Bun B Bio: The Career of a Texas Rap Legend

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Colin is a content creator based out of New York City. Colin loves rap music because it brings together various things that he enjoys, like art, fashion, and film. He spends his time writing and producing music when he's not working. He's eager to share with you his first hand experiences in the industry.

Bun B Quick Facts

Full Name: Bernard James Freeman
Birth Date: March 19th, 1973
Birthplace: Houston, Texas
Nickname: Bun B
Nationality: American
Zodiac: Pisces
Siblings: 1 brother
Children: 2 stepchildren
Partner/Spouse: Angela Wells
Most Successful: Songs Big Pimipn’, Int’l Players Anthem
Net Worth: $4 million
Social Media: @bunb
Awards:
- 1 Grammy nomination
- 1 ASCAP Award
- 1 MTV VMA
Last Updated: 8/21/2022

Bun B Birthplace

Bun B was born on March 19th, 1973, at Houston Hospital, although he later moved to Port Arthur, which is where he spent the majority of his childhood.

Bun B Parents

Bun B was born in Houston and lived there until the 5th grade after his parents divorced. His father worked for the railroad, but Bun mainly lived with his mother after they split up.

His father dropped out of school in 6th grade to help his family, and his mother dropped out in 10th grade. They were both from small towns in Louisiana and came from impoverished families, so they had to leave school young to work and help make ends meet.

Bun B Early Life

After his parents divorced, Bun B’s quality of life changed dramatically. He went from living in a two-parent household to being raised by a single mother. He also went from living in a large industrial city like Houston to living in the small, rural town of Port Arthur, where he experienced more racism.

His family used to call him bunny, a nickname that eventually turned into Bunny B; as he got older, he changed it to Bun B, which became his stage name when he began making music.

In Port Arthur, he was introduced to Chad Butler, aka Pimp C, who would later become his musical partner. Both were interested in music and bonded over their shared love of hip hop.

After graduating from high school, they wanted to start releasing their own music but didn’t have the money to finance studio time and marketing. So, they began selling drugs to finance their rap careers, picking up product in Houston and then taking it to Port Arthur to sell.

Houston was also the center of Texas hip hop at the time, thanks to Rap-a-lot Records. So, they would make trips to network and build connections in the music industry while hustling to support their lifestyle.

Bun B Professional Career

Founding UGK

Bun B and Pimp C founded UGK in 1987. Pimp C originally made a demo tape with his friend called “Underground King,” which did not feature Bun B.

Bun was also working on a group called PA Militia with his friend Jalon Jackson. Both groups decided to join forces and become the 4 Black Ministers, but Pimp and Bun eventually went their own way to form UGK.

Their early music caught the attention of a record store owner in Houston named Bigtyme. They were at the flea market where Bigtyme’s store was located and saw that he was accepting demos.

They didn’t have their music on them then, so they decided to drive back to Port Arthur to grab their demos, then return to Houston to show them to BigTyme. He was so impressed by their sound and hustle that he decided to offer them a deal on his independent label, Bigtyme Records.

They released their first EP on BigTyme records, The Southern Way. The project was only released on cassette tape but still managed to attract the attention of Jive Records, who signed the group to a deal in 1992.

Too Hard to Swallow & Super Tight

After they signed to Jive, they began working on their debut album, Too Hard to Swallow. But many songs they made were considered too explicit to be released on a major label. So ahead of the album, they released an EP called Banned on BigTyme Records, which features the four tracks that were not allowed on their major label debut.

Too Hard to Swallow was released on November 10th, 1992. Although it received little attention from critics, the song Pocket Full of Stones was their first song to receive major radio play in the US, and the remix was featured on the soundtrack to the cult film Menace II Society.

Although rough around the edges, Too Hard to Swallow is a classic Southern rap record that showcased the raw yet charismatic style that characterized UGK.

They followed up with their second album Super Tight in 1994. It was UGK’s first project to make it into the Billboard Hot 200 and peaked at 95.

The album was entirely produced by Pimp C with help from DJ DMD and featured appearances from guitarist Leo Nocentelli from the Meters as a session musician. This project showed UGK beginning to refine their sound and find a style they could dominate.

Ridin Dirty

The group returned with their 3rd studio album, Ridin Dirty, in 1996, which became their best-selling album to date and peaked at number 15 on Billboard. Ridin Dirty is my favorite UGK album. Pimp C’s production is smooth and hard-hitting, and both rappers have eloquence and chemistry unlike anything else in rap at the time.

Songs like Diamonds and Wood or One Day are classic UGK records that have stood the test of time. While not on the radar of most rap critics back then, the album has since been acknowledged as a classic Southern rap album.

But despite the album’s success, the group would take a five-year hiatus from releasing music. They returned in 2000 with the biggest single of their career, Big Pimpin, featuring Jay-Z.

The crossover hit exposed UGK to an entirely new audience and renewed interest in the group. The same year, UGK was featured on the classic Three 6 Mafia track, Sippin on Some Syrup, which became an iconic record for both groups.

So, eight years into their career, UGK was experiencing a sudden resurgence. Their label was quick to capitalize on the sudden success, and the group released their fourth album, Dirty Money, in 2001.

But despite the group’s popularity, the album wasn’t as successful as Ridin Dirty. While certainly not a bad album, it isn’t as strong as some of UGK’s early releases.

