link: http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=slimthug
HHG: First off man, you haven’t been out on the scene for a couple of years. What made you decide that this time would be perfect for a comeback?
ST: It wasn’t like I was waiting on a certain time or something. I was waiting on the opportunity to do it. I was signed to Interscope/Geffen, and we couldn’t get it together. So it was like, I was stuck over there. I couldn’t do shit. I couldn’t put nothing out. I was just waiting for them to get me out of that contract. We were going back and forth, and I finally got out of there. Soon as I got out, in July, Back by Blockular Demand: Serve & Collect II. Now I’m dropping my album man. We’re going to try and keep it moving.
HHG: I remember speaking to Slim from 112, and he said with you being independent, you’re making more money than people on majors. How true is that?
ST: Yeah that’s definitely true because if you think about it--if you’re on a major label, and sell 100,000 records, you’re not going to get no money from that album. You’re not going to make zero dollars. If you sell 100,000 independent, then that’s damn near a million dollars. That’s the difference right there. It’s harder work; you know what I’m saying? It got its pluses, and it got it minuses, but this works out better for me, because I came in the game independent. I know how the whole independent game is. I already had a following before I got a deal or whatever. I had my own fans already.
HHG: On The “Ain’t I” freestyle, I remember you said “Ain’t I get money with or without the deal. So during this time of recession, I’m assuming money isn’t an Issue for the Boss.
ST: Nah man. It’s bigger than being with or without a deal. It’s about being smart man, and not doing stupid shit. It’s just being smart, and not being a dumb ass. It’s not about making it rain, and throwing a bunch of dollars up in the club. I try to be cool about shit. A lot of rappers especially when they get a deal, they get one big check because they got one hot record. Then, they start balling out of control, and fuck all their money up. That ain’t like that with me. That’s never going to be like that with me. I always think smart. If I spend money on something, then I’m going to be able to get something back from it. Feel me? That’s my rule. If I spend money, then I gotta get it back.
HHG: How has the transition been for you moving from Interscope to Koch?
ST: Ah man that been good man. I ain’t gon’ lie. I mean like Interscope is one of the biggest labels, and one of the best labels in the world, but it don’t work out for everybody. That big machine can’t always work for all artists you know what I’m saying. It just so happen that it couldn’t work for me. Bigger than that, I just never got on the same page with the new staff. After they changed staff, I never got on the same page. So I was ready to go. But, I had fun at Interscope. I love Already Platinum. From everybody I worked out. From Star Trak, to my old A&R, to my initial A&R, I had fun. I’m just ready to do it independent.
HHG: Another thing I noticed was I recalled the camaraderie in Houston was very tight. Like when “Still Tippin’” came out, it appeared you and Mike were cool? Has the relationship cooled off?
ST: Nah it ain’t really that. It ain’t that it’s me, or him beefing on some shit like that. I know they tried to make it like that in the interviews. I was just saying, I hadn’t talked to him. Usually we would holla’ at each other, but I haven’t talked to him, you know what I’m saying? That’s what I was saying in that interview. Nah we still cool. You know, I root for Mike Jones. I was just saying that he needs to come back out. For a minute, he got into that shit with Trae, and nobody knew where he was. It was just everybody was like “Have you seen Mike Jones?” That was the question. I was just like “Damn. I hope he ain’t trippin’ over that Trae shit.
HHG: Ever since the Ozone awards, he’s been real quiet, and somewhat depressed.
ST: I don’t know what the fuck it was. I was just like saying if that was the case, take that bullshit out. You a little nigga. Trae bigger than you. So I wouldn’t expect him to win. It’s like a lightweight fighting a heavyweight. You would expect for the motherfuckin’ light weight to lose. So it ain’t no big deal.
HHG: I remember in an interview Chamillionaire did with XXL. Chamillionaire said how Texas was dead in terms of the rappers not being relevant. With Scarface retiring, and UGK dropping their last album, what do you think it will take to make Texas relevant again?
ST: I’m trying to do my part man. All these artists you named, I’m working with them. We came out when everybody seemed tight, then it got kinda quiet or whatever. On my album, man I got everybody. I got Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Chamillionaire. You know the whole city. I got Z-Ro, Trae, and Truth. I got everybody. I got Scarface, UGK, and everybody. Everybody you named, I got them on my album. I’m just trying to do my little part in trying to bring the city back man. I’m sure everybody else is doing their part too. You got Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, and Mike Jones who’s all about to drop too, so it should be a great year for us man.
HHG: Sounds like you’re trying to make this a Houston album?
ST: That’s what it is. It turned out to that. Man I recorded a gang of songs. In all, it was 200 records. At the end of the day. When I was finally putting an album together. I was like “Look man, I kinda wanna do this. I wanna put the Houston artists.” The people are saying that Houston is dead, and whatever, but I’m we got so much talent. I’m still jamming to these dudes music, and loving everything that they’re doing. I was like, “Look, let’s just all work together as a movement.” In my mind, I was like “let me grab this nigga. Let me grab this nigga. Let me put all these dudes on this album.” I’m just trying to help the movement, and represent my city to the fullest.
