After a four-year absence away from the game Lewisham’s Slim proclaims his return as a renegade rapper on new mixtape ‘Still Working 2’ – the long-gestating follow-up to ‘Still Working’. Recorded before and after his stint in prison, the 13-track song cycle features guest spots from M Huncho, Potter Payper and Mnelia. A lyrically-dense treatise on survival, Slim flits between dystopian, darkly-lit grime numbers, road trap excursions and buoyant drill detours, unleashing years of stifled creativity.
“It’s about doing stuff people won’t expect. I have to treat it like that. When I was caught up in my graft and my grind, I was non-stop,” says Slim. “That’s me. 110% at all times. Sacrificing meals just to work. Sacrificing family time. Now I’m here. The main difference is the fact that police aren’t going to be kicking off the studio door because we’re doing something illegal.”
Out today, Slim provides a track-by-track rundown of his mixtape for CLASH…
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‘Matter Of Time’
The opening track on the mixtape holds special significance for me. It was one of the first songs I recorded after my release. This moment marked my return to the studio and was met with great enthusiasm from everyone involved; my friends, my team, and my management. This track served as a means for me to vent and express the thoughts and emotions that had been building up during my four-year absence. During production, we faced some minor challenges with the initial beat, which led us to rework the entire song with a different one. This decision ultimately led to my collaboration with the juicer, creating a positive and productive vibe in the studio.
Picture Me ft. Potter Payper
‘Picture Me’ has an interesting origin story. When I first heard the beat, it immediately reminded me of ‘Picture This’, a track from my first tape. This generated the idea for ‘Picture Me’, essentially making it a spiritual successor, like ‘Picture This Part 2’. However, when I initially stepped into the recording booth, I hadn’t planned to feature Payper on the track, even though I knew I wanted to collaborate with him.
The decision to bring Payper on board came about through my manager’s efforts. He reached out to Potter’s team to explore the possibility of a collaboration, and surprisingly, Potter responded swiftly, delivering his verse within 48 hours. It’s worth noting that I’ve been a fan of Potter’s music since I was a young kid; I’ve spent countless hours listening to his tracks over the years. So, when I’m rapping about ‘Picture Me’ and all the scenarios I envision, it’s quite ironic that Potter Payper ended up being a part of it, given the significant influence his music had on me during those times.
‘Double R’s’
‘Double R’s’ holds a special place for me as it was one of the first songs I created upon my release – actually the very first or one of the first two. When I heard the beat, it had that fresh energy of being back home, and it just felt natural. This is why we decided to release it as the first single after my release. The vibe during that time, like I mentioned, was all about me being back. I think that session might have been my very first one after my release. Everyone around was happy to see me back, and the studio had such positive vibes. It was a moment that signified my return to work, and I distinctly remember thinking, “I’m here, and I’m back to work.
‘Passenger Side’
‘Passenger Side’ is one of my personal favorites from the tape. I remember crafting this song in HMP Glasgow back in 2022 shortly after my transfer. I was in my own world, but also in a ‘I need to get home’ state of mind. Despite the challenges, I had a feeling that I was on a path towards returning home. During this time, I was venting my thoughts, reflecting on life, and it turned out to be one of the more profound tracks on the tape.
When it came to recording the song, I linked up with Quincy and M Huncho in the studio. While working with Huncho, Quincy left me some beats, and as soon as I heard one of them, I knew I needed that beat for ‘Passenger Side’ I went home, picked up where I left off with the lyrics I had written in jail, and felt a strong urge to record it. The very next day, I hit the studio with Chucks, a producer who had worked with Quincy and understood the vision. ‘Passenger Side’ had to be on the tape because it carries a concept – I’m the passenger in a car that’s navigating through my life, and as I ride along, I’m contemplating my journey.
