Released: 2006
“Pourin’ Up” by Pimp C is a classic homage to the Southern hip-hop lifestyle – full of opulence, street hustle, and that distinct Texas flavor. It’s an unfiltered slice of the late Pimp C’s life, soaked in luxurious car descriptions, illicit substances, and unwavering confidence.
The chorus – “Smokin’ out, pourin’ up, puttin’ dick up in yo’ slut / All my cars got leather and wood, in my hood we call it buck” – is a defiant embodiment of Pimp C’s world. To “smoke out” and “pour up” refers to consuming marijuana and sipping lean (codeine), which is a common motif in Southern rap. “Putting dick up in yo’ slut” marks sexual conquest, while the luxury described in his cars having leather and wood represents material success. “In my hood, we call it buck” suggests that this kind of flashy, uninhibited lifestyle is highly valued in his community.
When Pimp C says, “grippin’ grain, switchin’ lanes / sellin’ cocaine outta candy thang”, the term “grippin’ grain” refers to driving a car with a woodgrain steering wheel, a common feature in expensive cars. Selling cocaine out of a “candy thang” – a car with a shiny, candy-colored paint job – depicts his hustling past.
The line, “I told the pimp God that you was a sinner / You takin’ these square hoes out to dinner” is a criticism of those who break the unwritten rules of pimp culture. Pimps don’t typically court their women conventionally (like taking them out to dinner); they maintain control and assert dominance. The choice of referring to God here stresses on the unforgivable nature of this act in Pimp C’s eyes.
The verse by Mike Jones, another Southern rapper, further pushes the theme of conspicuous consumption and superiority. His repetition of “I keep it trill like Pimp and Bun / Do hoes bad and leave ’em on the run” declares his adherence to the authentic (or “trill”, meaning true and real) hip-hop lifestyle that’s been championed by UGK, the duo of Pimp C and Bun B.
In the final verse, Pimp C’s pride in his home state of Texas comes through vividly: “I’m from Texas, P.A. to be exact where we screw it man”. The term “screw” here refers to the creation of “chopped and screwed” music, a Houston-originated technique of remixing hip-hop music by slowing the tempo. This solidifies Pimp C’s status as not only a player in the game, but also a major influencer in the genre.
“Pourin’ Up” encapsulates Pimp C’s ethos – a relentless pursuit of wealth, dominance, and autonomy. Even though it embraces controversial themes, it’s an undeniable part of the artist’s legacy that helped shape hip-hop as we know it today.
