Rapper
Bun B (born
Bernard Freeman) rose to fame in the duo
UGK.
Bun B and
Pimp C formed
UGK in the late '80s when their former crew, Four Black Ministers, fell apart. Based in Port Arthur, TX,
UGK signed with Jive and with 1992's
Too Hard to Swallow began a series of Southern gangsta rap albums that were successful sellers.
Bun B formed the side project
Mddl Fngz in 2000, but his main concern was still
UGK. Things came to halt in 2003 when
Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison on an aggravated gun assault charge.
Bun B carried on solo, making numerous appearances on other artists' tracks and then in 2005 releasing both the mixtape
Legends and his debut album,
Trill, a Top Ten hit. With
Pimp C seeing early release in late 2005,
Bun B returned to
UGK and a self-titled double album from the duo dropped in 2007. Tragedy struck in early 2008 when
Pimp C died suddenly, leaving
Bun B to return to a solo career. His second solo album,
II Trill, arrived that same year. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide