Slim Thug
Slim Thug | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stayve Jerome Thomas September 8, 1980 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, entrepreneur |
| Years active | Late 1990s–present |
| Known for | Hip-hop artist; debut album Already Platinum (2005) |
Stayve Jerome Thomas (born September 8, 1980), professionally recognized as Slim Thug, is an American hip-hop artist who first attracted widespread recognition through his contribution to Mike Jones' 2004 track "Still Tippin'". In 2005, he collaborated with Bun B on Beyoncé's chart-topping single "Check on It", which not only reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 but also earned an MTV Video Music Award. That same year, he secured a deal with Interscope Geffen A&M and Star Trak Entertainment to release his debut studio album, Already Platinum (2005), which soared to number two on the Billboard 200 chart. His follow-up album, Boss of All Bosses (2009), was independently released and attained a peak position of number 15.
Additionally, Thomas appeared on Gwen Stefani's 2005 single "Luxurious", which climbed to number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Early life
Thomas began showcasing his freestyle rap skills at local high school gatherings when he was 17 years old and launched his music career in the late 1990s with Swishahouse. Seeing the potential benefits of controlling his own music distribution, he amicably parted ways with Swishahouse and established his own independent label, Boss Hogg Outlawz. Beyond his musical pursuits, Thomas invested in two record stores and ventured into real estate. He is an alumnus of Eisenhower High School.
Already Platinum (2005–08)
In 2004, Slim Thug appeared alongside Paul Wall on Houston rapper Mike Jones' track "Still Tippin'", which achieved a peak position of number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification from the RIAA, significantly elevating the profiles of all involved artists. Subsequently, Slim Thug signed with Interscope Geffen A&M Records and teamed up with producer Pharrell Williams under Williams' label Star Trak Entertainment for the release of his debut album, Already Platinum, which came out in July 2005 after several postponements.
The album was met with favorable critical reception and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, moving 130,000 units during its initial week. It featured singles such as "Like a Boss", "3 Kings" featuring T.I. and Bun B, and "I Ain't Heard of That" with appearances by Pharrell and Bun B. In addition to these projects, Slim Thug broadened his exposure by participating in Houston singer Beyoncé's chart-topping single "Check on It" and Gwen Stefani's "Luxurious", which peaked at number 21. Alongside his group Boss Hogg Outlawz, he released three albums: Boyz N Blue (2004), Serve & Collect (2007), and Back by Blockular Demand: Serve & Collect II (2008). By 2008, he had ended his contracts with Star Trak and Interscope.
Boss of All Bosses (2009)
Released in 2009, Slim Thug’s sophomore solo album, Boss of All Bosses, experienced moderate commercial success compared to his debut. It entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 15, selling approximately 32,000 copies during its first week. The project included the single "I Run".
Tha Thug Show (2010–present)
His third studio effort, Tha Thug Show, featured tracks such as "Gangsta" with Z-Ro and "So High" featuring rapper and singer B.o.B. Released on November 30, 2010, this album continued to build upon his discography. On April 23, 2013, Slim Thug unveiled the Welcome to Texas EP, which included collaborations with artists like Rick Ross, Pimp C, and Ludacris.
In March 2020, he introduced the album Thug Life, coinciding with public disclosure of a positive COVID-19 test result.
Personal life
The concept behind Lupe Fiasco's music video for Hip Hop Saved My Life drew inspiration from Slim Thug's personal journey. Additionally, Slim Thug shares a familial connection with WNBA athlete Brittney Griner, as they are cousins.
In 2010, Vibe featured provocative comments made by Slim Thug regarding how both black and white women treat accomplished black men, which ignited extensive discussion across blogs and media outlets. Public figures such as cultural analyst Marc Lamont Hill, vocalists Aubrey O'Day and D. Woods, along with rapper Talib Kweli, all issued responses to his viewpoints.
Standing at 6 feet 6 inches tall, Slim Thug attributes his improved health and weight reduction to regular running. He has also publicly supported Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential bid.
Discography
Studio albums
- 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)
- Hogg Life, Vol. 3: Hustler of the Year (2015)
- Hogg Life, Vol. 4: American King (2016)
- Welcome 2 Houston (2017)
- The World Is Yours (2017)
- Suga Daddy Slim: On tha Prowl (2019)
- Thug Life (2020)
- BIGslim (2022)
- Midlife Crisis (2023)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Work nominated | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Still Tippin'" | MTV2 Award | Template:Nom |
| 2006 | "Check On It" | Best R&B Video | Template:Won |
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- African-American male rappers
- 20th-century American male rappers
- Rappers from Houston
- 1979 births
- Living people
- African-American businesspeople
- American music industry executives
- American businesspeople in the real estate industry
- Gangsta rappers
- Hardcore hip-hop artists
- MTV Video Music Award winners
- MNRK Music Group artists
- Interscope Records artists
- Businesspeople from Houston
- 21st-century American rappers
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 21st-century African-American rappers
- 20th-century African-American musicians