Charles Hamilton Claims He Was Supposed to Be in Slaughterhouse

In the span of two years, former Interscope artist Charles Hamilton went from unknown to infamous.

Re-emerging from a self-imposed exile after a controversial feud with the legendary producer J Dilla's family, Hamilton now claims to have been a founding member of soon-to-be Shady/Aftermath group Slaughterhouse. The indie-rap supergroup boasts an all-star cast of spitters -- Joe Budden, Royce da 5' 9", Crooked I and Joell Ortiz -- whom Hamilton says he helped connect.

"Joell, Royce, Crooked, Joe, yall did me dirty!" Hamilton exclaimed in a recent interview. "I was supposed to be the fifth member of Slaughterhouse and they know it."

Hamilton went on to say that he and Royce made the introductions during a trip to New Jersey, but that he was ultimately left out of the group largely because he was signed to a major label.

"Me, Royce and three other people drove out to Jersey, kicking the breeze," Hamilton continued." I was like 'let's start a group.' He was like, 'Charles, you're on a major label.' He calls up Joe and I already had Crooked's number, so we do the illest conference call. Joe Budden says to me very sternly, 'Charles, we are not your age. We cannot afford a failure. And we don't want to be a failure and bring you down from your situation.' I said, 'Y'all are representing hip-hop. Only way y'all fail, is if y'all don't spit.' Royce was with it, but I know the love is still there. If they're still on board, I'm with it."

Charles Hamilton dropped his latest single, 'Gauchos,' on May 5.