A proudly DIY artist with friends in high places, Slim Thug has made a name for himself through releasing projects that speak to the power of self-sufficiency. Born Stayve Jerome Thomas in Houston in 1980, the MC participated in ciphers at parties, where he refined his casual cadence and deepened timbre, resulting in an affiliation with Texas creative outlet Swishahouse. In 2004, Slim Thug was featured on a song that would forever change his trajectory: Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin’”, a syrupy, string-led single that homed in on the popular car culture of Houston and based its production foundation on a previous Swishahouse freestyle by Slim Thug. Through his features, Thug caught the ear of Pharrell Williams, who signed him to a deal with the progressive Star Trak label. Slim Thug unveiled his debut album in 2005, Already Platinum, which was driven by singles “Like a Boss” and “3 Kings”, the latter featuring fellow Houstonian Bun B and Atlanta trap star T.I. The following year, Thug would be featured on pop supernova Beyoncé’s flirtatious “Check On It”. Motivated by his success, Slim Thug rerouted to an independent path, where he would drop numerous projects, including his ambitious 2009 album, Boss of All Bosses; it was highlighted by the regional posse track, “Welcome 2 Houston”, featuring a slew of local artists including Mike Jones and Paul Wall (whom he rapped alongside on his breakthrough track). In 2015, Slim Thug began releasing a series of mixtapes titled Hogg Life, focusing heavily on his experiences as an independent leader in hip-hop, which solidified his status as a cultural influencer in Houston.