UGK (an abbreviation for Underground Kingz) consisted of Bun B and the late Pimp C. They began their career in 1992, when they released their first EP, The Southern Way, as well as their first album, Too Hard To Swallow. In 1994, UGK released Super Tight, which broke the Billboard Hot 200.

In 1996, they released their Southern classic, Ridin' Dirty, which is their best album to date. With this new-found success, UGK recorded another album, Dirty Money, but was held up by Jive Records and failed to gain any sort of attention. Shortly after, in 2002, Pimp C was sent to jail for aggravated gun assault, and was in there until 2005. By the time Pimp C was released, UGK had plenty of buzz. Finally, after 6 years, UGK released Underground Kingz, a dual disc album. It reached number one on the Billboard charts and was a commercial and critical success. However, the success was cut short when Pimp C died in December 2007 due to an overdose of codeine/promethazine. Bun B completed their last project alone (though Pimp C recorded the majority of his part before he died). UGK 4 Life was released in 2009, marking the final UGK album.