Don’t call it a comeback, he’s been here for years. Unofficial frontman of 90s platinum selling heartthrobs 112, Slim, is back to balancing group life, a promising solo career and entrepreneurship. Premiering his sophomore solo album, Refueled, after his 2008 effort, Love’s Crazy, featuring the successful single “So Fly,” Slim, born Marvin Scandrick, flirts with romance and sex-laced tracks, refueling a genre in need of a revival.
Known for his distinguished tone and ab-libbing, Slim sticks to the basics on Refueled, a 10 track album, drenched in sexual innuendo, love and intimacy. Rekindling Bad Boy magic with Ma$e on “Killin’ Em Girl,” the 38 year old especially shines with former Bad Boy cohort Carl Thomas on “Forever”; where the crooners melt their love interest’s hearts into puddy, with welcoming beat switches, on the album’s greeting. Followed by the Rich Homie Quan assisted single, Never Break Up, unnecessary auto tuned vocals take away from verse sincerity, but thanks to the beat and southern style production, the track still satisfies.
Tracks appropriate for lustful romps are plentiful, including “Drug,” “Take You Down” and “Hey You,” where sexual demands and play by plays hold no grudges; plain spoken to the T. But the album shines on refreshing ballad “Ain’t Going Nowhere,” a reviving change of pace from the album’s slower, passionate predecessors.
The Source caught up with the Georgia native as he talked about his new album, the downfalls of being apart of a group and more.
Tell us about the new album, Refueled.
Slim: Refueled is like a rebirth. From the time I did Love’s Crazy and dropped “So Fly”—what an amazing experience that was, so many things have happened from then to now.
If you notice when listening, I defied all of what’s going on right now. In a world of trap soul and trap music—though it’s very popular, I wanted to be the fish that swam upstream. With the passion of Prince, someone who I looked up to as far as his creativity, I took the same energy and went upstream with it. Like if everyone’s talking one way, I’m going to talk the other way.
I don’t listen to the radio that much but the few times I do, I find that love is just an option [in music]. I believe in the freedom of speech, but the pattern of records make women feel like how you would treat a leased car. I’m from a different cloth, where a strong man wouldn’t bow down to anyone except for his significant other. He’s vulnerable and she has to feel safe and reassured at all times.
This is all about my legacy now. Fifty years from now when people talk about good music, I want my name to come up; that I had way more hits than misses and when I took a chance, it was well worth it.
And you collaborated with Rich Home Quan on the album’s first single, “Never Break Up.”
That collaboration was really easy! We’re all from Atlanta so it’s pretty easy to touch anybody. I’m an actual fan of his music and I wanted to work with him because we have a lot of similarities; you can hear the passion in our voices. When he says something you know it’s him and when I sing, you know it’s me.
But the catch was, how do you put it together? From listening to the radio, I feel as though R&B artists feel like in order to have a successful uptempo record, they have to have their beats and song sound like the rappers. But me, I’m not a compromiser and I don’t settle. I wanted to work with Rich Homie but I needed to bring him in my world.
You’re also going on tour with Diddy in the Bad Boy Reunion tour?
This is all a blessing! This marks our 20 year anniversary; our first album dropped in 1996. We’re still able to work, still able to do shows and sell out arenas like, ‘What?!’ All of it is a blessing.
We’re doing the Bad Boy [tour] in May. I’m still touring with 112. I have my own shows, my own sunglasses line coming out called Marvin Scandrick (my real name) and I’m getting my personal website together right now.
In the midst of promoting and touring, I got myself on a three year plan. My end goal is be in Hawaii—I’m out! I been talking about Hawaii since I first came out, and now I’m in striking distance of it.
During your 20 year career, what would you consider your biggest career highlight?
It’s been so many of them! But probably when we had our Five Heartbeats moment when we first heard our song on the radio, “Only You.” We all stayed in the same condo and when the song came on, I thought Darron was just playing it on the stereo, I was like, “How many times you go play this song?!” He said he wasn’t playing the record. All of a sudden everything just got quiet and we looked and we turned it up, blasted it on Hot 97 and we went crazy! And later that night the video premiered and it shot right to number one—the one we shot in Times Square. That was an amazing time.
I remember y’all had on those motorcycle jackets!
Yes, yes! We just ran up in the store on 6th Ave and was like, “We got to buy something real quick!” and those motorcycle jackets was right in front. At that time I was 120 pounds and no jackets could really fit me *laughs* so I said just give me the smallest jacket you got!
What are the downfalls of being in a group?
At the end of the day, if I was asked if I’d do it again, ya damn right I would! Whether there’s pros or cons, it builds your character and solidifies your morals and who and what you stand for. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the pros and cons.
But whatever happens, I put it in God’s hands. So I don’t have anything to worry about because eventually it works itself out.
Slim’s Refueled is available Friday, May 13 on iTunes.
