#Bun B Recalls The Moment JAY-Z Knew Pimp C Was 'A Muthafucking Star'

JAY-Z’s “Big Pimpin’” is a classic record that saw the Grammy Award-winning rapper join forces with Bun B and the late Pimp C, collectively known as the legendary UGK. There’s a story behind the creation of the record that’s been told all throughout Hip Hop circles, but Bun B is adding more to the legendary tale.

During an interview with B High TV, Bun B disclosed more information about the infamous record that Pimp C did not want to do. The story goes Tony Snow heard the beat for “Big Pimpin’” and hated how much it sounded like a pop record. It took Bun B and JAY-Z two and a half months to convince Pimp to get on the song but he only gave an eight-bar effort.

As for the video shoot, Pimp wasn’t with the idea of flying out to another country to film a music video.

“’I’m not going to no muthafucking Trinidad to shoot no god damn video’,” Pimp C said according to Bun B. “He had just bought a new car and had a new lady friend at the time. He felt he didn’t want to leave the situation to go do the video. Well lady friend is one of the people supposed to be in the video.”

Bun continued to explain that Hype Williams and the rest of the team couldn’t get Pimp on a plane so they ended up flying out to him in Miami for a reshoot. MTV joined the crew to film their first behind-the-scenes look at a rap video for the old Making The Video TV show.

“He shows up and you see the Benz and the girl that’s how he showed up,” Bun B added. “They get dressed and come out with mink coats and it’s literally on the beach in Miami its about 90 degrees outside. They’re like ‘Pimp you really gonna wear this coat?’

“JAY-Z was like, ‘My n-gga you know it’s hot out here, Pimp looked at him and said, ‘TV ain’t got no temperature.’ And walked off. JAY-Z looked at me and said, ‘Your brother’s a muthafucking star.’”

 

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A post shared by Pimp C (@darealpimpc)

According to Bun, he’s been to countries where English isn’t even a third language and fans were reciting Pimp’s iconic verse word for word at shows. He would have to put his mic down and let the fans handle the verse.

“That’s the genius of him, he tried to be the least involved on the record, and became the most important part of the record,” Bun B said.

“Big Pimpin’” was the third single from his fourth studio album, Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter. The track peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Rhythmic Top 40 chart, helping propel the album to triple-platinum status.

Relive the “Big Pimpin’” video below in all its glory.