. You know what I'm saying?
That's right. The beauty is over these
30 years, I've been able to make friends
with some of the best rappers and
entertainers in the world. So, I had a
large pool of people to pull from. We
just had to figure out, man, who's who's
best for good stuff? Who Who gets to do
Diamonds and Wood?
>> Wow.
>> You know what I'm saying? Like, and not
just who can, who should.
>> That's right.
>> what I'm saying? Cuz I get to I'm the
determinant factor whether or not you
get to represent Pimp C or 3-2 on this
song.
>> That's all it is.
>> You know, so we went through a lot of it
and there's certain people it's just
like, okay, yeah, now that's a
no-brainer. That's a no-brainer. But
>> No brainer.
>> we had to really think about who the
[ __ ] can do Pimp's verse in Murder
without ha- Here's my thing. I'm trying
to pick people where these songs are
already a part of their life. That's
right. So, if I ask you to do this song
at this show,
I believe it's cuz you already know this
song.
>> That's right.
>> I believe this song
it has a connection with you and helped
you on your way to becoming who you are.
>> Right. Like that.
>> So, because of that, like that helped
helped pick people very easy.
>> Wow.
>> what I'm saying? So,
uh yeah, y'all it's going to be great.
There's going to be His funny thing is
somebody's going to come and do a song
that they were supposed to be on.
>> Really?
>> And went to jail that night. Went to
jail on the way to the studio. And he
went to jail that night. If you listen
to enough interviews and hear enough
stories, you'll figure out who it is.
So, I'm trying to give y'all
>> You're giving a hint.
>> Yeah, I'm giving y'all
>> You're giving a little hint.
>> But yeah, no, he was we we was we was I
can tell the story. We was at um a
Denny's on 6 10 right off 6 10 and Main.
And we were supposed to pick him up. And
we were sitting there for like an hour
or so. And we ended up smoking weed and
sitting sitting outside and talking. And
so, the manager inside the Denny's
thought we was up to something.
>> Mhm.
>> So, he called the police.
While they called the police,
he showed up.
Put him in the car. We ran around the
corner.
Get some soda cuz we pouring up at that
time.
>> And so, I'm in the car.
Pimp is in the car.
Um Hawk was in the car.
And
the other person that was supposed to be
on the song was on the payphone.
>> Okay.
>> And so, the police pulled up.
I just got out to go in the store to get
something. Police pulled up and the
people in the car all went to jail. When
I came outside, they searching the car.
I'm like, "What the [ __ ] is going on?"
You know what I'm saying? The person on
the phone had a blue arm.
So, when the police pulled up, he hung
up the phone and and ran off.
>> Mhm. They ain't home.
>> Now, he eventually went to jail. Not
that night, though.
>> Not that night, no. Not that night.
>> but and but he never got to be on the
song.
>> Wow.
>> And that's He'll tell you that's one of
his biggest regrets.
>> Damn.
>> But I would rather him
get away and not go to jail than
>> Uh-huh.
>> than have stayed and and all that stuff.
>> one of the jail.
>> But he'll tell you, man, I I really made
I missed that moment. But now he gets
that moment. Now he gets to perform that
song at this show.
>> Man, that's huge that you you bringing
these opportunities out of there.
>> I'm doing it to people that I know not
only have been really good at what they
do for their music, but they also
represent the love of the city and the
love of the culture. Uh cuz everybody
ain't from Houston. There's a lot of
artists that's coming from other cities
to be a part of this album cuz there's a
lot of people who literally, because of
how impactful UGK was to to them,
consider themselves UGK alumni. You hear
TI say it all the time. Of course. You
know what I'm saying? And I didn't
understand that for a while.
But once I had to really sit down and
put my career and our legacy into
perspective and then listen to the
people that are calling themselves UGK
alumni, I was like, that makes sense. I
I can see where Pimp or I impacted that
person. I I can see that. And they're
and they're legitimately very very
[ __ ] talented. The people that call
themselves cuz they already know they
can't say that if they don't think I'm
going to approve of it.
