American hip-hop is not just a matter of West versus East; as fans will know, Southern rap is huge, and excellent, in its own right.

Someone considered a foremost leader of the scene is Bun B, who, alongside the late Pimp C, formed UGK (Underground Kingz), pioneers of the 1990s’ Dirty South sound, fusing together sounds like trap, gospel rap, and country rap for an altogether unique and utterly desirable offering.

Too Hard to Swallow, the duo’s first major label album, was released in 1992, and UGK enjoyed a series of chart-topping successes for the next few decades, including, but not limited to, International Players Anthem (I Choose You) that debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in 2007.

A year before this aforementioned number one hit, and the tragic death of Pimp C, which concluded UGK – Bun B spoke to The Believer magazine on a variety of subjects, including where he found inspiration.

When asked when what rapper did he wanted to model himself on, Bun B had an easy answer. “At that point, KRS-One,” he replied. “This was really before KRS got…” Insane, the interviewer suggested. “Not insane. But at least contradictory, on certain points.”

“I’ll say insane,” said the interviewer. “You don’t have to say insane.”

“I really don’t want to disrespect the man because the man was great,” Bun B replied. “He’d done many great things before I did. So kudos to that. Just because he had a few bad ideas maybe after the fact, you can’t knock what he’d done before. He is my OG.”

“He’s still my OG. I say this right now to you, and I hope you put it in print. KRS is my OG. Simply because he was the first guy that was like, “Fuck it. I’m a rapper. I’m in the hood. Me and my homies got guns, but you know what? I’m not ignorant. This is a personal choice some of us have made, and as soon as we can get away from it we will.” Like Andre [3000] said, every cat with braids ain’t down for the cause. You know what I’m saying?”

The author of the Gospel of Hip-Hop, which makes the argument that hip-hop is a spiritual movement, and never afraid to speak his revolutionary ideas, KRS-One has made several comments throughout his career to warrant the word ‘insane’ being attached to his reputation. In 2004, the rapper behind hit Sound of da Police and part of the critically acclaimed Boogie Down Productions was met with controversy for saying “we cheered when 9/11 happened”, and clarified on an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity’s America that he was referring to the establishment, not the individual people who had died.

Bun B is not alone in revering KRS-One as a legend. The Bronx-born rapper was awarded the Bronx Walk of Fame in 2001, alongside two BET Hip Hop Awards, including the 2007 ‘Lifetime Achievement’, and the Urban Music Awards’ Living Legend Award in 2009.