The music video for JAY-Z’s “Big Pimpin'” featuring UGK is iconic but it almost didn’t happen.
During a conversation with B High ATL, Bun B detailed how the music video for “Big Pimpin'” featuring him and Pimp C came about.
As he’s clarified previously, it took a long time before the artists linked up to work together, with Hov and UGK declining to go from their respective states because of the tense air in hip-hop at that point. Bun said he gave the “best bars I got” to the record, while Pimp C delivered 8-bars “and nothing more,” which Bun described as “8 of the most iconic bars ever.”
“That’s the genius of him, he tried to be the least involved in the record, and became the most important part of the record,” he continued, before divulging the situation with the video. Originally, it was to be shot in Trinidad and Tobago, but Pimp said, “I’m not going to no motherfuckin’ Trinidad to shoot no goddamn video.” After they failed to get him on the plane, they decided to go to Miami for reshoots so that they could include Pimp in the video.
“He showed up in the Benz,” he said of Pimp when they were filming in Miami, noting that he turned up with his girlfriend at the time and he was sporting a Mink coat in 90+ weather. “They’re like, ‘Pimp, you’re really gonna wear this coat?’ Jay-Z was like, ‘My n***a you know it’s hot out here,” he continued. “Pimp looked at him and said, ‘TV ain’t got no temperature.’ And walked off. Jay-Z looked at me and said, ‘Your brother’s a motherfucking star.’”
He also noted that the crew behind the video and Jay’s team expected Pimp to turn up like Bun B, admitting that he’s not very flashy despite his wealth. “Pimp show up with the chains and watch, so they’re thinking Pimp’s gonna show up like me. Pimp showed up like Pimp,.” Bun B said. “I’m wearing regular shit.”
