Five Questions With STS aka Sugar Tongue Slim
In 2000, poet STS (aka Sugar Tongue Slim) arrived in Philly for what was to be a short visit. Then known as a Mecca for slam poets, Slim fell for the City of Brotherly Love and never left. He made his rounds on the Slam scene and quickly rose to prominence, earning the praise of legendary poet Black Ice who would become his mentor.
He became a regular at Black Lily, the now legendary series that started in Quest’s living room. At the urging of DJ Jazzy Jeff, Slim began rapping. He went on to co-write Ciara’s massive hit record “Oh” which became her third top-five single and stayed on the Hot 100 for 23 weeks. Before long, Slim had a record deal w/ Def Jam. But just weeks after signing, he was in a near-fatal car accident. Unable to walk let alone record, the deal was over.
After a long recovery, he connected w/ Black Thought and joined his group, the Money Making Jam Boys. The project featured a host of producers including Questlove, Jazzy Jeff, and a young Khari Mateen. STS would go on to appear on The Roots album How I Got Over, including the track “Right On” featuring Joanna Newsom.
Slim has continued to collaborate with artists of all genres. In 2015, he released an LP w/ producer RJD2, titled STS X RJD2. The following year, he released his first solo effort in 8 years, Ladies Night, on Ropeadope.
His current project, Better on a Sunday, is a collaboration w/ producer and multi-instrumentalist, Khari Mateen (another member of the extended Roots crew). The album is three years in the making and began while the two were on the road w/ RJD2. The album is the first release on Slim’s newly formed label DonCarlos Presents – a move that was inspired by RJD2’s own RJ’s Electrical Recordings. The album released at the end of 2017.
Pictured: STS x Khari Mateen (Photo Adriel Gonzalez)
The Hype Magazine got the young lion to weigh in on a few things
Tell us about your current project which dropped this past January 20th!
Better On a Sunday (Artwork: Matthew Fleming)
Well, the record Fake News which is the second single for the Better on A Sunday project was obviously inspired by Trump’s attack on the media. One day it just hit me Fake News should be a song but we (Khari) don’t like to do preachy records so instead, take the idea flip it and apply it to daily life. It’s like if you have a girlfriend and one of her girls says she saw you out at the club doing too much. When your girlfriend brings it up, tell her it’s “fake news”. If it works for Trump, why can’t it work for all the players out there LOL. But if you break down the lyrics you’ll hear all the references to shit Trump has said.
What’s your favorite part about making music?
I really love it all, I never wanted to be a rapper or actor but simply an artist. I like to try different art forms but if I had to choose one it would be writing, I love to play with words. Whether it’s a rap or a poem…doesn’t matter, I can express myself best on the page.
As an aware person, do you feel the current project is the best introduction to you as an artist?
It’s not hard to stay aware because that’s who I am and I don’t try to be something I’m not, I do admit that I am extremely flawed but aren’t we all. I always refer to a record called WWW it’s says ‘All I know is women, weed and what to wear. Some people think I’m shallow baby. I don’t care we could talk politics and world affairs”. At times I do have to step back and really look at a record and ask myself, “Is this what I want to put out there?” I’ve learned to just let it flow when I’m creating. Be honest in the moment. If I just left a strip club don’t expect me to write a political record…but you might get a love song haha.
What’s on your horizon for 2018?
2018 is looking good, Better on A Sunday, the album dropped in January. We hit the road in February on big US tour. Just taking it one day at a time, trying to enjoy everything and really just be in the moment.
The Hype Magazine wants to know what’s been your craziest “Where they do that at?! or WTF moment thus far in your career?
First time I went on a European tour was with a DJ group called The Crookers. We are doing hour and a half sets. I was rapping and hyping the crowd. I had never seen crowds that big in my life. One night, I jumped down and climbed on the gate — dapping fans and stuff. Suddenly a girl starts kissing me another and one’s hand was in my pants and another one was tryin to take off my shirt. Luckily security saved me of course but I was like WTF!!! Then it became just part of the routine.
WEBSITE / SOCIAL
https://www.betteronasunday.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stsisgold/?hl=en
https://soundcloud.com/stsisgold
TweetAbout the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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