There are few voices that listeners can easily identify upon hearing a single note.  Slim, the lead singer of the highly successfully R&B group, 112, is one of those voices.  After helping to create hits such as “Cupid,” “Only You,” “Peaches & Cream,” and more, Slim is going solo on his forthcoming release, Love’s Crazy.  His lead single “So Fly,” featuring Yung Joc and Shawty Lo is currently flying high on the airwaves. 

Sixshot spoke with the laid-back singer about his soul-searching journey in Australia, losing the love for the music, becoming a CEO of M3 Productions, rumors of drug abuse, the state of 112, and more. 

I know that going solo is something that you did not foresee for yourself.  So what finally inspired you to go solo?

I was running away from it at first for awhile.  What happened was that for a while I started losing the love for the music.  I was doing really good in my investments, but because of a lot of crap that was going on as far as the music business is concerned I started losing the love for it. I had to do a real strong soul searching. 

I got on a plane and went to Sydney, Australia.  When I went out there I thought about it and I actually started going to radio stations and clubs.  I was meeting actual fans who were almost in tears and it just let me know that there are real fans out there that really appreciate you.  From there I got together with my friends and I now call them my execs.  They work for the label, M3, and they encouraged me.  Now I got my own label and everything is running crazy.

What specifically made you become discouraged with the music business?

I would have to say that things weren’t exactly going the way I wanted.  It had nothing to do with money ‘cause our [112] last album sold 1.1 million records.  We were doing really good.  It was some inside stuff that was going on.  I'm very passionate.  When things start going away from the actual music and attention is on other things—that’s when I stated losing the love for it.

What things was the attention going to if not the music?

I kind of don’t want to say.  Let's just say there was a lot of haters and hating going on.  It had nothing to do with the money aspect ‘cause I was actually making more money in my investments than I was making with the music.  We were having a great career with 112.  It was just that with the music business period there’s a lot of stuff that goes on that people don’t know about, but the artist has to deal with it.

What did you learn most about yourself during that journey?

I really learned that I love the music and basically that I’m God’s vessel.  God has his plan for me as far as music is concerned.  In my early life I was very good in school and I thought I was gonna be in aviation and design planes.  I ended up meeting three very incredibly talented guys and doing something that I didn’t know—it wasn’t a plan.  It was God, and it let me know when God has something planned for you it’s bigger than what you would want.  So who am I to fight that?  That’s why instead of being just a regular artist I'm gonna be a boss.  I'm gonna be a CEO.  Let’s start this label up and let’s do it.  I believe in myself and the fans definitely believe.  So I’m glad I did it cause everything’s going incredibly well.

I read that you wanted to make the switch to CEO because as an artist you felt trapped in a box.

Well the great part about 112 is that I didn’t feel like I was in a box.  We were definitely allowed to creatively express ourselves.  That part was great.  It was probably more of the business aspect.  I think I started to become a little off-kilter when it came to what I should be really concerned with.  I should be concerned with the business aspect also, but when the business part is not going well it affects the creative side.  So I think that’s where I was losing the love.  The great thing about this situation is that I’m really the boss.

Based off of the album title, what’s the craziest thing you’ve done for love?

On my album I'm going to talk about a lot of bright things as far as love is concerned.  I’m not talking about any negative stuff like that.  So trust me people--girls and guys--understand that you’re not gonna get beat up.  You can play my record and I'm offering solutions instead of bringing up problems.

I read that you wanted to bring romance back to the airwaves cause you feel that is missing. 

Yes, I think that part of music is missing.  When 112 first came out we came out with Jodeci, Boyz II Men, and you had Mint Condition.  I call that the golden years when the talent was incredible.  The songs had meaning.  We knew when we came out that we were either going to release songs that will stand the test of time, or fall through the wayside.  So I’m setting a standard ‘cause I’m the first artist on my label. 

There was a blog post that said you must be doing drugs since you weren't so slim anymore.  I hear that you were quite upset about that posting.

Yeah that was crazy.  I got a chance to talk to the guy who set that blog in and he apologized.  Now we’re cool and I’m probably gonna do a strong interview with him.  I didn’t have to say anything because the fans really grilled him.  I’m pretty sure when you’re talking about a person that doesn’t drink or smoke at all that’s not gonna run too well with the fans or whatever.  So bloggers gonna say what they’re gonna say.  The Slim before would have allowed that to affect him, but the Slim now has a strong and tough skin when it comes to criticism and stuff like that.  So as far as that blog or whatever we definitely got that under control.  Plus, when we first stated I weighted 125 lbs.  Now if I would have had those types of blogs then I would understand ‘cause drugs make you lose weight not gain weight.  [Laughs]

I wanna touch on some 112 news.  I read that Daron left the group to stand on his own, but that he’s now back with the group.  Do you know why he returned?

I look at that situation like him being the prodigal son.  I don’t think he ever really left.  He just had to do some soul searching of his own.  It’s like he really wanted to see what he could possibly do.  Everybody has their system.  With me I feel like I embrace the situation.  I’m in a group that sold 20-22 million records worldwide.   If you’re gonna do something you don’t want to run away from that worldwide brand.  But he had another reasoning at that time and with that situation you have to ask Daron.

So when he said he wanted to come back was there a big discussion about it or was it just an easy embrace?

We’re what you call real brothers.  When somebody goes through something we don’t beat them down.  Of course we’re gonna ask for a reason but at the end of the day I respect him.  He’s a grown man and we always respect each other’s space.  So when he wanted to do what he wanted to do that doesn’t hinder the brand—the brand keeps moving on.  But it was good that he decided that he really missed his brothers.  So we’re glad that he’s back and we’re gonna keep it moving as far as 112.

Many people say that you’re the most popular member of the group.  Do you consider that to be true?

It’s kind of hard to say that.  I’m the person with the most recognizable voice.  I have a very unique sounding voice.  I think that people look at 112 for several different reasons. With Q, girls love Q.  Ever since high school he’s always been athletic.  So of course the girls love him and it’s been like that since middle school.  It’s the same way with Daron.  But I’m very charismatic so I can understand why people would say that.

What more do you want to accomplish?

I’m never content.  So I definitely became a perfectionist now.  I really want from top to bottom everything to run very smoothly.  So I just strive for more.  I’m just never content.

For more information please visit:
www.myspace.com/slimof112