Bun B Brushes Off 50 Cent Snub, Admits Teaching Lil' Wayne How To Rap

written by Janeé Bolden
Tuesday - May 20, 2008 - SOHH.com
Bun B of UGK

With the release of Bun B's sophomore solo album today, SOHH chopped it up with the UGK emcee to discuss his role in Lil' Wayne's career, why he doesn't take 50 Cent's comments about southern artists personally, and what to expect from his new album, II Trill.

The Port Arthur, TX rapper told SOHH that his new CD is all about continuing the conversation with the streets that he and his deceased rhyme partner Pimp C initiated on their last UGK project, Underground Kingz.

"It's about keeping a real conversation with the hood," Bun B told SOHH. "Everybody is really just letting the hood be seen how they want to be seen and telling them what they want to hear. Nobody is keeping it all the way 100. That was the message on Underground Kingz and it extends into the II Trill album."

II Trill features appearances from Pimp C, Rick Ross, David Banner, 8Ball & MJG, Lyfe Jennings, Young Buck, Mya and Chamillionaire, as well as Lil' Wayne. Wayne recently paid homage to Bun in a Blender interview by adding him to his top 5 rappers of all time. "I was never into 'Pac," Wayne told Blender. "I always listen to Bun, though. That man taught me how to rap."

Turns out Weezy was being literal. Bun broke down to SOHH his involvement in guiding the self proclaimed best rapper alive.

"I would never have been bold enough to say it, but I'm not gonna act like it's not partially true," Bun said of Weezy. "The reality of the fact is Baby and I are good friends, he started working with Wayne when he was 13 and the first thing he asked me was, what could we do to make sure this kid turns into a great artist, because he was very good at that age. I gave him a few pieces of advice, I'd give him words of encouragement and some direction content wise."

"I watched him in the studio and helped guide his path and direction as far as work ethic and what to concentrate on constructing songs and working on his lyricism," he added.

"[Yet] At the end of the day I can't take credit for Lil' Wayne at all, he's definitely a self made man," he revealed.

Bun also responded to the recent outcry over 50 Cent's comments about Southern rappers on "106 & Park," - where the G-Unit rapper said no one in the South was as big as he. Bun chalks up the remarks as 50 attempting to be controversial.

"I know 50 Cent very well... and he is gonna say whatever he needs to say and do whatever he needs to do to make sure attention is paid to 50 Cent," Bun said. "It's only smart business. He's going to say things that's gonna ruffle people's feathers. I don't take it personally at all. Not one word of it."

Bun also encouraged UGK fans to show their support for the family of late partner Pimp C by continuing to purchase UGK music. He told SOHH that fans can expect a new UGK album in the fourth quarter of this year.