Danielle Young
You’ve always been described as the front man of 112. Was there ever any jealousy or animosity towards you because of that?
To make 112 work, everyone understood what their roles were in the group. We just had to make sure that whatever people said we had to represent for the group, we did to the best of our ability. The group clearly knew that I had a distinguishable voice and it was the weapon that set us apart from other groups. They knew that. Everyone knows I’m charismatic and people tend to draw to me.
So no Eddy Kane in The Five Heartbeats going on, right?
*Slim chuckles* Oh no. We’ve watched that enough to know better. We studied how to be in a group before we got the deal. Being in a group is hard because you have four different personalities, four strong opinions and ways of thinking. [You have to] use that in a positive way. It’s an undeniable force.
What’s the difference in being a solo artist as opposed to being in a group?
With this situation here, I am actually the CEO of my own label. Being in a group we were always on majors deal with [labels] pretty much taking care of your situation. We only had to concentrate on the dancing, writing, choreography, music; it was leaning more on the artistic and creative side. Now, with me being the CEO of M3, I pay attention to every dime, penny, whatever, that’s spent. I also have to deal with the creative side and it’s great. I always thought I had it in me, but you never know until someone or something brings it out of you. This situation right here, that is a blessing. [It] can be tedious at times, but at the end of the day it’s worth it. I’m a workaholic who likes everything balanced. I hate confrontation, but don’t think I’m a cat, when I’m really a lion.
You have to be a lion to be the CEO of your own production company. Tell me a little bit more about M3 Productions.
First of all, I’m changing the INC to LLC. I’m running several businesses underneath my M3 label. My destination is Hawaii. Everyone knows it’s expensive there so you need more looks. What I have with this label is a very strong staff. The staff members have incredible music experience and things run much smoother than expected. People that know my staff know that I have a lot of legends. One of the guys, DJ Hurricane; he was the DJ for Run DMC and the Beastie Boys.
I listen to my creatives and to be a good leader, you have to listen to the team. I have a writing team called Word Play and we make sure everyone is satisfied. I have a rapper by the name of Deezo aka Fresh Money. I call him Fresh Money because that’s what he is, he’s just not getting it. I take him on the road with me and people say we have wild chemistry. I am trying to give him the best experience possible. The best way is to actually get out there and work. I have a rap group in the Bay Area right now and they’re called Ivy League. They are four incredible cats and they are so self contained. They have a producer in the group. They really remind me of 112, except the fact that they’re rappers. Their swag is like Kanye West or Lupe Fiasco. They are a big breath of fresh air. They aren’t rapping about the struggle and things like that, which there is nothing wrong with that; but they give you a fresh look at hip hop. It’s really their lifestyle. I am working on bigger things too. I been talking to Faith Evans and she may be the first lady of my label. I’m trying to be a real CEO here ok?! I have been extremely busy.
So Slim wasn’t sleeping on us, trying to give up music, like the rumors say?
Sometimes you have the pros and cons of being in the industry. If you allow certain things to get to you—I was doing investing and making a lot of money in many ways—it deters you and pushes you away from the talent you’re blessed with. I say, it’s nothing but the devil when the obstacles try to prevent you from doing something that God made you a vessel for. I got a little off track. I flew to Australia and thought about it on the beach for about two weeks. I was in a win-win situation. I was very smart is school and able to put my eggs in different baskets. But I wasn’t going to allow the devil to distract me.
You have haters and people telling you what you can and can’t do. I was telling people I wanted to elevate my situations. I didn’t want to stop what I was doing with the group. I wanted to elevate…why not with being in the game for 12 years. Why couldn’t I run my own label or create opportunities for other people that had the same type of dream as myself or 112 and give them the same positive outlook. People laughed at me, saying I’m too young, no one will take me seriously. I am a very passionate person, so when someone goes against what I believe in, it really had me messed up. So I said, Slim, if this is going to be your last hoorah, you got to do it My Way, Frank Sinatra style. Not only just go out there and do a record. I didn’t want to do a solo project, but I did it to start my own label. With me bringing out this solo project it’s easier to get the ball rolling, to build equity at my label because I’m already established and an incredible brand with 112 that’s already worldwide. So, I have a foundation to work on.
I learned a lot from P. Diddy with the whole Bad Boy movement. When you think of Bad Boy, you think of the movement and presence they had. That’s what I want to do with M3. This album, Love’s Crazy, it sets the tone for what the label should feel like. If any artist wanted to come and be a part of this label, then they have to say, let me step my game up. I’m signing polished cats with CEO mindsets. People that will not sit back once they get a deal. I didn’t do it that way. I went out, got my own buzz, leaked the record and worked everything from the ground up. That’s the reason I did a deal with Asylum because that system works extremely well for me.
