Bun B speaks onstage during RodeoHouston at NRG Stadium on March 12, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for Crown Royal
Bun B says he pressured the Houston Rodeo to book another Black artist for Black Heritage Night in 2024 after concerns there would be no other Black performer at the rodeo that year.
Houston rap great and Trill Burgers owner and operator Bun B capped off another successful stint at the rodeo this year even without an appearance on the star-shaped stage. Black Heritage Night, which became almost synonymous with the Trill OG after Bun’s run of shows, welcomed Houston native Lizzo to the stage, ending his run of successful takeovers.
Article continues below this ad
Bun B’s takeovers brought rosters of curated artists from all over to the Houston Rodeo. From Juvenile to Drake, fans anticipated what acts Bun B would be bringing out year after year.
On OkayPlayers’ YouTube series The Almanac of Rap, which dropped Thursday, Bun B discussed the rodeo and his Black Heritage Night performances, including why he dropped out in 2024.
“One year I didn’t perform on Black Heritage Night, and I’ll tell you why.” Bun B said in the interview. “When we did the rodeo the first year, we assimilated everybody and put on the whole show. I was like, ‘This is amazing,’ and we never thought we would do it again.”
Bun B’s first Black Heritage Night Rodeo Takeover featured one of the greatest H-Town concerts ever, bringing out all of the Houston legends for a special night celebrating the city’s rap history. It was the beginning of Bun B’s highly sought after rodeo appearances, with each successive appearance garnering more and more hype. A second stint was a surprise to the Houston legend but also came with concerns.
Article continues below this ad
“Then the next year they called and asked if we would do it again, and I asked if I can be moved off of Black Heritage Night, and they asked me why,” Bun B said. “I said, ‘Because I feel like if I’m on Black Heritage Night, you’re not gonna book anyone else Black.'”
Bun B performs his H-Town Takeover concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Friday, March 11, 2022, at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer
Bun B explained the rodeo pushed back on that notion but also said they wouldn’t know who else to book because his night was so successful the prior year. He ended up accepting Black Heritage Night for the second straight year, this time inviting southern rap greats like Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, 8Ball & MJG for his Southern Takeover. The following year, Bun B says he put his foot down to force the rodeo into booking another Black artist in addition to himself.
“The third year I demanded to not be put on Black Heritage Day so they would be forced to book another Black artist at the rodeo,” Bun B revealed. “Because of that, they gave me the worst-selling night at the rodeo, which is the Thursday night during Spring Break.”
Article continues below this ad
A Houston rodeo statement to Chron noted that the lineup is “carefully curated” each year to balance new talent, returning favorites and schedules, among other considerations.
“The Rodeo has proudly included various black artists in our lineups, including Lizzo and Shaboozey in 2026, among others,” the statement said.
The 2024 Houston Rodeo’s Black Heritage Night featured New York rap great and Houston resident 50 Cent as its headliner. Bun B explained how his show wasn’t expected to sell as well since families are doing other things during Spring Break.
Bun B’s brief Black Heritage Day break year also featured its most hyped set of guest stars, which were dwarfed by the presence of headliner Drake. At the time, the show set the record for the second-highest-selling rodeo concert, selling over 75,000 tickets.
Article continues below this ad
In 2025, Bun B returned to Black Heritage Night with his R&B takeover that featured different generations of R&B favorites like Keith Sweat, Jagged Edge and Coco Jones. In 2026, Houston native Lizzo performed on Black Heritage Night, ending Bun B’s rodeo streak. While Bun may not be represented on the star-shaped stage at the road in the near future, his presence is still felt in his food and entertainment space on the NRG grounds, Trill Town.
“Bun B has made a lasting impact on our stage, which has including an exceptional lineup of guest performers,” a Houston rodeo representative said in a statement. “While he did not perform in 2026, we were proud to have him remain part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s through Trill Town.”