Already Platinum

Already Platinum
Studio album by Slim Thug
Released	July 12, 2005
Recorded	2004-2005
Genre	Hip hop, southern hip hop
Length	62:26
Label	Boss Hogg Outlawz Star Trak Geffen
Producer	The Neptunes Mr. Lee Jazze Pha Sha Money XL Black Jeruz Cool & Dre Michael '5000' Watts
Slim Thug chronology
Already Platinum (2005) Boss of All Bosses (2009) Singles from Already Platinum "Like a Boss" Released: November 9, 2004 "3 Kings" Released: February 18, 2005 "I Ain't Heard of That" Released: March 6, 2005 "Diamonds (Remix)" Released: August 30, 2005 "Incredible Feelin'" Released: January 17, 2006

Already Platinum is the debut album by American rapper Slim Thug. The album was released on July 12, 2005 on Pharrell and Chad Hugo's Star Trak label. The original release date was slated for February 2005, but heavy bootlegging and numerous delays held the album back, forcing a vast majority of its original track listing to be replaced. The original track listing included the original version of the track "I Ain't Heard of That," which featured Jay-Z.

In an interview with XXL, the rapper explained the album title does not suggest he will go platinum, but that his lifestyle (before he got a record deal) was already similar to that of rappers who had reached the platinum status. In an interview on The Tyra Banks Show, mentor Pharrell revealed that he was a millionaire before the two met, and he especially liked that about him. He continued to say that he was "already platinum," the album name was just in confirmation of this.

The album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 with 130,000 copies sold in the first week released.^[1] Since then the album has sold over 500,000 copies.^[2][3][4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Robert Christgau	C[6]
Entertainment Weekly	B[7]
Pitchfork Media	7.5/10[8]
Rolling Stone	[9]
Spin	[10]
Stylus Magazine	B+[11]
USA Today	[12]
Vibe	[13]

Already Platinum garnered a positive reception from music critics who praised Slim's vocal delivery and the Southern production. Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised Slim's delivery for being more charismatic than Lil' Flip and Mike Jones and the production work from both Mr. Lee and The Neptunes, concluding that "Already Platinum is one of 2005's best rap albums."^[5] Evan McGarvey of Stylus Magazine praised the Neptunes' production for evolving with Slim's Southern drawl and delivery, concluding that "After years of singles that people called "infectious" and "club-ready," they take Slim Thug and his dashing uniqueness and carve diamonds. This album isn’t a musical highlight reel, it’s watching artists shuck off personal curses and step into their own skins."^[11] Steve Jones of USA Today said that big names like T.I. and Jazze Pha didn't turn the attention away from the main artist, saying that "Slim [Thug]'s confident, laid-back deliveries keep him from being overshadowed."^[12] Chris Ryan of Spin commended Slim for lending his voice to the Neptunes' atmospheric production, saying they "contribute some of their most adventurous work yet."^[10] Tom Breihan of Pitchfork Media was critical of most of the tracks by the Neptunes, saying that they "lost the gleaming, clattering swagger they once had, relying instead on bloodless synth lines and itchy, nattering drums" and that Slim's performance in them suffered. But said that the tracks by Mr. Lee ("Diamonds" and "3 Kings") were the highlights, concluding that, "On tracks like this, Slim sounds prehistoric, like he's always existed, like this voice has been echoing over canyons and through caves since before time began."^[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Intro"	Mr. Lee	2:24
2.	"Like a Boss"	The Neptunes	3:20
3.	"3 Kings" (featuring T.I. & Bun B)	Mr. Lee	4:50
4.	"Diamonds"	Mr. Lee	3:14
5.	"Boyz 'N' Blue" (featuring Killa Kyleon, Sir Daily, PJ and Chris Ward)	Mr. Lee	3:50
6.	"I Ain't Heard Of That (Remix)" (featuring Bun B)	The Neptunes	3:49
7.	"Click Clack" (featuring Pusha T)	The Neptunes	3:32
8.	"Everybody Loves a Pimp" (featuring Jazze Pha)	Jazze Pha	4:21
9.	"Already Platinum" (featuring Pharrell)	The Neptunes	4:47
10.	"Ashy to Classy"	The Neptunes	3:38
11.	"The Interview"	Sha Money XL and Black Jeruz	2:47
12.	"Playa You Don't Know"	The Neptunes	4:30
13.	"Miss Mary"	Cool & Dre	4:28
14.	"Incredible Feelin'" (featuring Jazze Pha)	Jazze Pha	4:35
15.	"This is My Life" (featuring LeToya Luckett)	The Neptunes	4:10
16.	"Dedicate"	The Neptunes	4:33

