Already Platinum | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 12, 2005 | |||
Recorded | 2004–2005 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 62:26 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Slim Thug chronology | ||||
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Singles from Already Platinum | ||||
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Already Platinum is the debut studio album by American rapper Slim Thug. It was released through Pharrell and Chad Hugo's Star Trak record label on July 12, 2005. The original release date was slated for February 2005, but heavy bootlegging and numerous delays held the album back, forcing a vast majority of its original track listing to be replaced. The original track listing included the original version of the track "I Ain't Heard of That", which featured Jay-Z.
In an interview with XXL , the rapper explained the album title does not suggest he will go platinum, but that his lifestyle (before he got a record deal) was already similar to that of rappers who had reached the platinum status. In an interview on The Tyra Banks Show , mentor Pharrell revealed that he was a millionaire before the two met, and he especially liked that about him. He continued to say that he was "already platinum," the album name was just in confirmation of this.[ citation needed ]
The album debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200, with 130,000 copies sold in the first week. [1] Since its release, the album has sold over 500,000 copies in the United States. [2] [3] [4]
In 2016, in an interview with Slim Thug, he claims to have met the albums executive producer Pharrell Williams in Houston prior to career a mentorship arranged by Jimmy Iovine, as both acts were signed to Interscope Records at the time. Slim Thug also claims to have recorded a bulk of album in Los Angeles; Williams played a then-unreleased remix to Jay-Z's 2003 single "Change Clothes" (which Williams also produced), which was later reworked and became a song on the album, "I Ain't Heard of That". The song was also supposed to keep a verse performed by Jay-Z as a guest feature, however once the song became heavily bootlegged, the verse was replaced by fellow Houston rapper Bun B. Jay-Z received a formal songwriting credit on the song, despite Slim Thug alleging that Williams wrote the chorus. [5]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Robert Christgau | C [7] |
Entertainment Weekly | B [8] |
Okayplayer | [9] |
Pitchfork | 7.5/10 [10] |
Rolling Stone | [11] |
Spin | [12] |
Stylus Magazine | B+ [13] |
USA Today | [14] |
Vibe | [15] |
Already Platinum garnered a positive reception from music critics who praised Slim's vocal delivery and the Southern production. AllMusic's Andy Kellman praised Slim's delivery for being more charismatic than Lil' Flip and Mike Jones, and the production work from both Mr. Lee and The Neptunes, concluding that "Already Platinum is one of 2005's best rap albums." [6] Evan McGarvey of Stylus Magazine praised the Neptunes' production for evolving with Slim's Southern drawl and delivery, concluding that "After years of singles that people called "infectious" and "club-ready," they take Slim Thug and his dashing uniqueness and carve diamonds. This [album] isn't a musical highlight reel, it's watching artists shuck off personal curses and step into their own skins." [13] Vibe contributor Rondell Conway wrote that, "Slim's worldly sensibilities make the pensive moments on the album both heartfelt ("Dedicate") and heady ("The Interview"). All the while, he keeps his Teflon status intact–without telling any tall tales." [15] Rolling Stone 's Christian Hoard called the record "a popwise bastardization of the Houston rap scene's round-the-way charm", praising Slim's "down-home brassiness" delivering "brawny boasts and mesmerizing refrains", and the Neptunes' "arty minimalism" being better than on previous outings. [11]
Entertainment Weekly writer Michael Endelman gave note of Slim having a "steady, linebacker-strong flow and [a] baritone" throughout the album but gave credit to the Neptunes for giving him "spacious and stark beats that are equal parts frightening and funky". [8] Steve Jones of USA Today said that big names like T.I. and Jazze Pha didn't turn the attention away from the main artist, saying that "Slim [Thug]'s confident, laid-back deliveries keep him from being overshadowed." [14] Chris Ryan of Spin commended Slim for lending his voice to the Neptunes' atmospheric production, saying they "contribute some of their most adventurous work yet." [12] Tom Breihan of Pitchfork was critical of most of the tracks by the Neptunes, saying they "lost the gleaming, clattering swagger they once had, relying instead on bloodless synth lines and itchy, nattering drums" and that Slim's performance on them suffered. But said that the tracks by Mr. Lee ("Diamonds" and "3 Kings") were the highlights, concluding that, "On tracks like this, Slim sounds prehistoric, like he's always existed, like this voice has been echoing over canyons and through caves since before time began." [10]