HHG: So I know you recorded a lot of records for the album. Are the records that didn’t make the album going to be on I Represent This 2 mixtape.
ST: Nah. There’s a few probably on there. Man I got so many spread, I could leak one once every week. I’m going to stay leaking it. I’m going to stay leaking the records or whatever. It’s like at the end of the day, I picked out the ones mainly from my city. Not just rappers, but producers. You new cats, old cats, all of them.
HHG: What do you think about the mixtape scene as of now? Do you feel it’s gotten worse?
ST: Man, I think it ain’t really at its best. I think it could be salvaged, and brought back. Niggaz gon’ just have to have a CD that you could really play out the trunk again. I got a rapper who’s on the road with me named Lil’ Rick. He out here, in the mall and shit, selling 20-30 CDs, and we ain’t been here for an hour. That’s $300 dollars. You just gotta have that hustle. Motherfuckers out here always wait on somebody to hand them something. You gotta go out there and get it man, and grind for it.
HHG: I know on this album titled the Boss Of All Bosses you actually worked with Scarface. How was that experience working with him?
ST: Ah it was a blessing. I worked with him for the first time on his last album. On the album, he just put out; he got me on a song. That was just a blessing itself. He called me, and he was like “I got this record. Man come through here” I went on and did it man. It came out good, and that was a blessing itself. To be on a Scarface album, and to work with the dude I grew up listening to was great. He’s one who I respect, and who I think is the best to come out of Houston.
HHG: I know you said you’re real big on bringing back that Houston love. How do you try to help people like Z-Ro & and Trae who are underground, and try to get them some recognition to people who are unfamiliar with Houston?
ST: Man, I don’t know. At the end of the day, them dudes have a fan base so out of control—out in Austin, Texas, and even outside of Texas man. The thing is, they’re underground legends. They might be on BET or whatever, but these got a fan base and a following so strong man that’s it crazy. Maybe if I put them on my album, people will see that a little more. It’s just like how I’m on Z-Ro, and how I’m on Trae’s album. We all working together man, so it’s all good. I think as soon as we keep doing that, then at the end of the day, we could all share our audience with each other. If they do a record with me, more people will wanna hear them. If I do a record with them, then more people will want hear from Slim Thug.
HHG: As for the album Boss of all Bosses, can the fans expect any Neptune Productions?
ST: He ain’t on there. He got on there too late. I wanted to do it just to let everybody know that we ain’t beefing, but we got together too late. We were just kickin’ it at the Grammy’s, but we ain’t never get the chance to get into the studio man, and do the shit. We had this one record, but Nelly had ended up getting that motherfucker. So we ain’t never had the chance to get back into the studio. But, me and P, are definitely gon’ get together on the next one. You know, as soon as I see him, we just gon’ get in the studio, do the record, and have it ready for the next album.
HHG: Who can we expect production wise on the album then?
ST: Ah man, I got Jim Johnson of course. He did the “I Run” single. He did another record that people like more than “I Run” which was for the radio people, and more for the ladies. But I didn’t wanna come out do a record for the females after being gone so long. I just wanted to keep it street, and keep people familiar with the same shit I’ve been on. I got Mannie Fresh, Cannon, Mr. Lee, Mr. Rogers, and they’re from Houston. It’s a lot people you probably never heard of, but they have a whole lot of talents.
HHG: When Lupe made “Hip-Hop Saved My Life”, he dedicated the record to you. How does it feel to receive that amount of respect from another rapper?
ST: That’s love man. That ain’t nothing but love. My nigga Lupe, I think he one of the best in the game. For him to be inspired and to make a song about my hustle man, it’s just a blessing. It’s love. Real talk.
HHG: With your album being titled Boss Of All Bosses, I wanted to ask you, there’s another man who refers to himself as the Boss, and his name is Rick Ross. Who’s more of a Boss you or Rick?
ST: (Laughs) I respect Rick man. Rick jammin’ real talk. I just kicked out with him in Orlando, and we did a show together. We did a record matter fact in out of the 200I recorded. I was supposed to get T.I. on it, but I never did. I might be leaking that song too. Nah me and Rick, we ain’t on some trip shit like the man (laughs). You know I respect all the bosses. Not just him, but all the other bosses. Even dudes who don’t even called themselves bosses that came from nothing to something, and run their shit man. It ain’t no competition man. It’s all about having fun man. It’s about getting money, and having fun.
HHG: You know T-Mac is done for the year. How do you feel about the Rockets chances in the playoffs man?
ST: I don’t know man. We’re fucked up man. T-Mac is playing games man. He my partner, but he playing games man real talk. We spent a lot of money on dude, and he ain’t showing up. I’m mad.
HHG: Yeah man. He keeps getting hurt. He must be old or something.
ST: I don’t know man. I don’t know. I’m running out of excuses for him man. You know I’m sick, and I’m about to do something about it. (laughs) We might have to do some trades or something.
Man the album in stores March 24th. Log onto Bosshoggoutlaws.com, and Myspace.com/Slimthug. It’s some of the freshest websites out there, and people talking about it. Go check it out man.
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