Soulja Slim
Encyclopedia
James Tapp, Jr. better known by his stage name
Soulja Slim, was an American
rapper
who achieved massive success on Master P
's No Limit
record label. He also achieved fame throughout New Orleans and Nation Wide from his work done with B.G., UNLV, and other local artists. He is known for writing the U.S. #1 hit "Slow Motion".
or in the 3rd Ward of New Orleans
. He attended Booker T. Washington High School before dropping out of school his sophomore year. Tapp released his debut album, Soulja fa Lyfe, on Parkway Pumpin' Records in 1994 under the name Magnolia Slim. In 1995, he released the four-song e.p. The Dark Side on Hype Enough Records. In the same year, the song "You Got It" appeared on No Limit Records
double-CD compilation Down South Hustlers: Bouncin' and Swingin' . In 1998, Tapp, now calling himself Soulja Slim, released Give It 2 'Em Raw on No Limit Records
with his single and video "From What I Was Told." Soulja Slim was convicted of armed robbery and incarcerated. He reappeared three years later with Streets Made Me, which was again released on the No Limit label. From there, he started his own label, Cut Throat Committee Records and released Years Later in late 2002. In 2003, he released Years Later...A Few Months After, his last album before his death. The album featured the hit "I'll Pay for It". In 2003 he also collaborated with fellow New Orleans rapper Juvenile
to make the song "Slow Motion". The song was released on Juvenile's album Juve the Great
and reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100
. It was Soulja Slim and Juvenile's first #1 hit, and as the song was released after Soulja Slim's death he became only the sixth artist to have a posthumous #1 hit.
.
Soulja Slim was buried with his Cutthroat Committee charm and jewelry and also the leather camo clothes he's shown wearing on the cover of Give It 2 em' Raw. On New Year's Eve, December 31, 2003, police arrested 22 year old Garelle Smith in connection with Tapp's murder but was released months later. In August 2011, reports emerged that Smith had himself been found dead with gunshot wounds to the face and chest.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Soulja Slim, was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
who achieved massive success on Master P
Master P
Percy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch...
's No Limit
No Limit Records
No Limit Records was an American hip-hop record label that was founded in 1990 by hip-hop artist, Percy "Master P" Miller. It was distributed by Priority Records.-No Limit Early years:...
record label. He also achieved fame throughout New Orleans and Nation Wide from his work done with B.G., UNLV, and other local artists. He is known for writing the U.S. #1 hit "Slow Motion".
Life and music career
James Tapp was raised either in the Magnolia ProjectsMagnolia Projects
The Magnolia Projects, officially the C.J. Peete Projects, was one of the Housing Projects of New Orleans. As part of the ongoing redevelopment, the area has been renamed Harmony Oaks. The project was among the largest, housing approximately 2,100 people...
or in the 3rd Ward of New Orleans
3rd Ward of New Orleans
The 3rd Ward or Third Ward is one of the 17 Wards of New Orleans, a division of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana.-Boundaries:The Ward touches the Mississippi River as its front. The down-river boundary is Canal Street, below which is the city's 4th Ward. The upper boundary is Julia Street,...
. He attended Booker T. Washington High School before dropping out of school his sophomore year. Tapp released his debut album, Soulja fa Lyfe, on Parkway Pumpin' Records in 1994 under the name Magnolia Slim. In 1995, he released the four-song e.p. The Dark Side on Hype Enough Records. In the same year, the song "You Got It" appeared on No Limit Records
No Limit Records
No Limit Records was an American hip-hop record label that was founded in 1990 by hip-hop artist, Percy "Master P" Miller. It was distributed by Priority Records.-No Limit Early years:...
double-CD compilation Down South Hustlers: Bouncin' and Swingin' . In 1998, Tapp, now calling himself Soulja Slim, released Give It 2 'Em Raw on No Limit Records
No Limit Records
No Limit Records was an American hip-hop record label that was founded in 1990 by hip-hop artist, Percy "Master P" Miller. It was distributed by Priority Records.-No Limit Early years:...
with his single and video "From What I Was Told." Soulja Slim was convicted of armed robbery and incarcerated. He reappeared three years later with Streets Made Me, which was again released on the No Limit label. From there, he started his own label, Cut Throat Committee Records and released Years Later in late 2002. In 2003, he released Years Later...A Few Months After, his last album before his death. The album featured the hit "I'll Pay for It". In 2003 he also collaborated with fellow New Orleans rapper Juvenile
Juvenile (rapper)
Terius Gray, better known by his stage name Juvenile, is an American rapper, He is also a former member of hip-hop group the Hot Boys . At the age of 19, he began recording raps, releasing his debut album Being Myself in 1995...
to make the song "Slow Motion". The song was released on Juvenile's album Juve the Great
Juve the Great
Juve the Great is the sixth studio album by rapper Juvenile, and his last on Cash Money Records. The album was certified platinum July 20, 2004, becoming his third album to do so, after 400 Degreez and Tha G-Code. Juve the Great includes the hit single "Slow Motion" featuring Soulja Slim...
and reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was Soulja Slim and Juvenile's first #1 hit, and as the song was released after Soulja Slim's death he became only the sixth artist to have a posthumous #1 hit.
Shooting and death
On Thanksgiving Eve, November 26, 2003, Slim was en-route to a performance when an unknown gunman shot him four times; three times in the face, and once in the chest, in front of his mother's home in the GentillyGentilly, New Orleans
Gentilly is a broad, predominantly middle-class and racially diverse section of New Orleans, Louisiana. The first part of Gentilly to be developed was along the Gentilly Ridge, a long stretch of high ground along the former banks of Bayou Gentilly...
.
Soulja Slim was buried with his Cutthroat Committee charm and jewelry and also the leather camo clothes he's shown wearing on the cover of Give It 2 em' Raw. On New Year's Eve, December 31, 2003, police arrested 22 year old Garelle Smith in connection with Tapp's murder but was released months later. In August 2011, reports emerged that Smith had himself been found dead with gunshot wounds to the face and chest.
Discography
- 1998: Give It 2 'Em RawGive It 2 'Em RawGive It 2 'Em Raw is the debut album by rapper Soulja Slim. The album was a mild success, debuting at #13 on The Billboard 200. Also, unlike most other releases from No Limit Records, this album could still found in retail stores, as of 2009....
- 2001: The Streets Made Me
- 2002: Years LaterYears Later-Track listing:#Intro#Years Later#Feel Me Now#Soulja This Soulja That#Not My Dawg #I'll Pay For It#Hit The Highway#Souljas On My Feet#Motha Fuck You #I've Been Here Before...
- 2003: Years Later...A Few Months AfterYears Later...A Few Months AfterYears Later...A Few Months After is the fourth and final album by Soulja Slim before his death.-Track listing:#Intro#Hustler#Cheeze Eataz#Yeahh#Heata On Me Years Later...A Few Months After is the fourth and final album by Soulja Slim before his death.-Track listing:#Intro#Hustler#Cheeze...
- 2005: Greatest HitzGreatest Hitz (Soulja Slim album)Greatest Hitz is the greatest hits album by rapper Soulja Slim.-Track listing:# "I'll Pay For It"# "Slow Motion" # "U Bootin' Up" # "From What I Was Told"# "Closing Down Shop"# "Love Me Or Love Me Not"...