Solo Career

In 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison over an aggravated gun charge, which put UGK on an indefinite hiatus. During this time, Bun began working on building his solo career.

He appeared as a featured guest on songs like They Don’t Know by Paul Wall and Gimme That by Webbie. He also dropped a mixtape in 2005 called Legends and followed up not long after with his first solo album Trill.

The album’s name refers to the slang word the group created, a portmanteau of the words true and real. The album featured guests’ appearances from Jay-Z, Mannie Fresh, Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Scarface, and other legends, and peaked at number 6 on Billboard.

The project is a great addition to Bun B’s catalog and proved that he could hold his own as a solo artist.

UGK Reunites

Not long after the album’s release, Pimp C was let out of prison, and UGK reunited. They released their fourth project, Underground Kingz, in 2007, a double album that featured guest appearances from legends like Too Short, Big Daddy Kane, and Kool G Rap, as well as contemporaries like Outkast, Rick Ross, and Three 6 Mafia.

The album featured the hit single Int’l Playaz Anthem featuring Outkast, which was nominated for a Grammy and won video of the year at the BET awards.

Although, in my opinion, the album is a bit bloated and has a sleeker, more commercial sound than some of their earlier work, Underground Kingz is still a solid album that features some of UGK’s most iconic hits.

Sadly, not long after the release of Underground Kings, Pimp C would pass away due to complications related to his sleep apnea and a lifelong addiction to codeine cough syrup. His death would officially end UGK, although they released one more project, UGK 4 Life, in 2009.

Ill Trill, Trill OG, and Trill OG the Epilogue

After the death of Pimp C, Bun B officially embarked on a full-time solo career. He released the film Ill Trill in 2008, featuring appearances from Lil Wayne, Young Buck, Lupe Fiasco, and many more. The subject matter on the album dealt heavily with political issues and the recent death of his friend and collaborator, Pimp C.

He followed up with his 3rd solo album, Trill OG, in 2010. The album was a critical and commercial success, peaking at number four on Billboard and earning a rare five mics in a review in the Source magazine.

Trill OG is my favorite Bun B solo album, and it shows an older, wiser artist who has taken years to refine his sound. He also shows love to the younger generation with appearances from Drake and T-Pain and fallen legends like Pimp C and 2pac.

Bun B released a follow-up project called Trill OG: The Epilogue three years later. The project included the hit single Fire with Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, and Serrani, which did well commercially. While not entirely on the same level as the original Trill OG, the Epilogue is still a sold project with some memorable moments.

He also released an album called Return of the Trill in 2018, featuring appearances from Lil Wayne, Run the Jewels, and TI.

Outside of music, Bun B also taught a course at Rice University on hip hop and religion and released his own coloring book with author Shea Serrano.

Bun B Videos

Bun B Family

Bun B has been married to his wife, Queenie, since 2003. Queenie has two children from a previous marriage, who Bun has raised. He also has seven step-grandchildren. One of his stepsons is a rapper named Young B, who is part of a group called Youngest N Charge that often opens for Bun B. Bun also has an older brother.

Bun B Dating and Relationship History

Bun B mostly keeps his personal life out of the public eye. He’s been married to Angela Walls, aka Queenie, for almost 20 years and helped raise her two children.

Bun B Controversies

In 2019, Bun B shot an intruder who was trying to break into his home. Around 5:45 pm, someone rang the doorbell, which his wife, Queenie, answered. The suspect was waiting at the front door, armed and wearing a mask.

He demanded valuables and put his gun to Queenie’s head. Bun B heard what was happening and met them in the garage with his gun. The two exchanged gunfire, and Bun ended up hitting him in the shoulder. The intruder later showed up at the hospital, where he was taken into custody by police.

Bun B Net Worth and Career Earnings

Bun B has a net worth of around $4 million. He has a long catalog of music that includes six albums with UGK and five solo albums. He also makes money touring, selling merchandise, and doing guest appearances. Plus, he’s a frequent lecturer and professor a Rice University.

Bun B Discography

With UGK

1992 – Too Hard to Swallow
1994 – Super Tight
1996 – Ridin Dirty
2001 – Dirty Money
2007 – Underground Kingz
2009 – UGK 4 Life

As a Solo Artist

2005 – Trill
2008 – Il Trill
2010 – Trill OG
2013 – Trill OG: The Epilogue
2018 – Return of the Trill

Bun B FAQs

Question: How Did Bun B Meet Pimp C?

Answer: Bun B and Pimp C grew up together in Port Arthur, Texas. They knew each other before they were officially introduced because Pimp C was well known in the community, and Bun B quickly became the class clown when his family moved to town.

They eventually met and bonded over their shared love of music and began rapping together with some of their friends.

Question: Where is Bun B From?

Answer: Bun B was born in Houston but raised mostly in Port Arthur, Texas, a small town about 90 minutes away. During his early career, he frequently made the trip to Houston because it was the epicenter of Texas rap at the time.

Part of the success of UGK was that they brought a more country flare to an urban style of music that set them apart from their contemporaries, which was inspired by their childhoods in Port Arthur.

Question: Is Bun B Still in UGK

Answer: No, UGK officially disbanded after the death of Pimp C in December 2007. While Bun still reps UGK and often includes old Pimp C verses on his albums, the group is no longer active.

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