Slim Thug

A Houston native, Stayve Thomas came up through the Swishahouse and the city's independent mixtape economy.

His debut "Already Platinum," produced largely by The Neptunes, charted in the top two, and he became a savvy real-estate and business owner.

He charted a top-selling debut and built independent business ventures in Houston.

Slim Thug embodies the entrepreneurial, ownership-minded ethos of Houston rap.