Jerome Thompson aka Young Slugs Black Montana was born and raised in Gulfport, MS in a hood called Turnkey. Slugs started rapping at age ten. Six years later he and his cousin started their own label called King O Production, a dedication to their grandfather. He did three mixtapes but never released them.
Then, at the age of seventeen, the young phenom hooked up with G.Chill, Ballistik, Bubble Eyez as Coast Guard. They, along with in house producer DJ Sauce, began putting their talent together for the newly formed Indisputed Records. Shortly after they dropped Coast Guard Vol.1.
In 2005, around the time that they dropped Takin Shots, they got back together and started recording tracks for Vol.2, the sequel to the first Coast Guard album. However it was never released due to situations within the label.
In 2006, Slugs was in and out of jail for various felony charges in which he was later convicted of in 2007. After a light 18 months serve on house arrest, he was shot 4 times a couple days after he was released. A year after recovering and back walking,working out and best of all speaking to Yall through the Mic, he dropped “Who Put Dis Together” In 2009, “Me, I Want Whats Coming To Me” in 2010, and on his birthday November 17 – 2011, he did what is said to be some of his best work , “My World” which is Black Montana Volume III.
Rick Jamm recently interviewed Young Slugs. Here are his thoughts on the business and his work.
1. How long have you been doing what you’re doing and how did you get started in the first place?
YOUNG SLUGS: I have been doing this since about 1996. My older Cousin built us an in house studio and started showing me how to flow.
2. Who were the first influences on your music and style?
YOUNG SLUGS: The Hotboys, Bone Thugs n Harmony, 2pac, Young Jeezy
3. In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?.
YOUNG SLUGS: Lil Wayne. He not only got himself at the top of the game, He got at least to other artist that’s at the top as well.
4. Describe the first piece of musical equipment that you actually purchased with your own money.
YOUNG SLUGS: A microphone.
5. Do you think music today is enjoyed more for the beats or for the lyrical flow and content?
YOUNG SLUGS: Mostly Beats
6. Which famous song or musical composition do you wish you had created and why?
YOUNG SLUGS: …?
7. Do you like doing collaborations, if so, with whom would you like to collaborate in future?
YOUNG SLUGS: Many Men By 50Cent
8. Which of your original compositions is your personal favorite, and why?
YOUNG SLUGS: Tell Me What I Did. Just cause of my emotions in it…
9. Which ingredient do you think is most essential in making your music the way it is?
YOUNG SLUGS: My life and situations I’m in daily.
10. Which emotion mostly dominates your music? Is it joy, sadness or anger, and why?
YOUNG SLUGS: Mostly mixed it depends on how I’m feeling that day.
11. What aspect of the music making process excites you most?
YOUNG SLUGS: When I put my lyrics to a beat.
12. What aspect of the music making process discourages you most?
YOUNG SLUGS: When a hook is awful.
13. How involved are you in the recording, producing and mastering process of your music and do you outsource any part of this process?
YOUNG SLUGS: I’m very involved. I have the final say so before its put out…
14. The best piece of advice in this business you actually followed (and one you didn’t, but now know you should have)?
YOUNG SLUGS: Its ain’t always about how good the music is. It’s all about talking with the right people.
15. At this time in your career, as an independent artist, which is the one factor you desire most (increased music distribution, better quality production, more media exposure etc…)?
YOUNG SLUGS: Music Distribution and more Media Exposure..
16. Which is your favorite distribution platform ( Tunecore, Audiolife, CD Baby, Your own Website, etc…) and why?
YOUNG SLUGS: Youtube cause it easy to access…
17. How do you handle criticism? Who has been your worst critic, if any?
YOUNG SLUGS: I’m fine with criticism, and I’m my worst critic.
18. Is going platinum or winning a Grammy important you? Where would you like to see your career within 5 years?
YOUNG SLUGS: Yes, I want to do both. Hopefully I will win several in the next 5yrs!
19. What in your opinion is the biggest barrier an artist like yourself, has to face and overcome, to gain any commercial success?
YOUNG SLUGS: Radio play cause I’m not all that commercial.
20. If you were not a music artist, what would you be doing today?
YOUNG SLUGS: Professional Athlete or back in the Streets lol…