Slim Thug held a press conference at Open Bar Houston to promote his upcoming ‘Slim Thug 20^thAnniversary Concert’. The entrepreneur whose hands are in everything from music to construction, is rarely known for giving interviews, but invited local media to a no holds barred press conference where the newly dubbed, ‘Sugar Daddy Slim’ left no question off limits.

Recent headlines and radio advertisements have brought awareness to Slim’s Boss Life Construction company which recently partnered with personal injury firm Godsey Martin as well as local Radio One Houston stations: 97.9 The Boxx, 92.1 Radio Now and Majic 102.1 to rebuild and give away a home to a victim of Hurricane Harvey. The Houston native admits the attention makes him a bit uneasy, “I don’t even like the attention of the stuff we do because I feel we are taking from it by trying to broadcast and highlight and cap with [it]. I just feel like If I could be a blessing to somebody then I would love to be that.”

The Boss Hogg Outlawz leader credits his two-decade success to being consistent and authentic.

“I think just staying busy putting out music and staying consistent I think that’s the answer to everything. I think when you’re being yourself you grow and go through phases and different things you do in life. I like to rap about my life so it encourages me, it makes me want to go buy new cars because I want to talk about the new cars I got in my music. I try to motivate myself through music if I want to rap about new stuff I have to buy new things, or do new things and live and go through stuff and my music if just a reflection of what I’m going through at the time.”

His planned two-hour set— which features local artist such as Chucky Trill, KenTheMan, OTB Fastlane, Yung Al and EMG Santana—will be what he describes as, “A history lesson on not just me but the city of Houston and other rappers.”

Since his debut album, “Already Platinum” which has since gone on to capture RIAA Gold, the Boss of all bosses has been laying the blue print for up and coming independent artists. His tenure in the music business has given him invaluable insight into why staying independent may be the best way to go for many artists.

“I started with Swisha House from where we were buying CD’s for 50 cent and actually we went to the head printers made the whole case and took it to the stores. We did the whole thing so we saw the value of a rap song or a freestyle, we knew how much money we were going to make off of this, so, early on I knew I didn’t want to sign no deal for $250,000 because I knew I was making that already without them.”

While the industry was caught up in perception Slim was cashing in on his independent success, even when he didn’t look the part.

“I may not be as cool as everybody else. They may look cooler than me in their own videos but in real life, the money was in my pocket. A lot of people who sign record deals just look like they got it.”

With a catalogue bulging with local featured artists, Slim is a strong advocate for Houston artists working together. “I think it’s very important for Houston artists to stick together because I believe when we came out and came up it was a movement and I think movements go further than one person. I think it’s beneficial to everybody to stick together and share fans because somebody who listens to Z-RO might not listen to Slim Thug but when we do a song together they might say ‘He aint that bad, let me check him out’ and that’s a new fan.”

After 20 years in the rap game it should be no surprise that the Northside native has faced much adversity but his outlook is, “99 problems 99,000 blessings so I never complain, I don’t feel like I’m worthy to complain as far as I came.”

But the rapper admits that he would encourage his younger self to do a few things differently.

“The younger me, I would just tell him to get into real estate and more solid things earlier because rap is temporary, it’s like gambling. When you get into real estate, people who are selling houses are making more than these rappers. It’s not as cool but in real life they’re living better than us. That’s what people need to know, a lot of the cool shit ain’t the most successful. You could be making millions doing construction getting million dollar contracts around Houston it could be trucking making millions all that’s good.”

There is no doubt that the multi-talented artist will go down in history as one of the most influential Houstonians for his impact on the city and the rap game and he confesses that the prospect is one he looks forward to.

“I want to be the All-Star, the man that did it all! I want a statue on the Northside throwing up the ‘H’, you know Lebron James type things.”

Until that statue is erected, Slim has a message for all of his fans and followers, “It’s time to take control of our own community and do stuff we have never did before. It’s time to own the culture. I think that’s the most important thing. If we just owned our culture, the clothes we wear the clothes we buy, if we bought them from each other, I think everybody would be good. I want to try to do as much, buy as much and own as much of the culture as I can.”

The Slim Thug 20^thAnniversary Concert will be held Aug. 3 At White Oak Music Hall get your tickets while they last.

Those interested in entering the Hurricane Harvey House giveaway have until Aug. 8 to enter by texting the word “HOUSTON” to 55000.