Sample credits

• "3 Kings", samples "Secretary" by Betty Wright.^[14]
• "Diamonds", samples "Top Notch Hoes" by Pimp C.^[15]
• "The Interview", samples "The Newness is Gone" by Eddie Kendricks.^[16]
• "Miss Mary", samples "A Moment With You" by George Michael.^[17]

Personnel

Credits for Already Platinum adapted from AllMusic.^[18]

Leslie Braithwaite - mixing Bobby Brown - mixing Willie Clarke - composer George Clinton, Jr. - composer Andrew Coleman - engineer W. O. Collins - composer G. Cooper - composer Danielle Demmerella - marketing coordinator Jan Fairchild - mixing Allan Felder - composer Ashley Fox - marketing Sarah A. Friedman - photography Mike Frost - art direction, photography Brian "Big Bass" Gardner - mastering Brian Garten - engineer Mark "Exit" Goodchild - engineer Hart Gunther - assistant Clifford Harris - composer Norman Harris - composer Jaycen Joshua - engineer General Johnson - composer

Jahaun Johnson - A&R, executive producer Killa Kyleon - composer Anthony Mandler - cover photo, photography Manny Marroquin - mixing George Michael - composer Kyla Miller - engineer The Neptunes - executive producer Barney Perkins - composer Gregg Perry - composer Nicole Plantin - A&R Clarence Reid - composer April Roomet - stylist Justin Shtturtz - assistant Shawn Suggs - A&R Phil Tan - mixing S. Thomas - composer Terrence Thornton - composer Richard Travali - mixing Patrick Viala - mixing Rob Walker - executive producer James M. Wisner - assistant

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2005)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[19]	2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[20]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)	Position
US Billboard 200[21]	190
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[22]	48

References

1. Harris, Chris (July 20, 2005). "R. Kelly Fights Off Slim Thug And Bow Wow To Hold #1". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
2. Juon, Steve (October 12, 2010). "Slim Thug Set to Release "Tha Thug Show" on 11/30!". RapReviews. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
3. craveonline (2008-08-07). "Slim Thug and Boss Hogg Outlawz to release new album". CraveOnline. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
4. "Slim Thug Serve & Collect". Hip Hop Galaxy. 2007-02-27. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
5. Kellman, Andy. "Already Platinum - Boss Hogg Outlawz/Slim Thug". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
6. "CG: Slim Thug". Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
7. Endelman, Michael (July 8, 2005). "Already Platinum". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
8. Breihan, Tom (July 12, 2005). "Slim Thug: Already Platinum". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
9. Hoard, Christian (July 28, 2005). "Slim Thug: Already Platinum". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
10. Ryan, Chris (July 12, 2005). "Slim Thug, ‘Already Platinum’ (Star Trak/Geffen)". Spin. SpinMedia. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
11. McGarvey, Evan (July 15, 2005). "Slim Thug - Already Platinum - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
12. Jones, Steve (July 11, 2005). "Bow Wow inspires; Nelson misfires". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
13. "Vibe - Google Livres". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
14. "Slim Thug feat. T.I. and Bun B's 3 Kings sample of Betty Wright's Secretary". WhoSampled. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
15. "Slim Thug's Diamonds sample of Pimp C's Top Notch Hoes". WhoSampled. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
16. "Slim Thug's The Interview sample of Eddie Kendricks's The Newness is Gone". WhoSampled. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
17. "Slim Thug's Miss Mary sample of George Michael's A Moment With You". WhoSampled. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
18. "Already Platinum - Boss Hogg Outlawz, Slim Thug | Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
19. "Slim Thug – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Slim Thug. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
20. "Slim Thug – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Slim Thug. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
21. "2005 Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
22. "2005 Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 15, 2015.