Drake is saluting his OG, hitting Instagram, and wishing Houston legend Bun B a cheerful birthday.
“My actual household and a real mentor,” Drake wrote. “All the time confirmed up for me and introduced me into his world for a pat on the again or a actuality verify or some good ol sport. …There’s just one Bun B MORE LIFE.”
Hip Hop historical past wouldn’t be the identical with out Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, one-half of the legendary duo UGK (Underground Kingz) and a lyrical power who helped form Southern rap. Born on this present day in 1973, Bun B has spent many years delivering uncooked, unfiltered bars that bridge the hole between underground grit and mainstream attraction.
As one among Texas’ most interesting, Bun B’s legacy is rooted in UGK’s contributions to the sport. Alongside the late Pimp C, he put Port Arthur on the map with basic albums like Too Arduous to Swallow (1992), Ridin’ Soiled (1996), and their self-titled double album Underground Kingz (2007), which turned their first and solely No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Their catalog is stacked with timeless anthems, from the road knowledge of “Pocket Stuffed with Stones” to the sleek storytelling of “One Day”.
After all, Bun B’s affect stretches far past UGK. He cemented his place in rap historical past with the unforgettable “Massive Pimpin’”, a Jay-Z collaboration that turned Southern hip-hop into a world power. The monitor, constructed on Pimp C’s infectious charisma and Bun’s hermetic supply, stays one of many best crossover moments in rap.
Past his UGK classics, Bun B has blessed us with solo warmth and legendary visitor verses. Tracks like “Put It Down” (that includes Drake) confirmed his potential to remain related throughout generations, whereas his Trill sequence (Trill, II Trill, Trill OG) proved he might carry a complete album with out lacking a step. His voice is a staple on options, whether or not buying and selling bars with T.I. on “Entrance Again”, linking with Younger Jeezy on “Entice or Die 2”, or dropping information alongside Ludacris on “Down within the Soiled”.
Bun B’s influence on hip-hop is plain. He’s been a mentor, a gatekeeper for Texas rap, and an envoy for the South’s enduring legacy. Whilst he’s expanded into ventures outdoors of music, from educating at Rice College to his Trill Burgers empire, his presence in hip-hop stays legendary.
On his birthday, we salute Bun B, a real Trill OG whose voice and imaginative and prescient have helped outline Southern rap.
