Members of the Screwed Up Click gathered outside the Screwed-Up Records-N-Tapes shop in the 8200 block of Lawndale on Tuesday night, remembering their friend and recalling his impact on rap music.
News of Chad Butler's death was all the more stunning, coming just six weeks after the untimely death of another Houston rapper, Kenneth Moore, known as "Big Moe."
"It's a real big shock," said Albert Driver, known as "Al D" in the group. "Damn. It's crazy — we just lost Big Moe, you know? Now we lose Pimp C. ... I give my respects out to him. I can't believe he's gone like that, though. He had so much going on for himself; he just got out of prison."
Butler burst on the national scene when he recorded the rap track Big Pimpin' with Jay Z, which drew attention to other Houston rappers, his friends said.
"He's the reason why our music is doing so well out here," Driver said. "He put us in the limelight. Here in Texas, nobody had exposure, and he did that video with Jay Z, and he really blew us up. He let the whole world know what's going on in Texas — how we ride, how we dress. We owe a lot of respect to Pimp C."
"We're known for doing underground, and he took it step further by recording with the big time," said Atiba Caddell, another member of Screwed Up Click, known as "DJ Gold."
Despite his success, Butler never forgot where he came from and remained down to earth, his friends said. They described him as a loyal family man, as "our Tupac."
Even after Butler was released from prison, he wrote letters to friends still locked up, urging them to keep their heads up.
"He was a good man," Driver said. "When my brother died, he came to me and said, 'You need anything?' He said, 'I want to take care of you, man. You're like a brother to me.'"
Butler rapped about his life experiences, his friends said.
"He's not a studio gangster. The lifestyle he talked about in his music, he lived that lifestyle. He was real," Driver said.
Source-chron.com
News of Chad Butler's death was all the more stunning, coming just six weeks after the untimely death of another Houston rapper, Kenneth Moore, known as "Big Moe."
"It's a real big shock," said Albert Driver, known as "Al D" in the group. "Damn. It's crazy — we just lost Big Moe, you know? Now we lose Pimp C. ... I give my respects out to him. I can't believe he's gone like that, though. He had so much going on for himself; he just got out of prison."
Butler burst on the national scene when he recorded the rap track Big Pimpin' with Jay Z, which drew attention to other Houston rappers, his friends said.
"He's the reason why our music is doing so well out here," Driver said. "He put us in the limelight. Here in Texas, nobody had exposure, and he did that video with Jay Z, and he really blew us up. He let the whole world know what's going on in Texas — how we ride, how we dress. We owe a lot of respect to Pimp C."
"We're known for doing underground, and he took it step further by recording with the big time," said Atiba Caddell, another member of Screwed Up Click, known as "DJ Gold."
Despite his success, Butler never forgot where he came from and remained down to earth, his friends said. They described him as a loyal family man, as "our Tupac."
Even after Butler was released from prison, he wrote letters to friends still locked up, urging them to keep their heads up.
"He was a good man," Driver said. "When my brother died, he came to me and said, 'You need anything?' He said, 'I want to take care of you, man. You're like a brother to me.'"
Butler rapped about his life experiences, his friends said.
"He's not a studio gangster. The lifestyle he talked about in his music, he lived that lifestyle. He was real," Driver said.
Source-chron.com