‘Having A Laugh’
‘Having A Laugh’ was a unique experience for me. I collaborated with M1 in the studio, and we had various producers dropping by. While I already knew M1’s management, I hadn’t met him in person before the recording session. However, when he came through, he brought some beats with him. As we were all enjoying a bit of a relaxed atmosphere, having some drinks and getting into the vibe, a beat played and I started freestyling to it. It was unexpected because no one really anticipated me doing drill music. But I heard the beat and I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” I laid down some bars, and M1 and his team thought it was fire. That’s how ‘Having A Laugh’ came into existence. I named it that way because, as I mentioned, drill isn’t typically my style, and I approached it with a sense of fun, turning it into a banger. While I have many favorites on the tape, ‘Having A Laugh’ stands out because it represents a different mood, and I genuinely enjoy the drill vibe in this track.
Any Minute ft. M Huncho
‘Any Minute’ is a special collaboration with M Huncho. Our previous song together, ‘In My Bag’, on my first tape, turned out to be my biggest hit. When I was working on ‘Still Working 2’, I knew I had to bring M Huncho back on board. M Huncho has been a strong supporter of my journey, and we had connected a few times, maybe two, three, or four times, even before this song was released as a single. We managed to create several songs together during our sessions, and then we circled back to ‘Any Minute’. Collaborating with Huncho is always a great experience; we share wisdom, advice, and it’s just a positive vibe in the booth. Our teams also get along well, so it’s always filled with good energy, and there’s never too much pressure when we’re working together. The demand for a music video for ‘Any Minute’ was high, and that’s exactly what we delivered, bringing our collaboration to life visually to match the good vibes and energy we had in the studio.
The Daily Duppy
‘The Daily Duppy’ was another moment of me venting and expressing myself. Posty from GRM came to meet me in the studio while I was just chilling, writing and recording. At one point, I heard a beat and thought, “Let me jump in and freestyle real quick.” So, I started freestyling, just flowing with the music. Interestingly, Posty suggested that it should be a Daily Duppy session even before I had fully agreed to it. We didn’t immediately realise it, but it started making more sense as time went on, maybe a few weeks later. When I eventually told Posty that I wanted to do it, there were no questions asked. I had originally been signed with GRM, and they’ve been supporting me from the very beginning. So, it felt like a natural progression for ‘The Daily Duppy’ to come into the picture as another way for me to connect with my audience and share my thoughts and experiences.
‘Let’s Move’
‘Let’s Move’ is another one of my favorites, mainly because it brings a different vibe to the mixtape. Each track has its own unique appeal, and this one stands out for its energetic feel. We were having a great time in the studio that day, enjoying some drinks and good vibes when the beat dropped. As soon as I heard it, I thought, “This could be a club banger.”
We set out to make it as catchy as possible, aiming for that distinct vibe. The message behind the song is all about keeping things in motion, not dwelling too long on one thing, but instead, taking action and moving forward. We wanted it to be a lively, party-like track, and that’s how it came together. Wizard played a significant role in most of the tape’s production. Even if he didn’t produce all the beats, he contributed bits and pieces that enhanced the overall sound. “Let’s Move” was a hit not only for me but also for many of my friends, so it was an obvious choice to include it on the tape.
Let’s Talk Money ft. Headie One
‘Let’s Talk Money’ featuring Headie One, is another significant collaboration for me. Headie and I have known each other for quite some time, and we share a lot of mutual acquaintances, especially from my teenage years when I was incarcerated. When I first started my journey in music, Headie was one of the early supporters who pushed and encouraged me. In 2018, after my release, we reconnected, and he brought me on tour with him. That experience was invaluable as it allowed me to perform my first shows and gain some valuable experience.
We linked up in one of Headie’s studios, and the vibes were great, as always. It was my first time seeing him since my release. I told him, “I want the best of Headie, the Headie that everyone knows.” In my opinion, that meant a drill track which is why we went in that direction. M1 and Wizard were also part of the session. Originally, the song was longer with four verses, totalling about four and a half minutes but we decided to trim it down. Headie One was keen on shooting a video for the track, and I suggested that we keep it natural. I have many mutual friends in the scene, so I wanted the video to feel authentic. Filming on Headie One’s block made sense because it didn’t feel forced, and I knew the people there, creating a genuine and comfortable environment for the shoot.
