CD Release - Coupe Deville Theory: Hot buttered soul

Consumers are only as faithful as their options. And though pop lockin’ teenagers have some mainstreamers hoodwinked, theatrics and lip-synching will never supplant hot buttered soul. Melding the foot-stompin’ fervor of Southern Sundays and the street-corner wit of pool-hall playas, Slick’s conscious-driven red-clay chronicles offer the common man his own theme music.

“The mainstream would like to have you believe soul music doesn’t sell. But if you give grown folks something real with messages they can feel ... they will buy records. My mamma ain’t buying Omarion,” reasons the Georgia native whose transcendent music pays homage to the chords and truth of Curtis Mayfield, gritty blues of Bobby “Blue” Bland, and the infectious euphoria of Parliament Funkadelic.

After living off his “publishing 401(k)” penning tunes for contemporary soulsters including Anthony David (“Georgia Peach”), India.Arie (“Wonderful”), Sleepy Brown (“Private Party”) and Gurufish, Slick is finally “making it do what it do” with his debut release, Coupe Deville Theory, a funky suite of late-night folk tales portraying life in the ATL. Velvety vocals and soothing bass licks thrive on tracks such as the nostalgic ode to backseat lovin’ “82 Malibu”; “Crazy Things,” a playful battle-of-the-sexes joint with Keisha Jackson; and “Live From Mason Ave,” a warning to the trappings of street life.

Slick’s Coupe Deville Theory is a melodic battle cry for blue-collar souls, a sweet-tea offering on a hot summer day, and a dose of faith for folks paying dues and bills just like him.

“I wrote this album for the brother who gets up every morning for a job he hates to pay the bills. If you love music, it is gonna humble you. Ain’t no way of getting around it. I am human; there were days when I was like, ‘Lord ... I gotta stalk somebody for a check to keep my lights on.’”