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Intro" | Mr. Lee | 2:24 |
2. | "Like a Boss" | The Neptunes | 3:20 |
3. | "3 Kings" (featuring T.I. and Bun B) | Mr. Lee | 4:50 |
4. | "Diamonds" | Mr. Lee | 3:14 |
5. | "Boyz 'N' Blue" (featuring Killa Kyleon, Sir Daily, PJ, and Chris Ward) | Mr. Lee | 3:50 |
6. | "I Ain't Heard of That (Remix)" (featuring Bun B) | The Neptunes | 3:49 |
7. | "Click Clack" (featuring Pusha T) | The Neptunes | 3:32 |
8. | "Everybody Loves a Pimp" (featuring Jazze Pha) | Jazze Pha | 4:21 |
9. | "Already Platinum" (featuring Pharrell) | The Neptunes | 4:47 |
10. | "Ashy to Classy" | The Neptunes | 3:38 |
11. | "The Interview" |
| 2:47 |
12. | "Playa You Don't Know" (featuring Pharrell) | The Neptunes | 4:30 |
13. | "Miss Mary" | Cool & Dre | 4:28 |
14. | "Incredible Feelin'" (featuring Jazze Pha) | Jazze Pha | 4:35 |
15. | "This Is My Life" (featuring LeToya Luckett) | The Neptunes | 4:10 |
16. | "Dedicate" | The Neptunes | 4:33 |
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Welcome to Houston" | Mr. Lee | 4:22 |
2. | "I'll Show Ya" (featuring Killa Kyleon and Chris Ward) | Mr. Lee | 4:45 |
3. | "Represent Gangsta" (featuring Killa Kyleon and Sir Daily) | Mr. Lee | 4:47 |
4. | "I Need A..." (featuring Killa Kyleon and Chris Ward) | Mr. Lee | 4:18 |
5. | "Dope Man" (featuring Killa Kyleon) | Mr. Lee | 4:08 |
6. | "3 Kings (Chopped and Screwed)" (featuring T.I. and Bun B) | Mr. Rogers | 5:26 |
7. | "Like a Boss (Chopped and Screwed)" | Mr. Rogers | 3:46 |
8. | "I Ain't Heard of That (Remix) (Chopped and Screwed)" (featuring Bun B) | Mr. Rogers | 4:34 |
Credits for Already Platinum adapted from AllMusic. [20]
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) [25] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
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Stayve Jerome Thomas, better known by his stage name Slim Thug, is an American rapper. He initially gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the hit single by rapper Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'". In July 2005, he released his debut album Already Platinum, which reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. That same year, he was featured on Beyoncé's single for the Pink Panther soundtrack, "Check on It", which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video.
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This is the discography of American rapper Slim Thug.
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Boss Hogg Outlaws is a collaborative studio album by American southern rap artists E.S.G. and Slim Thug from Houston, Texas. It was released on November 6, 2001, via Houston-based record label S.E.S. Entertainment. It features guest appearances from Big Hawk, Bun B, Carmen SanDiego, Daz Dillinger, Lil' Keke, Lil' O, Scarface and Z-Ro. The album peaked at #55 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #16 on the Independent Albums and #30 on the Heatseekers Albums in the US Billboard charts. Two singles were released from the album: "Getchya Hands Up" and "Thug It Up".
Tha Thug Show is the third studio album by Houston recording artist Slim Thug. It was released on November 30, 2010, by his Boss Hogg Outlawz label, distributed by E1 Music. The album was supported by two singles; "Gangsta" featuring Z-Ro, and "So High" featuring B.o.B.
"Gotta Have It" is a song by American hip hop artists Kanye West and Jay-Z from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song was produced by West and The Neptunes, and samples three original compositions by James Brown: "Don't Tell a Lie About Me and I Won't Tell the Truth About You", "People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul" and "My Thang". The song explores themes of wealth, decadence and the economic stature in the US. The song received positive reviews from critics who complimented the production and the clever wordplay of the two rappers.
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Boss Hogg Outlawz were an American hip hop collective from Houston, Texas formed and led by Slim Thug. The collective originally included Le$, Sludge Von, C. Ward, J-Dawg, Killa Kyleon, Sir Daily, Lil Ray, Young Black, Dre Day, PJ & M.U.G. (Deceased).
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