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Hip-hop artist Bun B recently shared his thoughts on how the city of Houston outperforms other major cities like New York and Los Angeles in supporting its veteran music artists. In a recent episode of Noah Callahan-Bever’s Idea Generation, the UGK rapper emphasized that nowhere else are “old school” artists celebrated with as much fervor as in Houston.
Bun B emphasized the distinctive culture of Houston, a city that stands out in its unwavering support for its veteran music artists. He pointed out that while other big cities may have their fair share of celebrated artists, none of them match the level of support Houston provides.
“Name me a city that celebrates their old school artists like Houston. Nobody. Nobody. No one,” Bun B stated emphatically.
Drawing a comparison with LA, Bun B observed that the city does not celebrate its veteran artists as much as it should. He mentioned prominent artists like Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube as exceptions, while others like DJ Battle Cat and his crew don’t receive due recognition.
The rapper also drew attention to New York, where artists like Big Daddy Kane and Rakim have started receiving love and recognition only recently due to the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.
Bun B highlighted a recent incident at his restaurant, Trill Burgers, to illustrate the difference in Houston’s culture. The restaurant was packed with almost 2000 people who turned up to support the family of Houston rapper Big Pokey, who passed away in June.
“Literally hundreds of people, almost 2,000 people, show up at Trill Burgers yesterday to support Big Pokey’s family to buy the meal and the soda,” Bun explained.
This incident, according to Bun B, exemplifies how Houstonians understand their city and their culture better than others and demonstrate it far better than anyone else.
Bun B also shed light on the fact that despite not releasing new music, artists like him still command a strong fanbase in their city. He gave the example of the Giants Stadium, which he believes could never be filled with people who haven’t had a hit record in 15 years.
Bun B reiterated his belief in the uniqueness of Houston, a city that shows up for its artists like no other. He concluded his interview with Idea Generation by expressing his deep-rooted love for his city and its undying support for its music artists.
