Miami, FL. – Towards the end of 2008, it has become apparent that labels are dashing back and forth to sign producers, some to production deals, others to promotion and marketing deals. It is quite obvious that they are the new hype of the industry. In Miami alone, several producers that were once independent made a name for themselves, built their elemental styles to a higher level, and eventually were picked up quite quickly. One producer has had a huge buzz as of late and it seems like word travels fast in these streets, within weeks of signing, circulation flooded throughout the city limits. Speculation spread like wildfire practically everywhere, it is evident that his credibility has covered a huge mass that not many anticipated. Well, if you read the heading on his myspace recently, it’s official CP Hollywood signs management with Slip N Slide Records, so the rumors about the other labels cease.

24hourhiphop.com had a chance to speak one on one with the mega producer and obtain the facts about how the situation came about between him and Slip N Slide’s Ted Lucas. This is an exclusive interview with the new signee that you will only read here.

24: To cease all the speculations, let the fans know what label are you officially signed?

CP: I’m officially signed to Slip N Slide Records.

24: How did that situation come about?

CP: I went to Slip N Slide about a year ago with my artist named Kaliko and from then I kept a relationship with the record label. Since then, Slip N Slide contacted me about two months ago because they had been hearing about what I was doing. O, their A&R called me and said that they had an opportunity for me at Slip N Slide. He told me I was doing the right things, but there were things that I was missing and they felt like they had the missing links. So I went to Slip N Slide and expressed all my concerns with O and Ted Lucas. Ted offered me management, but at that point I had already been offered management by some other people. So they set it up so that, come 2009 they would push Slip N Slide producers and they wanted to make it as strong as the artist section. Who better to do that then one of the leading producers in Miami? It’s a Slip N Slide producer situation, but its management. When Atlantic, Interscope Records or any other label wants a track, then that’s perfectly fine because that’s what we’re doing.At the same time I get the privilege of working out of Slip N Slide studios and with their artists, so it’s definitely a win, win for me. I have a label that’s engrained in our bones, that’s legendary; one of the biggest independent labels to me and they know how to promote their artists, so for me it’s like a no brainer.

24: So you were basically a free agent in the game and they just picked you up unknowingly. How many other labels looked at you before you knowingly decided to go with Slip N Slide?

CP: I’m not going to say that other labels offered me deals, but a lot of A&R’s from the bigger labels were looking at me and people kept calling asking about what types of deals I was looking for. I turned down a small publishing deal that just wasn’t enough for me and after talking with Ted and O and seeing what Slip N Slide was all about; to me it was just the best opportunity. I really just narrowed it down It was either going to be Poe Boy or Slip N Slide, and Slip N Slide really came to me with a situation and I had never really sat down with Poe Boy, so to me, Slip N Slide was my best option. I have a lot of respect for Ted Lucas and what he’s done. I just got nothing but good things to say about Slip N Slide so…

24: Did this come about before or after the interview posted 24hourhiphop.com?

CP: O had hollered at me before that and I just wanted to make sure that before I even looked in that direction, what I wanted was taken care of and sure enough it was. Now we’re just trying to get to this money and sell tracks, who better to do that and make the phone calls, then Ted Lucas. I know pretty much everybody in the industry will pick up their phone especially, if they know Lucas is on the other end of it. I wanted to go with something that was already established and if you look at it, they took an already established producer’s name in this market and then added it to Slip N Slide. How do you lose?

24: So basically you have a management/production type deal with Slip N Slide. What’s the situation with that?

CP: Without getting too deep into it, I’m basically under Slip N Slide producers, I’m representing for Slip N Slide. They want me to rep for them as bad as I want to rep for them.Ted Lucas is my management, Slip N Slide producers is what I’m under, O is managing that and then my assistant manager is Mike Slick. O, actually hasn’t even really put SNS producers out there yet.He is trying to take Slip N Slide producers to the next level and come 09.Trust me, Slip N Slide producers are going to go hard! Plus as I said before we want to make Slip N Slide producers as strong as they made the artists in the past. Everything now is ring tones or single oriented. Bottom line, the producers get paid per record, artists have to hope the record does well. And the second the albums are sold we start making money from record one. Slip N Slide signing CP Hollywood was the best move they could have made and it’s the best move that I could have made.

24: So it’s official. The contracts are signed; you’re apart of Slip N Slide Records and under Ted Lucas effective since last week?

CP: Yes, it’s a done deal, but I just want to clarify the situation. I am on Slip N Slide, but it’s definitely a management situation as a Slip N Slide producer. I don’t want to scare labels away, because that’s one of my main angles; shooting beats to these labels. Slip N Slide works with all the majors like, Def Jam and Jive, plus they’ve got artists on all major labels.

24: So there are no stipulations. You are open to work with everyone?

CP: I just did like three records with unknown artists about two or three weeks ago. As long as they’ve got the money that I’m worth, I’ll work with them. It’s important to work with those people because you never know who’s going to be next. Nobody knew Unda Surveillance was going to be next or Ballgreezy or Grind Mode, people saw them, but didn’t know they would be next. They weren’t given the proper respect they needed to get. Until you get a hit record on radio, no one really knows you, but you don’t know who that person is, that’s going to get that hit on the radio, so yes, I can work with whoever I want to.

24: Do you know what future projects you will be working with under Slip N Slide?

CP: We don’t have a set amount of projects, but the thing that’s scary is when you’re under Slip N Slide you are expected to land all SNS projects or people start to think something’s funny. But at the same time wherever my sound fits is we’re where going to put it. I don’t want to do a record for Ross if the record is just forced and I don’t want to do a record for Trina if it’s not her thing, but I definitely got some records for all their artists that I think they’ll definitely be able to make some hits with.

24: So you’re going to be working with artists like Shonie, Qwote, Trina, Plies and others?

CP: Slip N Slide studios is undergoing remodeling and will be done January 1st. Once all that’s done, I’ll be up in there.

24: Any last words you want to add?

CP: I’m happy to be on Slip N Slide. I got respect for everybody who’s grinding in Miami, including the other monster label which is Poe Boy obviously. Check for my mixtape in the streets hosted by DJ Kreep and the release party Friday Dec.12 at Club 90 Degreez. Shout outs to all the other producers who are where I was a year ago and I wish the best to everyone.

Be on the lookout for CP Hollywood in upcoming tracks with many major artists across the industry, especially in Miami as 2008 is his year to reign. Congratulations to CP for officially landing a production/management deal with Slip N Slide.