Five years ago an emerging collective of Swishahouse-approved rappers were poised to convert Houston from an honorable area of Hip Hop talent into a southern mainstream powerhouse like Atlanta. Yet, while all the most notable artists (Mike Jones, Paul Wall and Chamillionaire) found moderate success in proceeding years, none of them has arguably stayed more relevant to the scene than “The Boss Hog” himself, Slim Thug. Paving his own way from major label promise (Already Platinum) to independent success (Boss Of All Bosses), Thugga’s latest effort Tha Thug Show capitalizes on the rapper’s drive to be the voice of Houston from 2010 on.
Whether he’s cockily showing off his paper stacks on “100’s” alongside Big Chief and Lil Keke or cataloging his recent purchases on “How We Do It” with Rick Ross, Slim Thug stunts on the competition like none other. Backed by 808 drums and a chopped and screwed hook on “Neighborhood Supa Stars,” Thug appropriately chronicles his toast to the good life; “Bitch you might not know me, but in my hood I’m famous / I fuck the baddest bitches, and hang with all the gangstas / My slabs is the meanest, my jewelry is the best / You think I get clothes free ‘cause everyday I’m fresh.” Of course, Thugga didn’t get to where he is now without handling his business in the streets, and if “Murda” 
is any indication of the violent streak that can ensue if you cross him, its better that you don’t.
From Gwen Stefani (“Luxurious”) to Beyonce (“Check On It”), Slim Thug has had his fair share of crossover success. However, when left on his own accord, the Houston-native can’t seem to obtain this same prosperity. As such, “Free” and “So High” turn out to be dismal low points for Tha Thug Show. On the former track, Slim describes the benefits of single life and his ‘free spirited’ approach to the opposite sex. Built around elementary rhymes and a sing-song melody, “Free” ends up sounding like a record meant for Disney’s next teen sensation rather than for a 30-year-old rap veteran. With the addition of B.o.B, “So High” is a bit easier to digest. His dependence on the obligatory “thug-turned-lover” record, though, has become a stale concept ever since LL Cool J’s “I Need Love.”
In effect, Tha Thug Show is better when he sticks to his shtick; providing us with tales from the third coast. Sure, he might not be able to contextualize them in the way Lupe Fiasco did for “Hip Hop Saved My Life” (which, if you didn’t know by now, was partially based on Slim Thug’s career). However, the honesty from his booming voice makes up for any lyrical shortcomings he may suffer from. Such is the case on “Coming From,” a melancholic record that visits the city of Houston through the eyes of Thugga. Revealing neighbors are “so tired of starving, they’d rather be in jail,” Slim Thug pulls down the veil and gives it to us straight up, no chaser.
For dedicated fans of the Swishahouse sound, Tha Thug Show is generally right in that wheelhouse; bass-heavy tunes, boastful ambitions, and a strong dose of Thugga’s southern state of mind. However, there’s not much else provided that would make the casual listener anticipate his next move. But does Slim Thug even need the new audience? According to his words on “Sky,” that’s a no: “Independent so my paper come faster / While all ya’ll still working hard for the master / I could sell half of what you sell and still pass ya / You do the math ‘hot’ rappers, ha!”
Looks like Slim Thug may indeed get the last laugh.
I really like this album, Slim Thug never disappoints.
I need to check this. Slim Thug is a dope artist. He needs to come out with some hiphop cause the streets are sleepin
he was better in 2005.
First half was great, second half…see the the 3 overall rating
this album is dope as fuck,i coped it tha utha day
trust this shit is sick as fuck and im from ny
I wish someone with a decent grasp of english would proof these reviews…I give up halfway through a lot of them. Ok for a blog, not for a proper website
i’m getting sick of this thug this, thug that. You ain’t a thug but a phony who wants to make money.
Wow! But guess what…He’s gettin it…lol
Beat it up , The Sky , Gangsta with Z-RO ,
Caddy music with devin the dude , Coming from , Do it again
SONGS IM FEELING
the rhymes are kinda simple at times but its okay becuz the beats are on point . but there ar esome weak songs too . about 4 or 5
How about some originality man, slim shady- slim thug, the eminem show -the thug show. a little late to the party thugga
lol tru. i hate to say sometimes my city stands firm on ideas that have come to pass.
I thought the album was a lil generic. Lame lyrics and a dull beat selection.
Houston!
SLIM THUG HAS THAT (GREAT VOICE) FOR HIP HOP, YET HE STILL WANTS TO DRAG OUT HIS LYRICS. SOMEBODY SHOULD JUST TELL TELL HIM TO SPIT THE RHYMES OUT AND DON’T DRAG THE LAST WORD ON EVERY LINE. THAT STYLE IS OLD AND PLAYED OUT! THE PRODUCTION IS AVERAGE. SLIM THUG NEEDS TO GET MORE GRIMY PRODUCTION WISE.
Welcome to tha “H”
Im gonna give this a 4, but really wanted to give it a 3.5.
BOSS OF ALL BOSSES was a 4.5 to me. It was also one of the best albums of the year, and set up an extreme precedent for Thug to live up to.
THA THUG SHOW is good, in that it doesn’t disappoint, or fall off from what he did on BOAB. However, it still suffers from it being the follow up, and not being able to match up in any way to its predecessor.
Basically, it feels like a really concerted effort to copy the formula of the last album, which worked, but doesn’t impress fully.
Agree. A solid album for the most part.
There’s nothing really new or exciting about this project to separate it for anything out, but he does stay true to his fan base.
There are about three or four tracks right in the middle that could have been left off.
Mr. Lee also does his thing once again.
Not a classic but I’m not mad I bought it either. 3.5
THA THUG SHOW concert was off tha chain! H-TOWN!!!!
CHURCH! Did that…yes they did : )
Man this album cold as fuck!
Slim Thugg does what any true fan could really ever ask for. Stays true to his roots. I applaud the album along with his consistancy.
Sobieski on the table this is how we do
couple of slow tracks, gotta skip, but man theres some tracks like neighborhod superstars that go hard keep it up slim third coast till the death BHO
This album is on fire much respect to the BOSS.
It has a good 9 of 18 tracks (including the bonus tracks). I will say I purchased it from the store and I am satisfied, aint came out the deck. Nice follow up to to the last album. Good collabs, bangin beats, and the traditional Thugger flow. It got some watered down tracks that has to be skipped but how can you hate this project
Al of the supposed to be analyst can say what they want but this is one of the best albums of 2010 and “Free” is a hit! I ride through the bumping this all day