If you don’t know SLiM PiCKENS, then it’s time for you to bone up on your OurStage Hip-Hop knowledge. To get started, check out his song Redemption, which landed in Semi-Finals, making this the 7th(!) time he’s landed in the top ten on OurStage. I caught up with the OurStage superstar to get his thoughts on Finals Week, the Boston hip-hop scene, and how he uses music to give back to the community.
Quinn: Today you landed in Semi-Finals (again!) for Alternative Rap. Do you offer an alternative to mainstream hip-hop?
SLiM: First I wanna thank everybody who has supported me, I appreciate you all. Yes, my songs on ourstage are more geared tothe Underground Hip Hop movement. I do my best to create a sound and songs that are not the same recycled formula as most mainstream Rap music. More socially conscious, painting pictures of everyday struggles as I see them. You know? What is considered underground now used to be mainstream.
Q: You’re a seven time top ten artist on OurStage. Why do the fans love you so much?
S: I dont know man. Maybe because I truly am SLiM PiCKENS(pickings) lol. I hope they love me because I give real feeling in my music, something people can connect with on a personal level. Life lessons.
Q: Any advice for new artists on OurStage?
S: Yeah man, PROMO-PROMO-PROMO, thats what I do. I would tell them to find forums where people respect your craft and go hard with the promotion. Get on ya grind!!!
Q: For people in other parts of the country, what do you wish they knew about the Boston hip-hop scene?
S: The Boston Hip Hop scene has gotta lot of talent, many different styles and ranges of sound. We need people to recognize that we do have a Hip Hop scene(as small as it is). Its becoming greater day by day the more we unite. Check out Boston Hip Hop. We got next!!!
Q: If you could collaborate with any living artist, who would it be and why?
S: Wow, just 1 because there are so many. Man, how bout my top five (lol)? I would say Nas. He’s vivid with the story telling. Really descriptive. The Rza, he’s gotta real precision cut scientific type spit (say that 5 times fast lol). Common for his lyricism and finesse. KRS-1, pretty self explanatory. Rakim(Hip Hop GOD), Black Thought, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys lol the list goes on ya know.
Q: Any other artists on OurStage that people should know about?
S: Definitely, my homie Buttaraspy, he got flava for days. Also:
Izwon-raw raps
Subzero617-multi-talented artist
Problemaddicts-ill Hip Hop crew
C.A.M.IL-he’s nice with the mic
Miztasand-anotha multi-talented artist
Bsykes-gets the club hoppin
Rick Foy- ill with the video
B-Millz-Mr. Philly himself, kid got skills
E.B.B. and Flow-Good music for ya listening pleasure
The Press Project-DOPE
There is so much talent on Ourstage!!!
Q: In your song Hip Hop you say “f**k the radio.” Is radio dead?
S: Its dying. DJs don’t break records like they used to. I listen to satellite radio, but FM forget about it (once in a blue moon). All u hear is the same trash over and over and over again. I think thats the reason people like it. They hypnotize you into liking it (lol).
Q: What do you do when you’re not rhyming?
S: Spend time with my family, my wife and 2 kids. I volunteer with Citizen Schools as a Citizen teacher for the Boston Hip Hop Shop apprenticeship. We teach the kids History of Hip Hop and how it is evolving. Its music, history, social studies, art, entertainment all rolled up in to one class, once a week with my co-teacher D. Brown from Jam’n 94.5. Other than that I relax, but Hip Hop is my life. Its how I survive.
Welcome to our sixth installment featuring CMJ’s OurStage Staff Picks from the CMJ Relay Blog. CMJ is well known for their industry leading New Music Report magazine, which contains music reviews, artist news and interviews with the best artists being played on college radio.
