Business
Standing Tall
Beginning in the notoriously tough streets of Dorchester, and now in a new chapter of sobriety and second chances, this proud Boston native is an acclaimed actor cast in the films Gone Baby Gone, The
eginning in the notoriously tough streets of Dorchester, and now in a new chapter of sobriety and second chances, this proud Boston native is an acclaimed actor cast in the films Gone Baby Gone, The Town and Killing Them Softly, alongside Hollywood icons Ben Affleck, Ray Liotta and Brad Pitt. He is also a prolific and brutally honest rapper who has dominated stages around the globe as a member of hip-hop super group La Coka Nostra, and also as a solo act. With his latest release, The King of Everything Else, out on Suburban Noize Records, Slaine has proven to himself, and to everyone else, that he is indeed, the king of everything else.
You have a new movie coming out, By The Gun, with Harvey Keitel. Tell our readers what it is all about.
Basically, it’s a modern day mafia movie. You know, the mafia is not what it once was. So it’s about a kid who idolizes the mafia and wants to be in it. It’s the story of that kid, and him getting made, and all the stuff that entails after that.
You know what it is like to be at rock bottom, and you know what it is like to be on top of the world. What is your advice to those who aspire to rise above their current situation?
When you’re on top, you’re never really far from the bottom. When you’re at the bottom, you’re never really far from the top. Circumstances can change so quickly in life. Treat everyday like it is its own brand new page and just keep your head up. Everything passes, good and bad. You’ve got to hang in there through the bad ones and enjoy the good ones, because they don’t last forever.
What is your opinion of cannabis, be it medically prescribed or used recreationally?
I think it should be legal. I don’t understand . . . well, actually, I do understand why it’s not. My understanding is that William Randolph Hearst had a big stake in the paper business, and hemp was outlawed because it was gonna f*ck up his newspaper business. Of course there are medical uses and people should use it for that. It helps a lot of people. But I think it should be legal recreationally, so it’s almost a moot point. I don’t think the government or anyone else should have a say in it. It’s a freedom. It’s a quality of life thing.
What’s next for you?
More shows in Europe. A solo run in Canada, and then out to LA through March I’ll be recording and doing pilot season, which is when they cast TV shows. TV work is good work. I don’t think I’ll ever hang up music, but I’ve been working at such a furious pace. I’ve put out four albums in the last three years. If I could lighten my load with a steady TV show, I’d love to do that.
