Chad Butler, better known to the world as Pimp C, was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room this week. With partner Bun B, they made up UGK (Underground Kingz), one of the groups largely responsible for the ascendance of Houston rap into the mainstream. The group achieved regional success in the early Nineties with hits like “Something Good” and “Pocket Full of Stones” and had their first big crossover appearance in 2000, on Jay-Z‘s hit “Big Pimpin‘.” This year’s UGK and Outkast collaboration, the Willie Hutch-sampling “International Players Anthem,” won our vote for best hip-hop song of the year the day it was released. The cause of death is not yet determined, but our best goes out to Butler’s family and friends. For more on UGK, check out these clips from a documentary about the group.

View “International Players Anthem” here: