Dr. Dre's Protege Reacts To The Doc's Aftermath Promise

After Dr. Dre rocked headlines last week by speaking on his aim to solely focus on the careers of Aftermath rappers Kendrick Lamar and Slim the Mobster, SOHH hopped on the phone to get some post-reaction from one of his proteges.

After becoming privy to Dre's publicized pledge, he said getting the Doc's spotlight is only more motivation to keep working harder.

"I've been knew that," Slim jokingly told SOHH when informed about Dre's primary focus on him and Kendrick Lamar. "I knew that months ago. It never changed how I am or who I am. I mean, things change but I'm not trying to change too much. I don't want it to be as if [Dr. Dre's pledge] gives me my confidence. Confidence comes from what I do. Despite who I'm with, that's where my confidence comes from. [Dre's words are] like a boost, but I never had the vision in my head, 'Because Dre this, Dre that,' nah, I still got work to do." (SOHH)

Last week, Dre revealed his intent to primarily work alongside Slim and Kendrick.

"I am never going to give music up," he said. "Music is like air to me, [music] is like oxygen, so I am always doing that. As soon as I get back to Los Angeles, I am back in the studio doing my thing. I have a couple of new artists that I am excited about, Kendrick Lamar and Slim The Mobster. These are the next two artists, and these are probably my final two artists that I am going to be working with at least for the next couple of years. I am going to devote all my attention to them and make sure their sh*t comes out the way it should be. I am just having fun with life right now!" (Global Grind)

Recently, fellow West Coast rapper Blu hit up SOHH and co-signed Kendrick's music hustle.

"I definitely stay in touch with some of the [XXL '09] Freshmen class," Blu told SOHH. "I seen Asher [Roth] the other day, we should be hitting the studio pretty soon. There's been songs that circulated which I've done with Asher and Charles Hamilton. I always salute Curren$y when I see him out and about. I feel that's a really dope brother right there. Same with Kid Cudi, it's just dope running into these heads. As far as the new Freshmen class, I definitely think Kendrick Lamar will be up there. I think Pac Division, they've been out way longer but Pac Division should be up there. U-N-I and Dom Kennedy, I know it's all West Coast. I definitely think those heads are bringing it right now." (SOHH)

A few days ago, Slim released a new record with Kendrick called "Whose House?"

While we're still fiending to hear that damn album, we can't really argue against Dre's decision after hearing these guys rap together on "Whose House?". It's the latest leak off Slim's forthcoming War Music mixtape, which is sounding d*mn good thus far. The track lifts the ill G-funk beat from Big Sean's "My House" -- off Finally Famous: The Album -- and showcases why producers need to give their best material to Slim and Lamar instead of, um, lesser rappers. (Prefix Mag)