Soulja Slim

Soulja Slim
Soulja Slim in 2002.
Background information
Birth name	James Adarryl Tapp, Jr.
Also known as	Magnolia Slim Soulja Slim
Born	(1977-09-09)September 9, 1977
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana
Died	November 26, 2003(2003-11-26) (aged 26) Gentilly, New Orleans, Louisiana
Genres	Hip hop Hardcore hip hop gangsta rap Southern hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter musician
Years active	1993–2003
Labels	Cut Throat Comitty No Limit Koch
Associated acts	Juvenile Master P DJ Quik UTP Curren$y B.G. C-Murder Silkk the Shocker Snoop Dogg KLC Mystikal

James Adarryl Tapp, Jr. (September 9, 1977 – November 26, 2003), better known by his stage name Soulja Slim, was an American rapper and songwriter. He is known for writing the U.S. number one hit "Slow Motion".

James A'Darryl Tapp Jr. was born on September 9, 1977 to James and Linda Tapp. He was raised in the Magnolia Projects and attended Cohen Senior High School before dropping out of school in the 11th grade. He began selling drugs, as well as forming an addiction to heroin and cocaine. By 1993, he was rapping as "Magnolia Slim" in venues and block parties in the projects. His first recordings, however, would be on Parkway Pumpin', an independent label run by legendary producer KLC and also featuring 39 Posse, Fiend, Lil Mac, Mystikal Mike (later Mystikal), Mr. Serv-On and Da Hound. Soulja Slim's solo debut was Soulja Fa Lyfe was released in 1994 by Parkway Pumpin' and Hype Enough Records. The album did well, selling 90,000 units independently. In 1995, he released the four-song EP The Dark Side by Hype Enough Records.

In the same year, the song "You Got It" appeared on a No Limit Records double-CD compilation Down South Hustlers: Bouncin' and Swingin' . In 1998, Tapp, now calling himself Soulja Slim, released Give It 2 'Em Raw by No Limit Records with his single and his music video "From What I Was Told" and a single called "Street Life". The album debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 and sold 82,000 in the first week. At that time, Soulja Slim was convicted of armed robbery and incarcerated. He reappeared three years later with Streets Made Me, which was again released on the No Limit label. From there, he started his own label, Cut Throat Comitty Records and released Years Later in late 2002. In 2003, he released Years Later...A Few Months After, his last album before his death. The album featured the hit "I'll Pay for It". In 2003, he also collaborated with fellow New Orleans rapper Juvenile to make the song "Slow Motion". The song was released on Juvenile's album Juve the Great and reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Soulja Slim and Juvenile's first number one hit, and as the song was released after Soulja Slim's death he became only the sixth artist to have a posthumous number one song.