Upcoming Canadian Rapper SLM is Versatile and Multi-Faceted in aura and sound!

Versatile & multi-faceted in aura and sound, SLM is revolutionizing the music industry one paradox at a time. Since her arrival on the scene during the global pandemic in 2020, she has since released 2 projects trailblazing despite the state of the world as it stood. From her “HEAVY” record, aptly titled featuring producer YAMA//SATO to gracing the stages of the first ever Rolling Loud Toronto in 2022, she has been gearing up for forthcoming releases to continue to make her mark as Canada’s Eastside Queen. 

Through intricate storytelling, depicting the reality of many Black women – the pipeline between growing up in pay-cheque to pay-cheque, immigrant, matriarch dominated households to being provided the best of what our parents never got; notably good education and instilling the mentality that anything you set your mind to, you can achieve – is the reality that birthed SLM. She hasn’t fit in a box since the day she came out and her artistry is no exception. 

We caught up with SLM and discussed advice for upcoming female rappers, her Canadian upbringing and what self-care looks like to her. 

OBM: It’s great to speak with you, SLM! They’re calling you one of the best female rappers out of Montreal! Congrats on all your achievements so far. When did you decide to pursue music as a career? 

Hi! Thank you so much, it means a lot. I decided to pursue music as a career officially as of 2020, when the pandemic hit. Life was slow and I’m thankful for that because it really gave me the time to fully flesh out my first album and execute the recordings, marketing and branding surrounding The Complete Flex Season and SLM as an artist, and what I wanted to represent/accomplish moving forward.

OBM: Tell us about your upbringing growing up in Canada?

Growing up in Montreal was lit – I remember going back and forth between Montreal and New York a lot, like a loooot. Bi-monthly almost especially in Elementary School, to visit family as most of them live over there. I remember feeling so lucky to say I knew French in America, they eat that shit up lol. I grew up with my mom in ‘DG, between Walkley and Randall, then moved to the South Shore where I laid my head to rest every night… but every day? I was right back in DG or Downtown, with my gang, doing kid shit – going to school, working – I got my first job at 15, shoutout Chalet BBQ. I was brought up in a fully Guyanese household so I was always eating good – chow-mein, meat pies, curry chicken, goat, beef, whatever, pepperpot, homemade bread, hot cross buns, salara, you name it, it was on the table – even though my 5 year old self was mad picky, I grew to love my grandparents’ cooking; they’re really the GOATs. I remember always loving to do anything that had to do with music – some of my favorite moments at home were belting out ‘Love’ by Keyshia Cole or ‘I Love Your Smile’ by Shanice or ‘Rockaway’ by Beres Hammond with my mom on those Sunday cleaning days. I was also really into reading and soon got into writing – journaling and writing music from as early as 7. I was always composing music and performing in every talent show in school. Now, I was no SLM back then but I was definitely always a wordsmith and entertainer, don’t play. Lol, I always had an affinity for recognizing melodies and instruments in music that would play in the car or around the house. I could literally learn the lyrics to a song I liked after listening to it only a handful of times – ask anyone in my family, they’ll vouch for me. Although my financial circumstances at home weren’t always the best, my mom always made ends meet and taught me how to be self-sufficient from an early age. So I have her and the village of friends and family who helped raise me to thank for my independent, smart, efficient, taut nature. I may not always have had what I wanted but I always had what I needed to survive – music, food, great education, clothes, bed and love.

OBM: What advice would you give to young female rappers that are trying to make it in the industry? 

Come as you are and own it. Do not be afraid to show your stripes, no matter the color, shape, size, pattern they come in. You’re never too much, especially not for taking up space, you’re just enough. Stay true to who you are and stay true to your vision. Know yourself. Know your worth. Know your vision. Show yourself the utmost love and give the utmost love into the universe and people you encounter – love is the ultimate attractor for all good fortune. Stay true to your heart and let nobody play with it. Know your shit, know how you like your voice to sound, the tone of it, spend time learning yourself and once you figure out who that is, never let her go. Nothing lasts forever, not the good moments nor the bad. You’ll have both and it’s okay – embrace duality. Be open – to change, to opinions (but know the difference between that and fact), to help. And most importantly, follow your heart. You really can do anything you set your mind to. You wanna do music and get a degree? Do it. You wanna be an artist and be a humanitarian? We need that. You wanna be in the industry as well as spend time soul searching? Go right ahead. The one thing about being an artist that’s universal is the affinity to be able to feel, move and grow through the motions and connect with people on that path. Stick to the course and you will go far.

OBM: Female rappers are killing the game right now. Who are your top 5? 

Top 5 is tough, I don’t think I can do that but my faves of the new school def include Glorilla, Latto, Bia, Tierra Whack, Doechii, Rico Nasty, Megan Thee Stallion, Flo Milli, Lakeyah, Omeretta tha Great, etc. etc. Much love to every woman making their own waves!

OBM: What does self-care look like for you? 

How do you prepare yourself before a show or photoshoot? Rehearsals are vital for me. I need to visualize and practice all my dance moves, my talks in between songs, regulate my breath control, banter with the crowd and my DJ, costumes, etc. at LEAST 3-4x before I hit a stage. On the flip side, I love a good day or two of doing a whole bunch of nothing before a show. And I mean NOTHING. Sleeping, masking, eating, watching my shows, sunbathing – R&R is just an antonym for Rock & Roll. And one thing about me, imma do both. 

OBM: Tell us about your latest album ‘REAL TALK RADIO’, what was the most challenging part about the process? Do you have any new music on the way? 

The most challenging part of bringing any project together for me is just finalizing vocals – I always think I can do better, I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my vocal so I be doing the most sometimes but thank God I work with people who tell me when enough is enough and cheer me on through my own moments of imposter syndrome behind the mic. 2022 was a really transformative year musically – I finally got to exercise performing on a larger scale with the music I put out in the pandemic (The Complete Flex Season included) so that was really fun for me. I have a lot of big news upcoming for 2023 and it’s worth the wait. New music is definitely coming sooner than you think!

OBM: Thank you for your time, SLM. We’re looking forward to your upcoming music! Where can our readers keep up with you? 

Thanks for having me! You can keep up with me on all socials @TheReallSLM and on all streaming platforms under ‘SLM’.