My City: KingPen Slim Goes Hard for the DMV (Exclusive Interview)

Wale's success has finally shone a spotlight on the wealth of hip-hop talent in the DMV, and the next to step into the light is KingPen Slim. An emcee capable of being deeply personal, unflinchingly hard, and flat out enjoyable (see "The Way You Move"), KingPen joined our My City series to talk about how the DMV's go go music influenced his sounds, just how cool local emcees are with each other and the upcoming release of his new project, "Beam Up 2".

RefinedHype: You use your life experiences as the foundation for your music. What experiences have you had in the DMV that you couldn't have had anywhere else?

KingPen Slim: Well from one I grew up in the go go which for those around the country that don't know, go go is a percussion driven music that is basically the heart of the DMV, our own homegrown music. Growing up going to them and playing in a go go band I was able to get the experience early on in performing in front of crowds, projecting my voice over bad systems (lol) all that. That's one thing for sure I knew I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else.

RefinedHype: It seems like DMV artists are committed to helping each other succeed (your music has featured Wale, Slim Ade and many more). It's the DMV actually as cohesive as it seems?

KingPen Slim: It's like it is anywhere else, some of us are cool, some of us aren't you know how it goes in hip hop, especially in a city that hasn't had a great deal of success, we all here fighting for whatever little bit we can get. Lucky we got Wale leading the way and I can't speak for anybody else but I can say he looked out for me before a few times on the strength. For the most part I'd say I'm anywhere from cordial to cool with all the major players but I'm not gonna paint the picture that we all here holding hands singing folk songs and shit (lol). To sum it up, all this attention, quality of music and having a homegrown artist in the national spotlight is new to us so we learning on the fly. All the people I've worked with I have good personal relationships with though so shout out to the whole DMV.

RefinedHype: What inspires you about your hometown?

KingPen Slim: For years there was this perception that we as an area would never be able to get it together and have an impact on the national scene so I know that whole mentality fueled me to be better and do my part. Seeing someone who I was Unsigned Hype with in 2006 and from my area in Wale do it big inspires me to keep going. All the fans and people in the area who I run into on a daily basis telling me they love my music and are rooting for me inspire me as well. We got such a rich history in every form of entertainment except hip hop nationally so it's all about taking this thing to the highest level possible and beaming up on these peoples. I'm easily motivated lol.

RefinedHype: If I'm rolling through the DMV, where can I find you?

KingPen Slim: Depends on the day! I might be up Mazza Gallerie shopping up Saks, might see me back in my old neighborhood around Adams Morgan getting a haircut, if it's a Tuesday night and I'm out in the city I might be with my mob at a night club called Lotus that's popping off all crazy and of course the studio. Thats probably the easiest place to find me putting in that work!

RefinedHype: Last words? Shout outs? Confessions?

KingPen Slim: "The Beam Up 2" out August 31 on DJBooth.net. Make sure yall get that, it's an incredible body of work that everybody can enjoy if I do say so myself haha. Shout out everybody who been rocking with me all crazy especially P Stew, J Buttah, my man Loaf and Big O, Mark Henry, Team Demo, The Group, The Board and everybody else y'all know who y'all are. DMV let's go!