“Already Platinum” Still Not Platinum

Nearly three years since its release, “Already Platinum” the major label debut from Houston rapper Slim Thug has yet to be certified as a platinum record. A Platinum Record is an award given to a musical artist for the sale of one million copies of an album. The most recent data from Soundscan, the entity charged with monitoring music sales, indicates that the record has yet to achieve even Gold Record status, selling only 457,002 copies since it’s release. In recent months, the record has been consistently selling approximately 100 copies a week. If this trend continues, the record should achieve platinum status sometime in the year 2018.

Slim Thug, nee Stayve Jerome Thomas, is known among hip hop fans primarily for appearing on a Mike Jones single, being really tall, and for having his name prominently tattooed on his forearms. The self-proclaimed “Boss of all Bosses” was signed by Geffen Interscope during the American public’s brief flirtation with regional Houston hip-hop, a subgenre known mostly for its celebration of prescription strength cough syrup and jewel encrusted dental appliances known as “grills.” Houston hip-hop reached its commercial peak in 2005 with releases from Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Chamillionaire topping the billboard charts.

Commenting on the record’s boastful title, Slim Thug has recently distanced himself from the high expectations created by “Already Platinum.” He has claimed that the title referred not to the album that bared its name but to his previous success selling other albums, which, curiously had also failed to be certified platinum. “Yeah, I called my album 'Already Platinum.' In the streets they know me.” The back-peddling rapper explained, “Any hood I go to they know Slim Thug. I've been rich for years. I got fuckin’ platinum in my mouth, platinum on the handle of my glock, platinum in my wood grain. Soundscan can't tell me nothing about platinum."

“Already Platinum” was released in the summer of 2005 to high expectations. Executives at Interscope hoped the record would appeal to hip hop fans hungry for songs addressing gun violence, unearned bravado and customized cars who had not tired of hearing these issues commented on by every single rapper in existence. In an bid for mainstream success, many of the tracks on the record were produced by The Neptunes, a highly successful production team consisting of Pharrell and another guy who appears to be of Asian descent. Despite the high profile production and a strong marketing push, Slim Thug failed to connect with a mainstream audience, quickly falling down the billboard charts.

Slim Thug has taken the commercial disappointment of “Already Platinum” in stride. Despite the tendency of many hip hop artists to blame their record companies in such situations, Slim Thug has been eager to shoulder his share of the blame for the lackluster sales. “I think it was a great record, but the problem was the label and the decision-making. Geffen didn't respect my G. My whole album was produced by Pharrell. I mean that’s alright for a single but my dirty south crew didn't get their shine. I grind dirty, ridin’ on candy paint. What they know about that at Geffen? So I'm gonna say their name after RIP. I’m tha Boss. H-Town's finest. Ya heard?"

In recent weeks, Slim Thug has been released from his contract with Interscope Records. His next album “Boss of All Bosses” will be self-released.

Slim Thug’s latest release, titled "Headed 2 Da Kappa", is a mixtape collaboration with the Boss Hogg Outlawz. The mixtape is available for free download HERE. (link via Mixtape Mafia).