Methodically quiet and seriously serious, St. Paul Slim prefers to sit back and observe, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Don’t write him off as shy or docile, though, because for as somber as Slim can be, he can be equally boisterous and rowdy. He’ll get in your face to deliver the harsh reality of everyday life in the inner city. Born in Chicago and raised in St. Paul, Slim’s hard past is the creative fuel powering his career. If he raps about a gun, it’s because he’s carried one. If he rhymes about gang violence, it’s because he’s witnessed it. “Everything’s got a lesson to it,” Slim says. Growing up during hip-hop’s heyday, Slim’s music reflects his desire to bring the genre back to those roots. “I was inspired and influenced by the greats, I am a product of greatness therefore I am great,” Slim boasts. Lyrically, Slim’s precise delivery and unprecedented wordplay challenge his listeners to see through the bullshit drowning commercial hip-hop. Likewise, his beats resonate a stripped down, old school vibe with modern hip-hop flair. “I grew up in an era where hip-hop wasn’t about bling-bling,” he says. “People had nice watches, they wore gold chains, but nobody talked about it. Hip-hop’s the news of the ghetto and I think there’s more to talk about than money and girls.” St. Paul Slim played an important role in many successful hip-hop projects, including Atmosphere’s “Strictly Leakage,” Muja Messiah’s “MPLS Massacre,” and the soundtrack for the major motion picture “Justice.” He has performed with respected hip-hop legends like MC Lyte, Black Moon, and Slick Rick. Slim is a repeat performer at the Twin Cities Hip-Hop Celebration. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.