Everyday Experts?
Hip-hop stars offer financial advice: Slim Thug writes a 47-page book onsurviving the recession
How to Survive in a Recession is already enjoy positive reviews for itsreadability and humor.
Houston hip-hop star Slim Thug kicked off his writing career with a Friday nightrelease party of his new financial advice book.Photo by Tyler Rudick
Baby Bash and friends showed up for the party with financial advice of theirown.Photo by Tyler Rudick
It's been more than three years since Houston hip hop giant Slim Thug teased fans in his hit "I Run" with this little rhyme: "Hard times got the whole United States stressin' / I'm writin' a book, how to survive in a recession."
Well, Thugga's bits of financial wisdom have hit bookstores and e-book readers with the debut of How to Survive in a Recession — a 47-page treatise put out by Houston's own Di Angelo Publications, the company behind Diary of an Angry Stripper by ex-Chronicle reporter stripper Sarah Tressler.
"The idea is pretty simple — don't live above your means. Don't buy a big house if you're not going to use every room in it. Don't buy a bunch of cars you'll never use."
To help kick things off in true H-Town fashion, The Drake rolled out the red carpet Friday night for celebration that included area musicians like Baby Bash ("Suga, Suga") and Le$ as well as producer Gavin Luckett. Paul Wall wasn't able to attend, but he did manage to join Slim and Bun B onstage with Nicki Minaj Saturday night.
CultureMap stopped by the Washington Avenue club to catch up with the rapper-turned-financial advisor.
"I don't have a degree or anything to do this," he explained as scores of fans lined up to gawk and/or get their books signed. "But I did come from nothing and made something of it. I want to tell my story and my hope is that someone can learn something from this and maybe get into a better situation."
Slim told MTV that the original line in the rap about the book wasn't necessarily meant to be taken as seriously as some audiences received it.
“I was just playing, really. But when people began to inquire, asking and wanting me to write the book," he said, "I just started writing in my iPhone different tips you can use to stack up bread. Then I met a girl who was a publisher [Sequoia Di Angelo], so I told her what it was and we put it together. We made it happen.”
"We may look like this, but we made it through the recession pretty OK. The key is hard work and hustle, but it's still all about being good people and never stepping on anyone's toes."
While Thug said he's included stories from his own life, the book is intended for people from all backgrounds and from a variety of economic levels.
"The idea is pretty simple — don't live above your means," he told CultureMap. "Don't buy a big house if you're not going to use every room in it.
"Don't buy a bunch of cars you'll never use."
After chatting with Slim about his upcoming solo work and a new album with fellow Houstonian Z-Ro, CultureMap also had a chance to catch up with Baby Bash, who was getting ready to jet off to a concert in Salt Lake City, but still made the time to offer some of his own financial advice.
"We may look like this, but we made it through the recession pretty OK," Bash said. "The key is hard work and hustle, but it's still all about being good people and never stepping on anyone's toes. I believe in karma-type stuff, so I've never done any harm in my life.
"I call it 'humble hustle' and it's why my career and my music's always stayed steady."
On Aug. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m., Slim Thug will appear at the acclaimed north Houston hip-hop Mecca The Music Depot (located inside the Greenspoint Mall) for a special book-signing appearance.
