SOHH SOULFUL
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Soul Rebel Q&A: Slim of 112 Flies Solo with Love's Crazy
Posted on December 3, 2008 3:28 PM
With the fate of 112 up in the air, Slim is stepping out solo with his recently released debut Love's Crazy. Check out my interview with Slim where he discusses issues with the group, going independent and following in Diddy's footsteps.
Soul Rebel: What's up Slim? I love the single, I like all the remixes, everybody you put on there makes it sound different.
Slim: You know what's crazy, the remixes that y'all are hearing I have nothing to do with. They put it out themselves, the Jadakiss, L.O., Trey Songz, I had nothing to do with those remixes. It's a hot song so that's great though, it's all love.
SR: Faith is on your album though right?
Slim: Yes! The Faith and the Big Boi, that was two people right there that you definitely just want to work with anyway. I scratched my own itch there. Faith lives out in LA and when I went out there I wanted to present a song to duet with her. Man we kicked it, I chilled at her crib, we barbecued, the whole nine. It was like you know what, let's go to the studio right now. Everyone was in the mood to make music so she did the remix AND she did the duet too. That was real hot and Big Boi's situation was crazy right there. All the time I been in 112 we always wanted Outkast to do a joint so the fact he wanted to do a joint.
SR: I'm glad you brought up 112, what's your relationship with the other members because I did read the group is still intact?
Slim: Everybody is still cool, Mike's situation is a little different because Mike hasn't been performing with us but my personal relationship with Mike is extremely cool.
SR: So there is no beef with anybody?
Slim: I think Mike has a discrepancy with other people but I think it's so minute it can be worked out. That has nothing to do with me. Whatever the situation was, as I heard it was taken care of and that's the news I've been hearing, but when I saw Q two nights ago there was no talk about beefs.
SR: Why'd you call the album Love's Crazy?
Slim: Because love is crazy. But really anybody that knows Slim I'm optimistic about everything. I'm more about highlighting the solution than the problem, so yes love can be crazy but if you have a positive optimistic outlook on everything than everything should run very smoothly and that's how the album feels.
SR: What should people expect?
Slim: I would say the songs that really stand out are those mids and those ballads, songs that really touch the heart and the soul, not just that will sound good as a ringtone. It feels good and it's the records that are going to be sung for 15-20 years from now. That's the type of music I stand for and that's what it is.
SR: You have three boys, would you want them to follow your footsteps?
Slim: The name of my label is M3 and they all start with the letter M, so I named my label after them. That's basically I'm creating a legacy right there. It gives them a cushion just in case. It doesn't matter what they choose to be in life, but at least they have that cushion. It definitely beats my situation when I was coming up.
SR: So they can sign to Dad's label instead of having to shop around.
Slim: They'll be able to run Dad's label.
SR: Do they sing as well?
Slim: One of them is extremely talented. I wish I'd had that much character at his age. At 10 I was a nerd in school, real book smart. I knew I could sing, I would sing in church but his little swag is really funny, I just love watching them grow up.
SR: So what advice would you give them? Slim: If you think you are just going to be an artist and maintain this type of lifestyle, you're a fool. Always be the CEO of your own life. I was trying to teach them through action. I'm doing everything independent. What I'm trying to show everyone out there, not just the boys is brand yourself, own yourself, invest in yourself, believe in yourself. Cut the middle man out of that situation. I own my own masters. 65/35 split MY WAY! Regardless of first week sales or whatever, I can match right along with the major artists. I can make way more money. I've been in the game for 12 years. I've seen the highs and lows of the whole situation so at this stage of my life it was like do I continue to do the same things or do I elevate? To put yourself in a better situation you have to take risks but most calculated risks are very rewarding.
SR: What things did you have to learn the hard way?
Slim: One big one was thinking with your heart rather than listening to your lawyers when it comes to signing production deals. When you come from the hood and you just want to be heard sometimes artists just get too excited like 'I'll do whatever it takes to get in.' Unfortunately 112 made that mistake, but the great thing about it was we got out of that situation and we recouped and recovered when we got the next deal so I can't complain. If I could do it all over again I wouldn't do it different because that's how we got that knowledge and we came out blessed.
SR: Do you watch "Making the Band"?
Slim: I watch it a little bit. A lot of it is comical. I spoke to Day 26 myself and I told them just to perfect their craft and make sure they know themselves as artists. It doesn't matter who they are signed to as long as Day 26, their brand, is good. It doesn't matter whether you are major, independent, as long as they know every time they hear that brand it's going to be great.
SR: So are you still good with Diddy?
Slim: Yeah, that's my boy, that's my homie, me and Diddy we're cool and its great to hear him say he was proud of me and he sees the moves I was making, he was extremely proud of me on that one. I told him I learned from one of the best. Being around him I wasn't just an artist going through the motions, I was actually paying attention to the business aspects. I'm still learning but one day I would love to be in his position and be where he is right now but the only way I can get there is to take calculated risks and believe in myself. Sometimes people will think I'm crazy, but when I'm making positive steps that's all that matters. My label M3 I'm running it through Asylum, great partnership, everybody believes in the movement and you're seeing proven results. "So Fly" the first record I dropped is top 10 in the nation. "Good Loving" record was the number one most added record the week it was added. I'm going to continue to drop new music not just from myself but from other artists and we'll keep doing this.
SR: You came out the same day as Beyonce
Slim: Which is great. I need footwork travelling to the joint, we are the only two r&b albums that are out so when they put out Beyonce they'll see Slim Love's Crazy right next to it. I'm seeing solid numbers, great numbers. I would love to break it down after a month from now and let y'all know how much I spent on this project but probably after yesterday I just recouped my whole album. That's the thing that really matters. At the end of the day what matters is what ends up in your pocket. That's what other artists need to learn about, and producers and writers, how do I take the money I'm making and double that.
SR: What's next? Is there going to be another 112 album?
Slim: You know I put that one in God's hands, it's bigger than me. You ask me I'll tell you "Hell, yeah, all day long." But whatever God has planned for us, that's what it is.
Love's Crazy is currently in stores and at online retailers.
4 Comments
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That's what I'm talking about...A real fuckin interview.....Slim showed that he has truly grown into a man and matured. You know what, I'm going to cop his album..."So Fly" is the shit....It's gets me in a laid back mood to pull out my benz on dubs...(Don't really fuck wit 22's) spark up some dro, and cruise with the windows halfway cracked.....Slim...don't disappoint me my nigga...I'm gonna support and cop your album on Fri, even though I don't do that just from hearing one tight single...But the interview you did as a man, and not really an artist made me want to throw some change your way...That's what I'm talkin bout fellas....
Great interview!
great interview, i bought the album. but where are the 2 tracks produced by those german cats t-town??? u should put them on the album slim, i watched the video over and over, cmon, i was hoping to hear the full versions!
here is the youtuve link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aiga-xgge8
Slim should change his name to Pudgy. LOL