Rising female rapper from Memphis, Tennessee, Slimeroni, has released a new single and music video titled “Trust Issues.” The new release comes hot on the heels of the rapper’s electrifying performances at SXSW and the release of her last single “Rockstar“, which garnered high praise from Rolling Stone, HipHopDx, Lyrical Lemonade and more. “Trust Issues” continues the streak of Slimeroni’s relentless confidence, unique style, and bold persona. The medley of hard-hitting beats and unapologetic lyrics captures the unmatched talent coming out of the Memphis rap scene. The accompanying music video directed by Zach Stith features Slimeroni in her element, showcasing her dynamic star quality performance and forward unique fashion sense.
Slimeroni first gained recognition with burgeoning releases such as “Set The Tone” and “You the Type“, featuring her all-female Memphis rap posse including Grammy-nominated artist Glorilla, Glitter Girl Gloss, Aleza, and K Carbon. Her viral hit “Shabooya” further cemented her status as a rising talent in the industry, earning accolades from Pitchfork, who named it one of the “Best Rap Songs of 2022“. “Trust Issues” promises to be another solid addition to Slimeroni’s growing discography, and it is sure to become a fan favorite. With her talent and unique style, Slimeroni is certainly one to watch.
Even in a velvet-roped booth with bottle service, Slimeroni refuses to switch off. In bite-sized, bitingly astute observations, the rapper distills her reality in real-time — late night notes app entries already soundtracking the emotions of millions on TikTok’s ‘For You’ feed. The process might be isolating, but it’s proved as essential to the artist’s survival emotionally as it has professionally. For Slimeroni, storytelling can never sleep. “I’ll be in my head in the club thinking, I can use this later,” Slimeroni says. “I can write anywhere; throughout the day I’ll be putting together lyrics. I love to bring people into my world and my mind.”
Slimeroni fans might be surprised to learn the fast-spitting, fashion-forward rapper has long identified as an introvert. Born to a single mother in Memphis, Tennessee, tensions were articulated in her journal — the rapper’s earliest experimentation with lyric-writing — as art became a refuge.
Amid ongoing instability, music became the constant. Raised by generations of women, Slimeroni cultivated genre and era-spanning tastes, informed as much by Nirvana as Ciara. When she attended college, pursuing both criminology and fashion merchandising, music graduated from fascination to obsession. Soon, Slimeroni was skipping class to record in makeshift studios, conceptualizing music videos in her downtime. When out-of-state show requests rolled in, then radio calls, Slimeroni finally put higher education on hiatus. “The opportunities kept getting greater and greater, so I knew I just had to make it work, and I still feel like I have to work extra hard,” she says. “There was so much pressure early on to stand out when there were so many people wanting the same dream.”
Soon Slimeroni – a fusion of her adolescent nickname and the endearing term “tenderoni”– became one of Memphis’ foremost musical exports. Between her hallmark Southern drawl and rhythmic flow, she garnered the respect of tastemakers and veteran artists alike. Tapped by HitKidd for a collaboration with her rap contemporaries, Slimeroni released “Set The Tone” and secured her first viral smash in “Shabooya” — an irreverent reimagining of the beloved chant that’s surpassed 20 million views on YouTube alone. While the response validated Slimeroni’s path, it also dialed up the pressure.
What’s coming is a slew of new singles to solidify Slimeroni’s status as an industry mainstay. “It’s gangster and Memphis but it’s genuine,” she says of her sound. “It shows all sides of me. I’m not just one thing. And lyrics have gotten way harder, my writing keeps getting better. I’m having more fun with it.” Audiences everywhere are learning what Slimeroni has known all along: she’s an artist able to aptly articulate the angst of a generation and keep them entertained. The kind of an artist whose universal perspective is much bigger than Memphis, her stories capable of transcending age or race or background. She’s the kind of artist compelling enough to halt your scroll, or pause the song, and search her lyrics. Maybe, you might even write them down, in the notes app. “I’m really an artist in every sense that I want to touch every area and tell my story. It’s in me, not on me.”
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