Back in december I was playing Persona 3 for the first time, after i had put it down for a year or so. At one point i picked up my PS2 slim to plug in a controller (the memory card was covering the controller port) and since then I have had problems.  Music and audio just cut out sometimes during cutscenes and when I'm running around town.. The game would pause for 30 seconds to over a minute just to load up the next spoken line in a conversation. I'd finish a fight and have to wait long past the win animation to continue. It's frustrating and makes playing these games a real chore.
 
 I can hear when the disc is being read and when it isn't. Things will be silent then i hear the ps2 working and then  characters start talking again.
 
At first I thought it was just Persona 3. But now I am playing Persona 4 for the first time and I'm about 20 hours in and I'm noticing the same problems. Any help anyone can give?

Sounds like your PS2 is dying: my PS2 refuses to play certain discs, and does not play ANY DVDs anymore.
 
Not to sound like a dick, but I suggest you buy a PS3.

Get a new ps2? I'd gather those things are dirt cheap at this point. Surprised they don't hand them out for free with McDonalds happy meals.

I have a Ps3, It's the newer kind that doesn't have backwards compatibility sadly
  
It's not like the Ps2 is that old. I got itt around when 2007. Does anyone think it could be the lens or something. My understanding of how a ps2 workds is very limited.

" Sounds like your PS2 is dying: my PS2 refuses to play certain discs, and does not play ANY DVDs anymore.  Not to sound like a dick, but I suggest you buy a PS3. "

It may be the lens, but if the drive stops spinning and randomly starts back up it may be a bigger problem. Google a guide on cleaning the lens and see if that helps.

Ok. I think i solved the problem. Stack shit on top of th ps2. I'm assuming the lid of the ps2 was a bit loose. It wasn't open or anything, but it was just enough to make the disc unable to read at times. It didn't become aparent until I happened to press down on the ps2 lid causing the disc to start reading when i was looking at the browser. What a janky solution...