Coroner: Pimp C Died of Prescription Complications

Contrary to surfacing reports of overdose, The Los Angeles Country Coroner's Office ruled late Monday that rapper/producer Chad "Pimp C" Butler died accidentally in December due to mixing medication for sleep apnea with prescribed Promethazine, a type of cough syrup. "He did not overdose," coroner Ed Winters told The LA Weekly.

Although no word has been given if Pimp C was legally issued the Promethazine, which is similar to Codeine and used for extreme bouts of coughing and food poisoning, it has been reported that he was living with sleep apnea, a condition that leaves one's breathing stopped during sleep.

On December 4, Pimp C was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room [click here] less than two days after performing alongside friend, collaborator and longtime label-mate Too $hort at Los Angeles' House of Blues. Earlier in 2007, UGK had their best first week of sales ever, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for the Outkast-assisted, Three-6-Mafia-produced single "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)."

UGK partner Bun B is presently at work on II Trill, his second solo album, which is said to feature a Pimp C tribute song.