Hip-hop artist Bun B will take his "Religion and Hip Hop" college course online next month, due to popular demand.
The rapper has taught the class at Rice University since 2011 with religion professor Anthony B Pinn, and it will now be offered for free to university students.
Bun B and the late Pimp C formed the rap duo UGK (Underground Kingz), widely considered one of the best southern rap groups of all time. UGK was a Grammy-nominated group best known for their hit "International Players Anthem," and appearances on Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin" and Three Six Mafia's "Sippin' on Some Syrup."
Pimp C, real name Chad Butler, passed away in December 2007 from a drug overdose of promethazine and codeine, referred to as "syrup" or "sizzurp."
Bun B, whose real name is Bernard Freeman, began his rap career nearly 30 years ago, and draws comparisons between hip-hop and religion in the 300-level course.
"What is religion? What is Hip-Hop? Are they the same thing?" the course's description reads. "Do they overlap?
"Over six weeks we'll get a sense of how some individuals answer these questions, and you'll get the tools you need to explore these questions for yourselves."
"This course gave me the opportunity to let people see a side of Hip Hop that isn't always discussed," the 41-year-old explained. "We've started a conversation that cannot end until people have a better understanding of who we are and what we do."
Guest speakers in "Religion and Hip Hop" include rappers Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, and No Malice, formerly of The Clipse. The course begins on March 24.
