Business as usual

With his partner and friend Pimp C in jail, Bun B has no choice but to put out a solo album. The Texas town rapper, who rose to fame as half of the lengendary southern duo UGK, has recently appeared on records with the likes of Lil' Jon, Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z just to name a few. Yet, with all these collaborations in his midst, there is only one person Bun B truly wishes to be working with…but until his time is up, Bun B is working hard to hold it down alone.

Chocolate recently caught up with Bun B to find how he’s handling life without Pimp and what to expect from his upcoming solo debut Trill.

What was the biggest difference in putting together your solo project?
Everything. It was a whole new process from start to finish. I did everything before with two people in mind and this time I did it with one. The total reworking of music and recording, you know, interplay with other artists and what not. Everything was brand new. It was a completely different process.

You rapped on the Ying Yang twins album about Pimp C being in jail, are there any songs on your album dedicated to him?

No cause, every rhyme I’ve written has said something about Pimp being in jail, so I don’t really need to.


How often do you talk to him?
I can go see him once a month--once every two months. We correspond through letters, I holla at him through the radio all the time.

Even though you had already been in the game for years, many people say your appearance on Jay-Z’s 2003 summer hit Big Pimpin’ was a turning point in your career, do you agree?

Yeah, it was turning point, it definitely had its advantages - Grammy nominations and stuff like that, but I don’t sit around and question everything. God will take everything, so I just do what I do and keep moving.

You’ve already worked with Lil’ Jon, Beanie Siegel, Scarface, TI, Pitbull, Nas, Jadakiss, Mannie Fresh, Three Six Mafia, what was your favorite collaboration thus far?

Probably the song I did with Pimp C. They were all beneficial to me, but that’s like asking which one of my children was cuter. I’ve never understood that, I’d hate to think that one of my kids was better than the other. And honestly the best collaboration, I probably haven’t recorded it yet.

What’s your biggest regret about your Jive records deal?
No regrets. I don't regret anything.

You wouldn’t do anything differently?
Nothing.

What’s it like being on rap-a-lot compared to Jive?

I’m more a part of the process and I don’t have to worry about what people are doing when I’m not around.

When can we expect the first video?
We just shot it in Houston just showing the hood. See with me we don’t any pre-planned, we just cut the cameras on and rolled around to just see what’s going on in the hood.

How are you helping out the victims of Hurricane Katrina that have relocated to Houston?
We’re trying to facilitate those people as best we can, we have a shelter, we’re personally taking care of 200 people, the problem is scheduling is backed up. But as far as major MTV benefits or whatever, I don’t get invited to stuff like that.

Why do you think people have been so resistant to Southern Music?
I think that the media perpetuated that, I don’t really think it was the fans. I think it was the industry. Once the fans got a hold of it, it was all good.

You and Pimp C are often credited with putting southern music on the mainstream radar. Now there seems to be a sort of southern takeover, how does it feel to see artist like Young Jeezy and T.I. coming out of the south and really doing their thing, and know that you helped pave the way?
I think to an extent we helped, and if I have been a part of their success, I feel great about it.

After being in the game so long, what are you looking for now, you’ve got respect, do you still want stardom?
No, not at all, I’m perfectly happy. A lot of money would be nice. I’m fine with my stardom but I could use a lot more money.
Leigh Davenport

Giving up is so very hard to do

I've seen a couple really bad movies in the last week. One was an advance screening of In the Mix, the new movie starring Usher, the other was G, some movie starring dude from Judging Amy and Blair Underwood. Honestly in my bad movie meter, these two films were probably two of the worst movies I've ever seen, but still I sat through them both. Yes, I did think about leaving, just getting up and walking out, I knew the movies weren't going to get any better. But I couldn't. For some reason I had to sit there and ride it out. I knew the endings would be deeply disappointing but still, I sat there waiting until the very end. I was horrified by both endings, Usher got married to the Italian chick and started doing the re-run at his wedding, in G, the stupid main character woman got shot, and actually that was oddly fufilling. Regardless, I got up left the theater disappointed, (more so about G since I paid to see it) and both times a bit emotionally upset. And though I am thoroughly disturbed that people waste millions of dollars on movies that should never make past the paper shredder, I think I was more disappointed in myself for staying through the whole thing. So my question is, why is it so hard to give up?

Good one. Why, when you know something is bad, has been bad, is going to continue to be bad, is it still so hard to just finally suck it up and quit it. Walk out, ask for your money, heart, or self-respect back from whoever stole it, and just leave. Close the door, end the chapter, let it ride.

With the movie, it's because I really want to give it, it's full opportunity to at least make 25 cents of my 10 dollars worth it. With, work, relationships, love, etc, I think it's because giving up people, situations, things is almost like personal failure. It hurts as much to truly give up on people, as it does to not give up on them and allow them to damage your life. It's sad, I think, when you realize you can't save someone, you can't save your job, you can't save your friendship, you can't save the movie. You just have to acknowledge it directly and give up on it. It's not going to get better, no matter how long you stay there watching it. Why is it so hard to realize that the ending is going to suck, whether you see it or not.

ALEXANDER

Today I realized I was an adult. NO--not because I just turned 22, but because I had a bad day. And not just a regular bad day. I had a bad ADULT day. How so you ask? Let me explain. Everything that happened on my bad day today were things that would have never constituted a bad day just 6 months ago. For example, I got upset over a work assignment, my internet isn't working at home and they can't send someone to fix it for two weeks, my landlord cashed my rent check on the 25th of the month, another co-worker did something wrong and tried to blame it on me. Now no, these aren't big things I know but the pattern is that they are all very adult. I couldn't believe it, I was having a bad adult day, a day that was ruined because of work, bills, and housework. I'm only 22...somebody tell me this isn't happening. I never thought i'd miss the bad days that were bad because the chapter was in trouble, or my boyfriend was late to pick me up, or my Professor gave a pop quiz...but those seem like walks in the park compared to the day I had today.

My First Homecoming

I knew I had to go, I just didn't realize how great it would be. It was my birthday on the day of homecoming. All I had to do was stand still and I was having fun. It was special, so special that writing about it won't do it justice.

So funny things that happened at Homecoming.
1. I bought a birthday dress that costs as much as my weekly pay check.
2. I got pulled over on the way to and from my birthday party.
3. I was in the front of the line.
4. She came with my line sister.
5. Fritz's hair was blond.
6. I volunteered to pay at a party.
7. I drove a car for the first time in 6 months.
8. The tailgate reminded me of the Bayou Classic.
9. Tiffany and I knew all the words to crucial conflict.
10. I didn't care that we lost the step show.
11. I secretly wished I still lived in Atlanta.
12. I cried when my plane left Hartsfield.
13. My prophytes were SOOOOOOOOO nice.
14. My cell phone was off the ENTIRE weekend.
15. The plane ride home looked like I was in ADW class.
16. George said it best (u know what i'm talking about)
17. Mercer bought the bar.