‘Coming Up’ ft. Mnelia
‘Coming Up’ featuring Mnelia is a track that originally came together with Firstborn. Firstborn had worked on many songs for my first tape and he’s from Bradford, so he came down for the recording. We worked on that beat, and the vibes in the studio were just right. It resonated with everyone, and I saw it as an opportunity to let my fans and supporters know more about my background and upbringing.
Mike, who serves as the A&R for the label, had the idea of adding a female singer to the track. That’s when Mnelia came into the picture. At the time, I had just been released from jail, and I’d heard Mnelia’s radio-friendly songs, so I thought it was a fantastic idea to collaborate with her. When Mnelia joined us for the session it was a quick process – maybe half an hour. She laid down her hook and made some adjustments in her own time; it was a straightforward and seamless collaboration. We’re both artists on the rise, building our careers, so it made perfect sense. I believe our collaboration allows us to expose each other to different fan bases. Overall, I think ‘Coming Up’ is a great song that provides more insight into my upbringing, sharing aspects of my life that some listeners might not have known about.
‘Timmy’s Story’
‘Timmy’s Story’ is a track with a unique concept. I wanted to experiment with storytelling in my lyrics, creating a narrative that revolves around a specific scenario and someone’s experiences. Although it may not directly relate to me, it’s inspired by someone from the area I grew up in. I aimed to breathe life into this story and offer listeners an understanding of a situation they might not have personally encountered. This type of writing was a departure from my usual style, where I typically focus on rapping about various topics. On the day we recorded the track, it was probably the third song out of the three we made during that session. My friends were surprised by it because I hadn’t really delved into storytelling songs before. It turned out to be a banger, and it became a favorite for some listeners.
‘If You Need Me’
‘If You Need Me’ was actually a lighthearted creation for me. I remember driving to the studio, listening to beats to get myself in the zone, which is something I usually do. I stumbled upon a softer instrumental vibe that was more oriented toward another genre. When I arrived at the studio, Wizard was waiting for me, and I told him that I wanted something in that particular vibe.
Honestly, within about 20 minutes to half an hour, we had the foundation of the beat, and I had my verse written. At the time, it was just Wizard and me in the studio. As others started showing up, it caught them by surprise because it wasn’t something they necessarily expected from me. However, I want to connect with all kinds of people and address relatable topics. Most people in the world can relate to relationship issues, and I felt it was important to convey that narrative, drawing from my own perspective as well. ‘If You Need Me’ serves as a way for me to connect with listeners who may be dealing with similar relationship challenges.
‘Be Myself’
‘Be Myself’ is the final song on the tape, but not the least significant. I wrote this track while I was in prison, just freestyling and venting. At the time, I had a lot on my mind, and I hadn’t seen my daughter for about a year. I had no visits. I was in my own world, thinking about how I needed to get out and get back to work. ‘Be Myself’ served as an outlet for the emotions and thoughts that had built up inside me. I already had these bars written down on paper from when I was feeling low. Chucks made the beat, and when I heard it, I felt an immediate connection to it. I knew this was the right beat for the lyrics I had written during my difficult times. Luckily, I had my book from prison with me, so I went in and recited the lyrics, and that’s how the song came together.
The instrumental of ‘Be Myself’ gave me the feeling of cruising down Miami Beach, like you’re on your way home after completing a mission or just achieving something significant. It’s a smooth, relaxed vibe that fits well as the closing track of the tape. I have to say, recording freestyle or venting songs like this one is my favorite. I feel the most comfortable expressing myself and talking about these situations through my music.
‘Still Working 2’ is out now.
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Photo Credit: Eva Pentel