Slip-N-Slide CEO Ted Lucas Discusses Rick Ross, Trick and Trina Collab, Plies, New Artists

As hard as it may be to believe, it’s been 20 years since Slip-N-Slide hit us in the head with Trick Daddy’s slapping debut “Na’an” alongside potty-mouthed female antagonist Trina. Along the way, this modest Miami-based independent black-owned company has helped to navigate the careers of Rick Ross, Plies and Jagged Edge.

Now with rising stars Teenear and Sebastian Mikael on the roster, as well as a much-anticipated collaboration album from Trick and Trina in the works, Slip-N-Slide Records is still as strong as ever. We sat down with SNS CEO Ted Lucas to discuss the label’s past, present and future.

GRIP: Teenear’s new single “Something Else” is quickly growing steam. How did you discover her?
We discovered her in the church singing and we just been making some great music. We are excited about her. She got another great single coming out with Fetty Wop. We got some big records coming out.

Although Jagged Edge was on the label at one time, as well as gold-selling artist J-Shin, SNS is mostly known for hardcore rap music.
We’re trying to just spread our wings more and more. We also got Sebastian Michael. He gone take you down that Maxwell, D’Angelo lane. We just can’t wait for people to hear that music. I feel real good. I ain’t gone lie to you. 2017 put that fire back in me. I don’t know what happened.

Why R&B?
Because music has changed. Music is not in a box no more. Music is all over the place. Have you ever thought that you would listen to an R&B radio station and they’re playing a rhythmic pop record? Music is all over now. It has totally changed, and if you don’t change with it, you gone be a dinosaur.

Speaking of change, who would have ever thought that Trick Daddy and Trina would record an album together?
I ain’t gone lie; I never thought I’d see that. I’m glad that they’re both mature enough to understand that they gotta provide the fans with what they want. Trina was so busy doing her thang; Trick was so busy doing his thang. I never got enough time to sit down and do it, but I finally got them both on the same page to say “let’s go ahead and give the people what they want.”

How far are they along in the recording process?
We got about five or six songs left. I’m excited about the first single. It gives you a little bit of what you’ve known Trick and Trina for but it captures the new generation as well. Everybody is gone love it. I wanna have it this summer when the DJ put the record on at the bar-b-que, the kids dancing and the momma turn around and say “that ain’t the Trick I know.” I want the whole family at the bar-b-que jamming to Trick and Trina-young, new and all.  That’s my goal: to put some great music out that captures the summer.

A few years ago, it was publicized that Trick had some issues with SNS.
He crazy. Ain’t nothing changed. He still crazy, but that’s my brother. I just know how to deal with him. That’s family for real. I might call my grandma house and she say Trick just left a few minutes ago. We still go through our situations. Anybody that agrees with everything somebody say, something is wrong with y’all. Y’all got a real relationship. So that’s family. We can say anything to each other. So when it comes down to it, we both know that. Regardless, if we’re having disagreements at the time, he’s my brother.

Added to that, he gave SNS its first hit records.
When I didn’t know which way I was going, God blessed me to put his music together and get me out the streets. I didn’t know nothing about no music business. Ain’t nobody give me no A&R job. No record executive gave me a bank account and told me to start a record company. I didn’t want to get stuck in the streets. He made great music. I was able to market and promote it, and it changed all of our lives.
It was also rumored that Trick and Trina had issues at one time as well.

Trina used to be the boyfriend of Trick’s brother Hollywood. She is his sister regardless of whatever. Again, he crazy. We know that. Trina knows he’s crazy. I know he’s crazy. We just know how to deal with his craziness…You know that family member that come to the bar-b-que and he be acting crazy? That’s him. He’s a part of the family. Still love him regardless. Ain’t nothing gone change.

It’s good to see that Plies is staying relevant, not only with his newest single “Real Hitta” featuring Kodak Black but with social media.
He knows how to keep himself relevant in this day and time. Plies ain’t stupid. He ain’t dumb by a long shot. He’s very smart and intelligent and he knows how to keep up and make great music. When you put the social media with great music, it’s a win/win situation.

People may not know it but you helped Rick Ross early in his career. How did you discover him?
One of my A&Rs named Red came to me and said “man, it’s this artist name Rick Ross out of Carol City but he’s signed to Suave House.” I called up Tony Draper and (he) was in between deals and he wasn’t able to put Rick Ross out at the time. So I bought Rick Ross’s contract from Draper.

Why is he no longer with you?
He fulfilled his obligation with me. He put out a lot of albums. I signed Rick Ross to Def Jam with LA Reid and Jay-Z, and Rick Ross was a man. He handled his business. Most artists get under contract and they don’t wanna fulfill their contract. They don’t want to be responsible. He was a boss. He wanted to be his own boss. So I respected what he wanted to do, but I respect him more because he fulfilled his contract. Some of these new artists make a little money and they don’t want to fulfill their obligations. So they try to find a lawyer to get them out their contract. Ross fulfilled his obligations. We definitely got respect for each other. I knew he was a boss before I signed him. He was able to get his own label and sign other artists and set trends.

You must be proud of your accomplishments.
I’ve been blessed to find talent.