Pimp C Died of Overdose, Coroner said

The influential rapper, Pimp C, died of an accidental overdose of codeine and promethazine.

Pimp C died in early December 2007 of an accidental overdoes according to Captain Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

He cited that Promethazine/Codeine syrup and sleep apnea were factors involved in the untimely death of Pimp C, whose birth name is Chad Butler. Sleep apnea was a pre-existing health condition of Butler.

Promethazine/Codeine are key ingredients in "syrup," which has been a narcotic of choice in Southern rap circles . It is popularly known by Three 6 Mafia and Pimp C's group Underground Kingz in the 2000 single " Sippin' on some Syrup."

The 33 year old was found on (12/4) at an upscale hotel in West Hollywood. Chad “Pimp C” Butler formed the UGK duo with his friend Bernard "Bun B" Freeman while in high school. In 1992 they signed a record deal with Jive Records.

Their success really took off in 1996 with the original song Ridin' Dirty from their second album “Super Tight”.

However, in 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for poorly failing to complete a community service requirement which stemmed from an aggravated assault charge. During Pimp C time in prison, he released a solo album The Sweet James Jones Stories.

DJ Screw, who was an influential figure in the Texas hip-hop scene, also pasted away in 2000 of a heart attack after dosing on codeine-laced cough syrup.