What can we expect to hear on Love’s Crazy?
Great timeless music wherein 20 years from now, you’re still singing my music. Being a part of a group that the “Only You,” “Peaches and Cream,” “Anywhere,” “Cupid;” these records are recurring on the charts and we still perform these records worldwide. I want to keep everything consistent with the level 112 set. At the end of the day, I still represent that brand. If there is any pressure, that’s it. I walked a fine line is being current so that people won’t call me old school, but at the same time, I had to make soulful records. When you stick in Love’s Crazy the only button you will hit is repeat.
Everyone knows love is crazy. So, why name the album after that fact? Where do you want the listeners mind to go?
Everybody does know that. But check my swag on the situation. I like to keep things even. I like to get my own spin on love. Being in the group, we talked about all aspects of love—good, bad, ugly. When you listen to the record, I want you to understand who Slim is as an individual. So you will say now you see why I did the solo project; you understand me. I am an optimistic person. You won’t hear me crying, begging for forgiveness. That’s not Slim. The Slim that everybody know—if I see a problem coming, I stop the problem before it pops. I see it like this, instead of highlighting the problem, let’s highlight the solution. I call this album music therapy.
If you’re with your special someone and going through life’s situations—which are not always peaches and cream—this is not the album when you’re mad you stick in and beat the other person with, saying, ‘see what he said?’ This is going to be more of a healing process. Whatever track it is, the words are going to make you feel good. Music makes a person feels great and that is what an album is supposed to do. I got my bangers and I got my meat of the album—my ballads. I had fun with a couple of the records where it was straight live, wild instruments. My heart is still stuck in the 90’s, so a few have that sound. I admire the 90’s, I call it the golden era. There were incredible songs written then that touched your life. When you play those records, it brings back incredible memories. That’s what I like about music, the way it affects people and that’s the type of music that’s on this album.
What sets you apart from any other male R&B crooner?
As far as new school artists, I have a catalogue. I’ve been in the game for a while. I’m the CEO of my own label and putting it out myself. I’m independent and I’m getting the same looks that major labels get. I’m trying to show people that R&B artists can do it on an independent scale. Brand yourself. Own yourself. Believe in yourself. Cut the middle man out. You can believe in yourself and if you don’t look at Slim. I’m on tour with the same cats. I get the same offers; I probably get more money that dudes that’s out. At the end of the day, Slim is a realist and a very down to earth person. I don’t cover myself with fame. I want to be able to take care of my family comfortably. I want my staff to feel like they are working with someone that genuinely cares about them. In this industry, it’s dog eat dog and I’ve faced them—doing a lot of work and having someone else collect the money. So, instead of complaining about it, I’m trying to show people how to do it. The only way you can do that, is get out there yourself. Don’t put your future in someone else’s hand. The game has changed. You have to sale and brand yourself to where everyone says, every time I see that brand, I’m going to back it.
Tell me about the most monumental moment in your career thus far.
It’s two of them. Four guys from the hood of 8th avenue in Atlanta, have someone tell us that they believed in us and gave us a deal. They gave us a chance to prove to the world that we’re a viable group—112. Two, starting this label from the ground up, having people tell me that it’s impossible. I did my homework. I went and hollered at Slim Thug. I went to the Bay area and hollered at Too Short and E-40. They really put it down for me. These guys are living the life. They are going out there, working their regions, working with radio stations, and they get into the community and do positive things. The community embraces them back. My vision is to go a step further. My heart is bigger than that. I want to embrace the world and see if the world embraces M3 back.
Top five priorities in your life:
1. God
2. My family
3. My Health
4. Finances
5. Creating a legacy
Who are you a big fan of?
I like the old school. I love the Babyfaces and DeBarges. That’s who I grew up on. I love Smoky Robinson. There are cats now that I think are doing it…like Ne-Yo. I love him to death. That’s what I’m talking about. I like the edginess of the Dream. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He writes what the streets say.
It’s 10 o’clock on a Saturday night. Where can we find Slim?
I’m not in town. I’m usually getting ready for a show. If I do have free time, I’m sitting in front of my plasma TV, looking at my DVR—Law & Order and playing with my Miniature Pinscher, Corrupt.
Anything that you’s like your fans to know?
I love all my fans. Please support my record, Love’s Crazy. This is a monumental event, history in the making. I want people to check out my myspace. Myspace.com/slimof112. I am very biased. I think I have the best myspace page period. Why? Because everyday or every other day, you can find out whether I am in Atlanta or Austria. You can see pictures, blogs, everything. I am heavily into the internet. You can spread stuff and get your own buzz rolling with it. I love all the bloggers out there—good or bad—it’s honest and all love.
