Slim Thug

After coming Back By Blockular Demand with his Boss Hogg Outlaws, the Boss Of All Bosses is back with a solo set sees the South Texas rapper holding onto the distinction he gives himself by the album’s title; even if only by a thread.

Slim Thug’s thick and drawled bass-heavy voice is as smooth as ever on Boss Of All Bosses, and the rapper uses every one of his nuances and inflections to their fullest. Thug could potentially be one of the best in the genre if he would step outside of his own box a little. Many of the disc’s thirteen tracks roll by with little to no change in vocal pattern or backbeat. Aside from an outstanding delivery on “Smile,” Slim lets guests like Devin The Dude (“I’m Back”) and Mannie Fresh (“Show The Love”) bring variety and melody to the table. Though it’s source questionable (i.e. – a chorus taken straight from Flock Of Seagulls’ “I Ran So Far Away”), “I Run” and the mellow funk backing track of “Leanin” are two reasons to get excited as is the star-studded freestyle closer “Welcome To Houston.” If Slim wanted to leave his audience wanting more, this is the track to do it with. A great way to end an otherwise slightly above average album

—Ryan Ogle
04.14.09