This Slim Thug interview was recorded a few weeks after Hogg Life: The Beginning hit the Billboard 200 with no major label behind it. In four minutes he covers losing a house, why Kendrick Lamar made him tell the truth about it, Drake, the Boss Life clothing line, and his plan to drop an album every quarter.
Listen: Slim Thug Exclusive Interview
Press play above for the full Slim Thug interview, then read on for the parts worth talking about.
Why He Went Public About the Foreclosure
Right before this interview Slim wrote a piece for the New York Times about dating his real estate agent, losing a house in the process, and what he learned about money. We asked what he’s done differently since. His answer was more honest than most rappers would give.
I’m still making mistakes. I’m still learning along the way. The reason why I was so honest in that interview, I heard a Kendrick Lamar interview, he said that black people are not taught how to handle money, and a lot of black people, if they gave a million dollars, probably would go to jail for taxes.
Slim Thug
I’m a rapper, and having a foreclosure ain’t cool, but at the end of the day it ain’t about being cool, it’s about being real. If somebody ain’t got to touch the fire and can learn something from my mistake, then I’m down with that.
Slim Thug
On Everybody Borrowing the Houston Sound
By 2015 the chopped and screwed influence was all over records coming out of New York, Toronto, and everywhere else. We asked how he feels about up north rappers leaning on it so heavily.
We ain’t hating. We just want to be a part of everything they doing too. As long as they show love back, it’s all good.
Slim Thug
Drake and “Believe Me”
Drake name checked Slim on “Believe Me” and has never hidden his love for H-Town. Would Slim work with him?
I definitely would be interested in working with Drake. He definitely the hottest rapper right now, and he show a lot of love to H-Town, so I always have love for Drake. Love to see him winning right now.
Slim Thug
Boss Life: The Clothing Line
The Boss Life shirts started as merch for the album of the same name and turned into a real business once fans kept buying them. Slim brought in his partners Rico and Sha, put money behind it, and at the time of this interview had a new run on the way with upgraded material, a new design, and shoes coming next.
Hogg Life 2 and One Album Every Quarter
This is the part that tells you how Slim thinks. He said Hogg Life 2 was being mixed and mastered with a May target, and that the plan was bigger than one album.
Trying to get them out in order. One every quarter. Dropping one every quarter.
Slim Thug
He kept his word. Hogg Life Vol. 2: Still Surviving landed that summer, Vol. 3: Hustler of the Year followed in the fall, and Vol. 4: American King closed the series in 2016. Four albums, all independent, all Houston, all on his own Hogg Life imprint with Empire distribution.
Final Word
Ask Slim Thug what he’s working on and you get a list: the music, the DVD, the videos, shows, merch. His answer for why is the whole interview in one line.
I believe in the art of hustling. You find out what you want to do in life, and you find out a lot of different things you didn’t know before. That’s what it’s about. Hogg Life.
Slim Thug
Interview by XMG Hip Hop. More exclusive interviews here.