Slim Thug

Stayve Jerome Thomas (born September 8, 1980),^[1] better known as Slim Thug, is an American rapper. He gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the popular single from rapper Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'".

Early life

Slim Thug grew up in Houston's Northside neighborhood of Homestead/Scenic Woods. Slim says that his rap name came from the fact that as a teenager, he was very tall and lanky before he filled out. He stands 6'6" tall. The Thug part comes from people's assumptions of him due to his French braids and sunglasses. At age 17, he performed freestyle raps at local high school parties. He began his rap career with Swishahouse in the late 1990s. After realizing how much money he could make distributing his own mixtapes, he parted ways with Swishahouse on good terms and formed his own independent label, Boss Hogg Outlawz.^[2] Thomas bought two record stores and worked in real estate.^[1]

Music career

Already Platinum (2005–08)

Slim Thug's big debut album with Star Trak Entertainment & Interscope Records, Already Platinum, was released in July 2005 after many delays.^[1] It premiered on #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and sold 130,000 copies in its first week.^[3] Singles included "3 Kings" (featuring T.I. and Bun B), and "I Ain't Heard of That" (featuring Pharrell and Bun B). Slim Thug appeared on Still Tippin' with Mike Jones and Paul Wall, Beyoncé Knowles's #1 single "Check on It" and Gwen Stefani's "Luxurious". With the Boss Hogg Outlawz, Slim Thug released three albums, Boyz N Blue (2004), Serve & Collect (2007) and Back by Blockular Demand: Serve & Collect II (2008). He left Star Trak & Interscope Records in 2008.^[4]

Boss of All Bosses (2009)

Slim Thug's second solo album Boss of All Bosses was released in 2009. Although not as successful as his debut album, Boss of All Bosses debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200 with 32,000 copies sold in the first week released. It included the single "I Run".

Tha Thug Show (2010–present)

Slim Thug's third studio album Tha Thug Show. His first single was "Gangsta" which featured Z-Ro. His second single featured rapper/singer B.o.B entitled "So High". It was released November 30, 2010. On April 23, 2013 he released a new EP titled Welcome to Texas EP featuring guest appearances from Rick Ross, Pimp C and Ludacris among others.^[5]

Acting career

In October 2009 he appeared on The Daily Show, in a parody discussing the effects of the recession upon wealthy rappers such as himself.^[6] The skit was filmed in part at The Lion's Den Recordings in Houston, Texas.

Personal life

According to MTV News, Lupe Fiasco's video for "Hip Hop Saved My Life" was based on Slim Thug's life story. "It is based on Slim Thug," Fiasco revealed.^[7]

On June 7, 2010, Vibe released controversial statements Slim Thug had made regarding treatment of black men by black and white women saying "it’s hard to find [a successful black man] so Black women have to bow down and let it be known that they gotta start working hard; they gotta start cooking and being down for they man more. ...White women treat they man like a king."^[8] The article elicited varied reactions from bloggers and online commentators.^[9][10][11] Cultural critic and Columbia University professor Marc Lamont Hill^[12] and singers Aubrey O'Day, D. Woods,^[13] and Talib Kweli^[14] have all responded publicly to his comments.

Discography

• Already Platinum (2005)
• Boss of All Bosses (2009)
• Tha Thug Show (2010)
• Boss Life (2013)
• Hogg Life: The Beginning (2015)
• Hogg Life, Vol. 2: Still Surviving (2015)^[15]
• Hogg Life, Vol. 3: Hustler of the Year (2015)^[16]
• Hogg Life, Vol. 4: American King (2016)^[17]

Awards and Nominations

MTV Video Music Awards

References

External links

• Slim Thug at the Internet Movie Database
• Slim Thug on Twitter