Lewisham’s shining star, Slim, has returned with a fire in his belly, gifting the industry with his highly-anticipated second mixtape, Still Working 2. Teasers for the body of work have come in the form of three hot new singles and music videos this year; “Double R’s” was his first release after leaving prison in April, a track which he describes to be an expression of how it feels to “be fresh home” and “coming back from a bad situation”. The release was shortly followed by an iconic Daily Duppy and a slick collaboration with faceless icon, M Huncho in “Any Minute”, before the highly-anticipated project was released in its entirety. And here we have it.
After almost four years behind bars, Slim has channelled all of his pent-up passion into a memorable project, blessing us with thirteen solid tracks filled with grit, determination and insight. The rapper uses this body of work to not only show his undeniable gift as a rapper and lyricist, but also to share invaluable pearls of wisdom, anecdotes and priceless advice that can only be gained through the experience that life throws at you. In Still Working 2, Slim opens up and shares candid truths about his years in prison, street violence, relentless hard work and lessons learnt during this rocky journey.
Alongside M Huncho, the project features further collaborations with more of the UK’s finest artists, including notable hit-maker, Potter Payper in “Picture Me”, flawless R&B vocalist, Mnelia in “Coming Up”, and he’s joined again by the one-and-only Headie One for stand-out banger, “Let’s Talk Money”, fresh with brand new visuals. The rest of the tracks see Slim riding solo, allowing his talent to truly shine. The project is a dedication to “real rap” and hard work; as Slim says himself, “I got hustle in my blood, hard graft in my DNA”, and that rings loud and clear throughout the project.
Slim hits the ground running with opening track, “Matter of Time”, where he lays downs bars about reaching his destiny, rising to success, and his desire to elevate those around him. This desire is also clear in the closing track, allowing the message to come full circle: the final song, ”Be Myself”, is an ode to Slim straightening up and choosing better paths. As he takes a step back and reflects on what he’s been through, he is able to acknowledge his mistakes and encourages listeners to make better decisions. In his own words, “don’t get left, get right”.
Slim toys with storytelling in several tracks, like “Double R’s”, “Passenger Side” and especially in the shining song, “Timmy’s Story”, where he crafts a special tale. In this unforgettable track, he shares the devastating plight of Timmy, a character who we follow through a rough childhood and into an even rougher adulthood. Speaking about the song, Slim says, “Where I’m from… it’s maybe a common theme that people can relate to. Many lives have been affected by drugs. It’s just another story to tell.” This moving track is a striking comment on how a difficult upbringing can lead to terrible consequences.
Another gem in the project is, of course, Slim’s “Daily Duppy”, which stands out due to its candid lyricism and raw, reflective tone. Here, Slim opens up about the lessons he’s learnt alongside the ones he is yet to learn. The track allows us to soak up a moment of sober vulnerability and introspection as Slim asks important questions about life and reflects on the way he’s turned things around after his time behind bars.
Overall, Still Working 2 is a triumph in storytelling and candour. Slim proves himself as a go-getter, a hustler, a bold lyricist and an artist dedicated to sharing his trials and tribulations to guide those around him. His unapologetic delivery and agile flows are impressive, and the well-curated collaborations add new dimensions to the project. He strikes a healthy balance between talking openly about the realities of past and being honest about what he’s not proud of. After an unfortunate hiatus, Slim has come back with a bang, and this body of work is one to be proud of.