Bun B

Bernard James Freeman, known professionally as Bun B, was born on March 19, 1973, in Houston, Texas. He moved to Port Arthur at age 12, where he co-founded the Southern rap duo UGK (Underground Kingz) with Pimp C (Chad Butler) in 1987. The group initially formed with others before solidifying as UGK, and they gained early attention with an extended play, “The Southern Way,” leading to a deal with Jive Records. Their music, characterized by swaggering, twangy rap with blues and gospel elements, played a significant role in defining Southern hip-hop. UGK released albums such as “Too Hard to Swallow,” “Super Tight,” and the highly successful “Ridin’ Dirty,” which peaked at number 2 on the R&B Charts in 1996 and number 15 on the Billboard 200. Their national recognition increased after appearing on Jay-Z’s “Big Pimpin’” in 2000, and their eponymous album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2007.

Bun B embarked on a solo career after Pimp C’s incarceration in 2002, making guest appearances on numerous albums and releasing his debut solo album, “Trill,” in October 2005. “Trill” reached number 6 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Following Pimp C’s passing in 2007, Bun B continued his solo work, releasing “II Trill” in 2008, which debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 98,000 copies. His third album, “Trill OG,” released in 2010, notably received a rare 5-mic rating from The Source magazine. He continued to release solo projects, including “Trill OG: The Epilogue” in 2013, which contained tracks from previous recording sessions and featured various artists. In 2014, he launched “The Trillest Tour” with Kirko Bangz.

Beyond music, Bun B has expanded into various entrepreneurial and academic endeavors. He became a Distinguished Lecturer at Rice University in 2011, teaching a course on Hip-hop and Religion. In 2013, he co-authored “Bun B’s Rap Coloring Book” with Shea Serrano. More recently, he established Trill Burgers, which began as pop-ups and opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Houston in 2023. Trill Burgers gained national recognition, including being named ‘best burger in America.’ Bun B continues to collaborate with various brands, organize musical showcases at events like the Houston Rodeo, and is recognized as a cultural figure in Houston, often referred to as its unofficial mayor.