The Houston rap scene has been fairly quiet, compared to their explosive presence in 2005. However, the Houston Boss is back with his sophomore album and a shift from Geffen Records to independent.
Boss Of All Bosses: Epic choral voices back the hard hitting knock of bass and snares, while perpetual keys start things off right. A decent intro that doesn’t have Thugga spitting anything new, but works. 3/5
I’m Back: Smooth keyboards revolve around synth stabs, while Devin The Dude’s chilled out flow fits the song well. Slim speaks on his return and reflects on the past with “I’ma gon keep it one hundred for the public, I dropped Already Platinum but it only sold gold, and n****as lookin at me like I sold my soul, cause I’m rappin with P and not Mr. Lee, but when you on your grind, sometimes you can see”. True lyricism from Thugga that reflects the response of his past album. 3.5/5
I Run: Jim Jonsin continues his use of synthy club bangers and heavily samples A Flock Of Seagulls “I Ran”, it was definitely a smart single for Slim to return with. Although it depends too heavily on the hook, it solidifies Thugga’s presence in the streets and a solid anthem for the hoods. 4/5
Show Me Love: The track is mainly mediocre and the over explicit hook from Mannie Fresh doesn’t help things. Slim is in cruise mode, speaking on his cars and materialism, however the track is just decent. 2.5/5
Smile: Sing songy hook that is a bit repetitive, however Jim Jonsin’s production makes the track from being average to decent. Meant for the clubs, it shines as well as Jonsin’s keys that twinkle throughout. 3.5/5
Top Drop: A solid H-Town banger that is appropriately titled, as a chopped and screwed hook repeats over soulful samples. Fellow Houstonian Paul Wall assists Slim for this ode to cars and also drops his creative lines like “comin down clean, marchin like a freedom fighter”. 3.5/5
Thug: Bleeding Houston synth and light string plucking back an old “Eazy Duz It” sample. Solid representation of Houston rap that is done well by Slim. 3/5
Leanin’: Legendary duo, UGK drop some great verses and bring back the Pimp C spirit (R.I.P.), as the chopped and screwed hook and light string plucking resemble some knocking H-Town production. 3.5/5
My B****: Slim continues to shine on the soulful smooth tracks, despite the overly repetitive sample in the production. Thanking the woman riding by his side through the grind, Slim presents another solid track for the ladies like “Miss Mary” off Already Platinum, yet maintaining the boss attitude. 3.5/5
Associates: The crooning on the hook sounds a bit off, but the ripping guitar riffs and Slim’s bass vocals fit well together. Explaining the difference between friends and associates (acquaintances), Z-Ro’s verse fits and J-Dawg hops on as well. 3/5
Hard: Knocking bass rattles, as Scarface starts things off with some excellent lyricism and starts the track off right. J-Dawg joins once again, as the sample and production are well done by Bigg Tyme and J-Moses. 3.5/5
She Like That: Slow rolling flow by Slim that sounds as if it was mixed in some of the codeine cough syrup they drink H-Town, the track doesn’t quite do as well as it should. Real chill track, but its a bit too slow and the singing on the hook is a bit irritating. Boss Hogg Outlaw, Killa Kyleon uses some autotune for his verse. 2.5/5
Welcome 2 Houston: Rising string plucks and sunny bleeding synth by H-Town known Mr. Lee set the tone for a perfect re-introduction of H-Town’s finest. Chamillionaire’s syrupy croon fits, as Mike Jones, Paul Wall, S.U.C. members Lil’ Keke, Big Pokey, and Z-Ro join. Trae, Lil’ O, Mike D and Yung Redd are the lesser known, but up and coming H-Townians, while Bun B and fittingly Pimp C as the final verse, make this an excellent H-Town representation of being united. Pimp spits “Now I’m from Port Arthur Texas, ninety miles away, for the last fifteen years I’ve been repping my state, I knew the real DJ Screw sip grape by the case, eights over ice straight product of the H”. 4/5
Perfect 10: Mediocre bonus that has Slim running through the star R&B singers and explaining his perfect dime. 2.5/5
Gotta Get It: Horn filled beat, Slim spits well over this and its a solid bonus. 3/5
Four years after his debut on the rap scene, Slim Thug brings us his sophomore release, Boss Of All Bosses. What has changed in these past years? For one thing, Slim is independent and with Koch, but musically he goes back to his Houston roots. Mixed reactions by fans of his debut because of his work with Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes (explained in “I’m Back”), Slim presents some straight down south H-Town music. The proclaiming “Boss Of All Bosses” is a fitting start which goes into a relaxed guest appearance by Devin The Dude and overall mood, as Slim reflects on the past. Jim Jonsin helmed “I Run” and “Smile” are solid club bangers with a bit more pop appeal that works better on the “I Run” joint than “Smile, but both are worthy of listens. The rest of the album is mainly handled by Mr. Lee who offers his signature Houston synths, bass and plucking strings. Soulful “Top Drop” with Paul Wall is all about slab riding, “Leanin’” is a solid UGK feature and “Associates” shows disgust for the back stabbing friends. Scarface drops a great verse on “Hard” and the Houston gem is “Welcome 2 Houston”, an all star lineup of Houston’s finest united together. There are a few mediocre moments (“Show Me Love” and “She Like That”), but overall Slim delivers a sophomore album resembling his roots and showing he hasn’t lost a step since the experimentive Already Platinum. H-Town listeners this is a must have, as well as others in the south that love to something to bump in the slab.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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