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US rapper Pimp C died of an accidental overdose of a combination of drugs he had named in his lyrics - codeine and promethazine, the county coroner's office has ruled. The drugs are key ingredients in "syrup", a narcotic of choice in Southern rap circles that was most famously celebrated by Three 6 Mafia and Pimp C's group Underground Kingz in the 2000 single Sippin' on some Syrup.
The coroner's office said Pimp C had sleep apnoea, which causes people to stop breathing for up to 30 seconds at a time while sleeping. That dysfunction combined with large amounts of prescription-strength cough syrup is what killed the rapper, the coroner says.
Pimp C, born Chad Butler, was 33 when found in his bed on December 4 at the upscale Mondrian hotel in West Hollywood.
