Bun B

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Bernard James Freeman (born March 19, 1973),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> known professionally as Bun B, is an American rapper. He is best known as one half of the Southern rap duo UGK (Underground Kingz), which he formed in 1987 alongside Pimp C. Aside from his work with UGK, Bun B has released five solo albums, including 2010's Trill OG, which received the rare 5-mic rating from The Source.<ref name=source>Template:Cite web</ref>

Life and career

UGK

Template:Main In the late 1980s, Pimp C started the rap duo UGK. He first released a demo tape titled "Underground King" which didn't feature Bun B on the track. Instead, it featured Pimp C's friend Mitchell Queen. Bun B and friend Jalon Jackson had their own group called P.A. Militia. Both groups joined forces and formed the group 4 Black Ministers. Queen and Jackson later left the group leaving Pimp C and Bun B so they decided to revert to UGK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The demo Pimp C recorded with Mitchell Queen, Underground King, caught the attention of an independent label in Houston called Bigtyme Records. They then released an extended play titled The Southern Way. The release of this record caught the attention of Jive Records. While recording their debut album, Too Hard to Swallow, many of the songs had content too explicit for the album, so Bigtyme Records released an extended play titled Banned before the album was released, including all the songs that were too explicit for Too Hard to Swallow.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song "Pocket Full of Stones" became the first UGK song to get major airplay throughout the United States. Their second album, Super Tight..., followed in 1994. Their third album, Ridin' Dirty, peaked at number 2 on the R&B Charts in 1996, and at number 15 on the Billboard 200. After releasing their fourth studio album, Dirty Money, Pimp C got sentenced to jail.<ref name="allmusic2012">Template:Cite web</ref>

Trill and beginning of solo career

Template:Main When Bun B's UGK partner, the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler, entered a jail sentence on an aggravated gun assault charge in 2002, Bun B made guest appearances on numerous albums by other rappers and released a 2005 mixtape titled Legends.<ref name="Allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> Singles featuring a Bun B guest appearance included "They Don't Know" by Paul Wall, "Gimme That" by Webbie and "I'm A G" by Yung Joc. Bun B also appeared in a documentary titled Screwed In Houston produced by VBS/Vice that details the history of the Houston rap scene.

In October 2005, Bun B's debut solo album Trill was released.<ref name="New Releases">Template:Cite news</ref> Singles included "Draped Up",<ref name="New Releases" /> "Git It", and "Get Throwed".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The album peaked at the number 6 spot on the American Billboard 200 chart and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

II Trill

Template:Main After Pimp C died in 2007, Bun B returned to a solo career. In 2008, he released his second album, II Trill.<ref name="Allmusic" /> The first single was "That's Gangsta" featuring Jamaican American artist Sean Kingston. It debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 98,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Other singles were "Damn I'm Cold" featuring Lil Wayne and "You're Everything" featuring Rick Ross, David Banner, DJ Corbett and 8Ball & MJG, the latter of which was dedicated to the late Pimp C.

Trill OG

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File:Bun B's Set @ The Loft, Atlanta (cropped).jpg
Bun B performing in 2008

Bun B's third album is Trill OG. In an interview with MTV Live, Bun B stated that 2Pac was set to feature on the album, claiming "It's a brand new verse."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was released under Universal Music Group<ref>Paine, Jake, "Bun B Moves From Asylum To Universal Music Group, Still With Rap-A-Lot," Feb. 27, 2010 Template:Webarchive, accessed December 20, 2010.</ref> on August 3, 2010.<ref>Hanna, Mitchell, "Tuesday Rap Release Dates,"hiphopdx.com, May 18, 2010 Template:Webarchive, accessed December 20, 2010.</ref>

Trill OG: The Epilogue

Template:Main On October 28, 2011, a song titled "The Life" and produced by 14KT was leaked. On March 3, 2012, Bun B leaked a song featuring Royce da 5'9" and Redman titled "Stop Playin'" after he reached 400,000 followers on Twitter. He has not announced the song's appearance on his upcoming album<ref>Bun B "The Life [Prod. 14KT]" Template:Webarchive, accessed October 28, 2011.</ref>

File:Bun B (2013) (cropped).jpg
Bun B performing in 2013

His fourth studio album was rumored to be titled, Trill 4 Life and scheduled for a 2013 release.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On August 22, 2013, Rap-A-Lot Records revealed that his Sony distributed fourth studio album will be released in October 2013. The album is to feature guest appearances from Rick Ross and 2 Chainz.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On October 4, 2013, the album was then officially announced to be titled Trill OG: The Epilogue and be released on November 12, 2013. The album was revealed to contain primarily leftover tracks from the Trill O.G. recording sessions. It was also confirmed to feature Pimp C, 2 Chainz, Rick Ross, Lil Boosie, Kirko Bangz, Big K.R.I.T., Raekwon, Z-Ro and Devin The Dude.<ref name="rapradar.com">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Bun B announced "The Trillest Tour" in January 2014. On January 30, the Houston native revealed the tour dates, where he was accompanied by fellow Houston native Kirko Bangz. The tour ran from March 6 until April 17, 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2025, Freeman provided skits on JackBoys and Travis Scott's second compilation album JackBoys 2.

Other ventures

Awards

On June 24, 2014, Bun B made a guest appearance to the Htown Beatdown concert hosted by local radio station Hot 95.7. He was awarded the 360 Legend Award for his successful music career and his impact on the local community.

Teaching

At the start of the Spring 2011 semester, Bun B joined the faculty of Rice University as a Distinguished Lecturer. He taught a course in the School of the Humanities on Hip hop and Religion.<ref name="AOL Music">Alexis, Nadeska, "Bun B to Teach Hip-Top and Religion Class at Rice University," 2010-06-22, Theboombox.com, accessed December 20, 2010.</ref> Into 2013 Bun B continues to teach the course twice a week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Coloring book

On September 17, 2013, Freeman released a coloring book titled "Bun B's Rap Coloring Book" along with author Shea Serrano. Freeman and Serrano had previously talked about working together to make a book. At first they agreed on a "hip hop survival guide", but both agreed against the project. Later on, Serrano drew coloring pages of rappers that he posted on Tumblr. The pages quickly went viral. Freeman and Serrano then decided to make a whole coloring book.<ref name="Rolling Stone – Rap Coloring book">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Trill Burgers

Bun B opened up Trill Burgers located on South Shepherd and Richmond Avenue in Houston, Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Bun B has been married to Angela "Queenie" Wells since 2003 and has two stepchildren and seven step-grandchildren.<ref name="urblife.com">Template:Cite web</ref> His stepson is American rapper Young-B, who is a member of the rap group Youngest N Charge, which is Bun B's opening act.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Since 2013, he has been a guest lecturer at Houston's Rice University.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On April 24, 2019, Bun B shot an armed intruder who was attempting to rob his Houston home. The intruder fled on foot. The suspect, DeMonte Jackson, was taken into custody by Houston police after arriving at the hospital.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Discography

Template:Main Template:See also Studio albums

Collaborative albums

  • TrillStatik (with Statik Selektah) (2019)
  • Mo Trill (with Cory Mo) (2022)
  • TrillStatik 2 (with Statik Selektah) (2022)
  • TrillStatik 3 (with Statik Selektah) (2023)
  • TrillStatik 4 (with Statik Selektah) (2024)

Filmography

References

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