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

As he admits on the great "I'm Back," "I released Already Platinum/But it only sold gold," a "problem" Slim Thug blames partially on his record label, Geffen, who had him "Rappin' with P/Instead of Mr. Lee." That "P" is Pharrell Williams, but Slim doesn't think the Neptunes superstar is at fault as much as his own hunger for more, as in more radio, more BET, and more crossover success. Even if it was received with above average sales and mostly good reviews, Already Platinum is to blame for the rapper's three years off and the inspiration for this return to form effort, which does a great job recapturing the dirty feel of the early underground years. The title track bangs as hard as the good old days while guests like Devin the Dude, Scarface, Z-Ro, and the late Pimp C keep things on the street level. Adding just the right touch of levity is "I Run," a redo of the Flock of Seagulls' hit "I Ran," now transformed into a pimp anthem. It sure didn't seem like Slim's career needed readjustment after the very good Already Platinum, but whatever the reason, this raw album is a welcome throwback that no longtime fan should be without. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi