Today we’d like to introduce you to Slim I.D.
Hi Slim, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
From the outside looking in with knowledge of what’s within, I see Lennox Turner, going by the stage name Slim I.D., as a God-fearing individual who is where he is now because of his mother’s prayers, using criticism as motivation and by having a strong will to push through every obstacle he faces.
From a tender age, I have always been in love with Hip-Hop/Rap music. Even though growing up in a country such as Jamaica where the dominant genres are Reggae and Dancehall, somehow I connected more with Hip-Hop/Rap, especially with my creative abilities. Whilst the music of my home country still had a great influence on my love for music in general, I ended up finding out I expressed myself better as a rap artist when I first started writing and recording music.
My love for my music came from my parents. I can remember my mother always listening to artists like Shania Twain, Celine Dion, and Kirk Franklin and while riding in the back seat of my father’s car was where I got introduced to Baby Cham, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Sean Paul, just to name a few Jamaican artists I liked as a toddler but somehow the sounds of Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Lauryn Hill resonated with me a bit more. The composition of the music and the lyrics started giving me thoughts of wanting to be a recording artist overall.
The artist that pushed me over the edge and finally got me to start recording was Lil Wayne in 2007 when he released Da Drought 3 Mixtape and as time went by I had more influences that kept me motivated like Future, Drake, Nipsey Hussle just to name a few. My passion didn’t stop at just creating music as I developed a strong love for fashion as I watched how seriously musicians took their image. Today, I even follow male models on TikTok and Instagram from Europe just to get new ideas on how to carry myself as a gentleman but also still give off the aura that I am someone of importance.
Therefore, due to the deliberate effort, I put into my image, I find myself getting into conversations at places like the supermarket with even the cashier who may stare at me until she eventually says, “What do you do? Are you an artist or something?” and for me, that is “mission accomplished”. This has happened in different places with both genders over the years. I always make a deliberate effort over the years, especially after leaving high school in 2009 to craft an image that cannot go unnoticed. That is a top priority just as much as composing a song to perfection before its release.
I have done a lot of music over the years since starting in 2007. From Hi5 and Myspace to now Instagram and TikTok, I may have recorded and released over eight (8) mixtapes, many singles, and done many collaborations with artists who may no longer be active and some who are creating waves now in different parts of the world. A couple of the mixtapes were only on a physical CD which I sold during high school and a few were on platforms like Mediafire for download which are no longer the go-to places for artists to upload music.
You now have the audio macks, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. which have most of my latest work. I have done interviews on Jamaican radio stations and television as well as locally, having my songs and music videos played and aired on both respectively. For me, that is a big deal considering that I am not a reggae or dancehall act. Along this journey, you get a lot of criticism, you lose friends, and you sacrifice pushing your passion into other things you may be good at because your sole focus is on music and regardless of not yet being where I want to be musical, one thing that has never changed is my mother’s belief in anything I pursue and that along with the strong faith I have keeps me going.
I must say, you sometimes have to face the music or reality and that’s where in 2020 I decided to pivot, and change direction which created the ultimate mindset shift I needed to grow as an individual on a professional level. Upon turning 28 in 2020, I had to realize that the professional growth aspect of my life was lacking, or let’s say a plan B. I have a Bachelor’s Degree and I worked in the call center industry from 2016 until 2019 when I decided to quit because I needed something more.
I did it because the work schedule was flexible and I was able to still keep my image intact of being an artist. However, I had to admit I was not pleased with where I was in life as music was not paying the bills or generating the returns I anticipated. So in 2020, while still doing music, I decided I needed to find something I would have the same level of passion for and be willing to give the maximum effort as I have been doing with music all these years since 2007.
I prayed, I tried to look in places I usually wouldn’t and applied for positions at companies I would once turn a blind eye to then came a life-changing opportunity when I started working for a business consulting company whose main aim is to help organizations achieve great results through behavioral change. Somehow, strangely, this was right in line with how much I loved the minor I pursued at the University of Technology, Jamaica.
I am a Marketing Major but I randomly selected Human Resource Management as my minor and I fell in love with it. Whilst, I am not a consultant yet nor have I facilitated a session, my role mainly includes interacting with our prospects and clients and that puts me at the forefront of the company ensuring I give off the best first impression possible and remain consistent during the client-partner relationship established.
