Slim Thug
Boss of All Bosses (Koch Records)
Slim Thug has continuously reminded us he doesn’t need major label politics to tell his story. Before he went to the majors, Slim Thug’s North Side Houston mixtapes had the streets buzzing with gravel-throated Texan slang and rhymes detailing how exactly one does what he does so effortlessly: Grind. Unfortunately, his 2005 major label debut, Already Platinum (Star Trak/Geffen), clipped some of his lyrical mobility and lacked his organic appeal. Now back on the independent tip with KOCH, Thugga’s latest, Boss of All Bosses, looks to redress some of the ills Platinum suffered from.
Slim wants you to stunt through him, as long as you remember who taught you. His irrefutable, yet vague hustle is explained and dissected further on “ I’m Back,” where he raps, “I dropped Already Platinum but it only sold gold/ and niqqas lookin’ at me like I sold my soul/ cuz I’m rappin’ wit P and not Mr. Lee/ but when ya on ya grind sometimes ya can't see.” It’s less an apology than an admittance that the major label route didn’t quite pan out, and it’s a refreshingly honest move for an MC of his stature.
This realization forces Slim to confront, and return to his earlier work, namely Mr. Lee’s beats. “Top Drop,” with its simple chopped and screwed hook has the feel of Ice Cube’s classic 1992 “It Was A Good Day.” Similarly, “Thug” has grit by the tons, as if the lead melodies were filtered through super conductors. “Hard” and “Welcome to Houston” are also two standouts, and perfect rider music. Lead single “I Run”, which surprisingly samples A Flock Of Seagulls’ “I Ran (So Far Away),” is uncomfortably impressive if only because producers Jim Jonsin and J.R. Rotem give the original a tough veneer.
As a whole, there are some uneasy moments, but they don’t detract from the ultimate goal. Boss of All Bosses reestablishes Slim Thug, and makes up for all that high-gloss, Geffen trauma.
"Boss of All Bosses" is in store on 3/24/09
Track Listing
1. “Boss of All Bosses”
2. “I'm Back” featuring Devin the Dude
3. “I Run” featuring YelaWolf
4. “Show Me Love” featuring Mannie Fresh
5. “Smile”
6. “Top Drop” featuring Paul Wall
7. “Thug”
8. “Leanin” featuring UGK
9. “My B***h”
10. “She Like That” featuring Killa Kyleon
11. “Associates” featuring J-Dawg and Z-Ro
12. “Hard” featuring Scarface and J-Dawg
13. “Welcome 2 Houston” featuring Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Pimp C, Bun B, Lil Keke, Z-Ro, Trae, Rob G, Lil O, Big Pokey, Mike D and Yung Redd
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