Slayter is one of the first rappers from the Dyckman section of Upper Manhattan’s Inwood neighborhood. Born of Puerto Rican descent, the versatile Cinematic Music Group artist prides himself on being uncompromisingly authentic. “I met a lot of rappers who were not who I thought they were. With me, what you see is what you get.” Fans are now getting more of the artist who has worked with G Herbo, Michael Christmas, and producer Thelonious Martin (A$AP Rocky, Mac Miller, Curren$y). This past June, he released his latest mixtape, World Got Me F*cked Up Vol. 1. The Cinematic project features Princess Nokia, Sada Baby, Benny The Butcher, Maxo Kream, Luh Kel, Yungeen Ace, 22Gz, and more.
From the diverse neighborhood, Slayter was exposed to a different New York City than the rest of Manhattan. While Dyckman is now a destination for its clubs, bars, and culture, that was not the case for much of Slayter’s upbringing. The streets trained him to keep his guard up, whether that be jack-boys or junkies. With more than 100 cousins living in the same section of Carolina, Puerto Rico, Slayter spent years on that island, caring for a sick grandmother with his mom. He applies his love of Spanish to his own catchy melodies. A casual music hobby changed in 2016 when Slayter met producer Thelonious Martin. While smoking one night in the studio, Martin heard the rapper freestyle and gave him a beat. When Slayter brought back a finished song, the producer handed him 40 more instrumentals. Six of those became 2016’s Dirty Game . He went with “Slayter,” a high school-era nickname based on the pretty-boy Saved By The Bell character.
Alchemist co-signed, as did Complex, XXL, and The Fader. Cinematic founder Jonny Shipes also liked the EP, leading to a signing. In 2019, Slayter released Cold At Night with the label. Video single “MHM” has achieved nearly 400,000 plays. Now, this new project finds an artist who vents his frustrations, all while staying authentic. “I’m letting my anger out. This is what’s really going on right now in my life. It’s just honest music. We live in a messed up world,” he says. Video single “Louis V Umbrella,” with Detroit’s Sada Baby, is a deliberate distraction from that strife. “We’re havin’ fun too,” Slayter says of the first look. In less than a week, that video has crossed the six-figure mark, connecting with others seeking stylish shelter from hardships.
Meanwhile, “Who Gone Love You,” featuring Luh Kel, draws from real-life experiences in romance. “Hood Famous,” with Yungeen Ace, looks at legacy. “If I die today, I wouldn’t be famous, but I’d be hood famous,” says the artist whose mural stands between Academy and Nagle avenues. After touring the country and working with top Rap peers, Slayter gives back, including events at the basketball park, soup kitchens, and more. He models himself as a Robin Hood, at a time when he has a social media partnership with Foot Action and a merchandise collab with streetwear designer Anwar Carrots. Fresh off of a tour with Maxo and Ace, Slayter stresses that all involved with World Got Me F*cked Up are based on actual connections.In an age of gimmicks and trolls, Slayter wants a weary world to know he’s the real deal. World Got Me F*cked Up plans to correct these trends with an artist with something to say and an impressive guest list. Building his base through every show, each song, and interaction, Slayter notes, “People will learn me through the music. When you meet me, you’ll say, “Aiight, I get it.’