This one decision made in 2020 is the main reason I am no longer in debt today. I had student loan troubles and because of my work ethic and performance, my company decided to give me a scholarship to pay off my student loan. This was something lingering over my head that I thought only a hit song generating millions of dollars could have taken me out of. This is just to say that whilst I have not given up on music, it was important for me to stretch myself and show the same level of dedication in something else. This is a message to anyone who may be discouraged about one thing they have been working on for years that’s not working out.
I am not saying you should give up or let it go completely but if you believe in yourself and believe you are great at that one thing that is not working out, you can channel that same energy into something else and you may be surprised how handsomely it may pay off. Maybe then, you can make a logical decision whether to go back to the passion you had before or maybe move on from it completely. Life is all about growth and we have to embrace change.
The circle I am in now has helped me to grow professionally and also on a personal level in such a short space of time. I have completely transformed as an individual. I always looked up to Jay-Z in terms of how much he was a rapper but also a businessman and now I am living that dream.
I may not have a hit song that is known globally, sold millions of records, or inked million-dollar deals to grow my net worth but I am sure that where I am today is exactly where I once pictured myself being a few years ago so I am grateful. I make my company’s clients happy and I still get fan messages today about songs already released that inspire them, get them through a rough day, and of course the messages of wanting new music.
Coming to the end of 2023, going into 2024, I am still fully focused on helping my company grow, very much still doing performances at clubs and parties, looking to release my first song since 2022, and also bringing to life my love for fashion using lyrics from my songs in the form of merchandise on my website, www.newslimcity.com.
I view myself as a continuous work in progress, a walking proof that it’s never too late to get your life together and make a life-changing decision for the better and the long term. The domino effect has also led to even now having a great relationship with my father. In the past, we never seemed to see eye to eye but now we have accepted each other’s differences and we communicate a lot to continue to grow the relationship we believe we should have.
That’s to say sometimes the journey to be better creates a domino effect in your life where you will see improvements in not only your career but your personal life as well. You develop new habits to communicate better with loved ones just as how you are with clients and resolve conflicts in a manner that makes all parties comfortable creating trust to be more open and honest.
Balance is everyone’s desire but we live in a world where pursuing our goals and trying to attain wealth have consumed many of us to our demise leading to excessive depression and stress. A life of working on your most important professional goals or tasks, spending time with loved ones, inspiring and teaching others while still being open to learning is the life I chase after each day.
We all need each other to thrive. The opportunities we get through networking with others who have a common mindset and goal are priceless.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The main challenge has been my choice of genre versus where I am from.
Being from a country that’s dominated by reggae and dancehall, a lot of times, trying to get my song in rotation at parties, clubs, or on the radio is very hard just because I am a “Jamaican Rapper”. Hip-Hop/Rap songs from the U.S. based artists are played but there’s this stigma by many Jamaicans, that you should do dancehall or reggae as a Jamaican I have been very appreciative of the disc jocks and media outlets that have showcased my talent whether by playing my songs, contacting me for interviews or have reached out and given me the opportunity to perform live.
For me, my belief in myself is bigger than any challenge that is put before me. To see that I have inspired others and kicked down a few barriers placed in front of me, I believe that even without being a global household name, I have still been able to beat some of the odds.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Hip-Hop/Rap recording artist from Jamaica and also an aspiring entrepreneur who’s embracing his professional journey and personal growth.
I am most proud of my determination to always keep going even though I was told numerous times that being a Jamaican rapper would not work out. For me, it has exceeded even my expectations with the good feedback I have gotten even from persons who doubted me in the initial stages. I am also proud of how I have been able to emulate one of my idols in music which is Jay-Z. That is being a musician and also a businessman.
What sets me apart from others will always be my image, demeanor, and how my music is always coming from an authentic place. I have always tried to make music about my life and not a world I created in my head that I have not created for myself in real life. I think that is what resonates with my fans the most, my authenticity.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I would at least like to have even one single that I am proud of in terms of several views, streams, and income generated. That is the aim to have at least one song that has outdone everything I have ever done put together.
On a short-term basis, I just always try to be better than yesterday. Of recent, maybe since 2020, I have promised to have one major achievement each year which I have. Each year, whether it is in music, business, my personal life, or all three, I try to leave knowing I did one major thing that has pushed me forward in some way, shape, or form.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/slim_id
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/slim_id
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SlimIDVEVO