But I haven't had to tell anybody, man,
you can't say that. I haven't had
Everybody that thought to use that, they
put deep thought into that [ __ ] And I
can go and listen to their music and I
can literally hear the influence.
>> Wow.
>> Jermaine Dupri once said that he
believes UGK might be the single most
impactful hip hop group.
>> Mhm.
>> Because if you look at hip hop right
now, not just the south, how many people
trying to dress and swag and do all this
[ __ ] like Chad. You know what I'm
saying? Ladies man, all of
It's only ever been two people in hip
hop that were respected by gangsters
that wore glasses.
That's Pimp C and DMC.
>> That's all it
>> Those are the only two rappers that
could say all of this kind of [ __ ] move
in these communities, represent these
people, and not be looked at it You know
nobody ever called Pimp C four eyes or
goofy [ __ ] like that. [laughter]
>> And that was popular back in the day.
>> I'm saying?
>> I don't know. Growing up in school
>> That's what I used to do. I
couldn't put no glasses on in front of
me. I'm talking about you.
>> Right. Right.
>> That's what we done.
>> I think that says a lot.
>> And everything, you could never say
that.
>> Yeah, you know I think I think that says
a lot about the level of respect people
had.
>> Wow.
>> And the level of appreciation people
had.
>> That looking back on the album cover
like that y'all were doing y'all look
back. You know what I'm saying? Y'all
looking back to do do you know what I'm
saying?
>> Yeah.
>> Explain that album cover just one time
for the people cuz riding dirty I want
to talk about the album cover the
packing of it how it all unfolded.
>> So again this album was meant to
represent a day in the life of the south
side.
>> Okay.
>> And so our day was ending with us so we
shot that in front of Screw's house.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> So that was the whole thing that we were
going to Screw's house.
That day.
>> All right.
>> And so but we needed
um
we needed a car. We needed another
vehicle and the car just wasn't really
doing it. So C-Note and the Botany Boys
came over. That was C-Note's Suburban.
>> Okay.
>> So we're in the Suburban and us looking
back is is realizing we getting jacked.
>> That's right.
>> So if you open up the album cover you'll
see I don't know if they even
reproduce it like that but I remember in
the original packaging it was the Botany
Boys holding up a case
>> That's right.
That's right.
>> all of them because they were with us
damn near every day in the studio.
Nobody knew this. So
um I don't want to put nobody in the
position but let's just say you know
somebody
had just got their hands on a certain
amount of a certain type of weed.
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> And so we fell in love with it and we
every day we be like hey man you got to
come to the studio and bring us some.
>> [laughter]
>> So they just started coming and that's
why the Botany Boys are on the album.
>> When you say C-Note out there Botany you
speak
>> Yeah
C-Note you hear Dirty Red
>> That's right.
>> you hear Will-Lean and you hear Lil'
Third.
>> That's right.
>> on that.
>> You know what I'm saying?
>> Because they were around every day and
for us it felt like man we got to put
these [ __ ] on something.
>> Wow.
>> got to put these [ __ ] on something.
We got to cuz they here every day
supporting us hanging out all this type
of [ __ ] we got to put them [ __ ] on
something.
>> I like that.
>> So we put them on on on the album and to
this day you know and and C-Note and I
have been
I mean there's very few people that I've
been friends longer with in this rap
[ __ ] that ain't from Port Arthur than it
is with with with C-Note. C-Note was
like uh honestly probably my day for
day. But after 3-2 probably my my
day-to-day guy. Like he I would go to
his house all the time, knew his family,
saw his kids, watched his family grow up
is amazing cuz he was a very
family-oriented man, and that wasn't
something you really saw in the culture.
And I was a family-oriented man at the
You know what I'm saying? So, we became
very, very close around that time, man,
for real.
>> [music]
>> Yeah, we on Boss Talk 101. 101. Yeah, we
going to talk