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SLIMM CALHOUN, October 24, 2000
Just because his first album's release date recently was pushed back from Nov. 7 to early 2001, it doesn't mean Slimm Calhoun will be slowing down anytime soon. Raised in College Park, Georgia, Slimm is the latest member of the highly successful Dungeon Family to make his mark, and he's doing it as the first artist on Outkast's Aquemini Records. Slimm's debut cut, "It's OK" featuring Andre 3000, just hit No. 1 on the Billboard rap singles chart, and he also makes a guest appearance on Outkast's upcoming album, Stankonia, which is holding fast to its Oct. 31 release date. Slimm's album, The Skinny, should see the light of day sometime after the first of the year. The 411 Online caught up with Slimm Calhoun while he was at a promo tour stop in Texas. First off, tell us a little bit about yourself. How did Outkast discover you? "It started in '94 with Mr. DJ, the third member of the production team with Big Boi and Dre. We hooked up in '94. I did a song called 'Timelock,' which is on the album. That's where it all started. From then I just kept working, man, kept recording songs with him. We kept grinding... hooked up with Cool Breeze a.k.a. Freddy Calhoun -- that's where the Calhoun part comes in with Slimm Calhoun. Started with the boys in East Point. That's where it all started. They're from East Point. I'm from College Park. We all South side. That's how the Calhoun thing jumped off. Through the process, we just kept working, just kept grinding. Cool Breeze did his album... we're all Dungeon Family. Outkast got the label deal and that was another extension for something else to happen. They asked me to be the first one to jump it off. That's how it happened." What's that mean to you, to be the first on their label? "Man, a great thing. A blessing, most definitely. Just coming from up under the Outkast following, that's most definitely a blessing. And then, you know, we're just trying to take it somewhere and just keep putting creative and innovative music out there." How do you like what your first single's doing so far? It's up to No. 3 already. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everything's going well, you know. Most definitely. Everything's going well. Like I said, we've just been down here working hard. We're out here on the promo tour right now in Texas. Just kicking it. Just letting the world know that we're coming. The album will be out at the top of the year." Tell me a little bit about the album. "The album... it's called The Skinny. The Skinny means 'the 411' or 'the scoop' or 'the info,' so that's what the whole album is about, like information about what's going on from street to street, from the clubs to the house to the church to the school to whatever. I got something on the album for the hustlas, the playas, the cuttas, the women. I mean, if you like to think, if you just like to sit back, ride, smoke... there's something on there for everybody. And then it's all concrete. There ain't no gimmicks to it. It's all truth and reality-based material. So, you know, it's for everybody." So how do you compare your style to Outkast? Y'all are from the same family, so there's obviously going to be some similarities, but what are some of those similarities and differences? "Well, I'm kinda poetical with mine. I'm like a poet, but I'm like a street poet. Some real grimy street poetry. I call it 'elite street heat.' That's like the whole style." Who are some of your influences? "L.L., Run DMC, everybody... P.E. The D.O.C. was one of my favorite rappers from back in the day. You know, it ain't old school, but it's been a minute. But he was one of the dopest. From the new school, I like 2Pac, Biggie, Jay-Z...I love all of them. UGK. That's some of my favorite rappers." What's next after the album? "Well, after the album it's album two. We're already starting to have some ideas for the second album, just trying to venture out, try some new things. Gotta keep creating." Do you know what the second single is gonna be? "It may be 'That Dirt Work' featuring Big Boi." Anything else you want to let the fans know? "Yeah, put this in there. If they want to know more about Slimm Calhoun they can log on to www.slimmcalhoun.com -- that's Slimm with two M's."
-- Mason Storm, The 411 Online All contents ©1994-2000 The 411 Online
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