Trae tha Truth
Trae tha Truth | |
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Trae tha Truth in Austin, Texas in 2005. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Frazier Othel Thompson[1] |
Also known as | Trae |
Born | July 3, 1980 |
Origin | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | ABN Entertainment, Empire Distribution, Grand Hustle Records, (current) Asylum, Rap-a-Lot (former) |
Associated acts |
Frazier Othel Thompson (born July 3, 1980), better known by his stage name Trae tha Truth or simply Trae, is an American hip hop recording artist from Houston, Texas. Apart from his solo career, Trae is also known as a member of the underground rap collective Screwed Up Click, as well as one-half of the Southern hip hop duo ABN, and one of the founding members of the group Guerilla Maab, alongside fellow rappers Z-Ro and Dougie D.[2][3] Trae tha Truth currently hosts Banned Radio on XXL, on Dash Radio.
Life and career
Trae Tha Truth gained exposure on the Houston rap scene in 1998, when he made his rapping debut with a guest appearance on Z-Ro's album Look What You Did to Me.[4] In 2003, he began his solo career with the album Losing Composure. 2004's Same Thing Different Day, 2006's Restless, and 2007's Life Goes On followed shortly after. Trae Tha Truth has also worked relentlessly with fellow Houston rapper Chamillionaire on his various Mixtape Messiah series.
He also collaborated with Z-Ro to form the duo ABN or Assholes by Nature. They have released two albums, Assholes by Nature (2003) and It Is What It Is (2008).
Trae Tha Truth was involved in a fight with Texas rapper Mike Jones, at the 2008 Ozone Awards. Both later apologized for the incident.[5] It was recently suspected that Trae Tha Truth's music was banned from Houston's local radio Station, 97.9 The Boxx.[6]
After creating a buzz for himself, T.I. announced he signed Trae Tha Truth to Grand Hustle Records on March 1, 2012. On October 9, 2012, Trae was featured on the annual BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, alongside his Grand Hustle label-mates Iggy Azalea, B.o.B, Chip and T.I.[7] His first Grand Hustle album, then-titled Banned, was scheduled to be released in 2014.[8] However, prior to that he will release the mixtape I Am King and has been involved in the recording process for the Grand Hustle Records compilation album.[9] His Grand Hustle Records debut titled Tha Truth was released on July 24, 2015.
Honors
In 2008, Trae Tha Truth was awarded by the mayor of Houston, Bill White, and Council Member Peter Brown with his own day, Trae Day, in honor of his outstanding work within the community.[10] This is the first time the honor has been extended to a rap artist. Trae Day is celebrated every year on July 22.
Controversy
Trae Tha Truth hosted the second annual Trae Day in July 2009, near Texas Southern University. After the event had ended, eight people, ranging in age from 14 to 21, were shot near a parking garage located on the Texas Southern University campus.[11] When he explained to the morning crew at radio station KBXX "97.9 The Box" that he did not condone the shooting, he was accused by one of the personalities of being responsible for the violence per se the lyrical content. When Trae Tha Truth retaliated against her on a mixtape, KBXX banned Trae Tha Truth's music and contributed music from the station and ordered their personalities not to play his music. It caused backlash in the music community as several DJs at KBXX were terminated from their positions due to playing songs that featured Trae.[12] Due to his inability and hindrance from being able to promote his music in Houston as a result, Trae has filed a lawsuit with KBXX early in 2010 citing damages to his career.[13]
Shooting
On June 20, 2012, Trae tha Truth was shot in the shoulder following a performance at an afterhours club located at 9850 Westpark Drive, Houston, TX.[14] His friend, Carlos Durell "Dinky D" Dorsey, died at the scene along with 30-year-old Erica Rochelle Dotson and Coy "Poppa C" Thompson (not related to Trae). There were around 20 gunshots fired.[15][16] In a December 2012 interview with MTV, Trae said that he had been left lying and bleeding at the hospital for hours after being brought in. He went on to say that he "didn't get no bandage, I ain't get no stitches, they didn't take the bullet out, none of that."[17]
On July 4, 2012, it was reported that a suspect, Feanyichi Ezekwesi Uvukansi, had been arrested and charged with capital murder for the shooting.[18][19][20]
On November 25, 2013, Trae released a mixtape titled I Am King, as a tribute to Dominic “Money Clip D” Brown.[21][22][23]
Discography
- Losing Composure (2003)
- Same Thing Different Day (2004)
- Restless (2006)
- Life Goes On (2007)
- The Beginning (2008)
- Street King (2011)
- Tha Truth (2015)
- Tha Truth, Pt. 2 (2016)
References
- ↑ "HPD identifies target of deadly shooting after Trae Tha Truth concert | News". khou.com. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
- ↑ Update: Houston Rapper Z-Ro Jailed For Drug Possession | Daily Hip-Hop News|SOHH.com /
- ↑ "City Of Houston Proclaims July 22 Trae Day". Ballerstatus.com.com. 2008-07-11.
- ↑ "Assholes By Nature". Last.fm. November 19, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
- ↑ Hale, Andreas (2008-08-13). "Mike Jones & Trae Apologize For Ozone Incident | Hip Hop News". HipHopDX.com. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ↑ "Hip Hop News > HipHopWaired.com". Hiphopwired.com. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ↑ "HIP HOP AWARDS EXCLUSIVES: THE GRAND HUSTLE CYPHER". BET. Black Entertainment Television LLC. October 9, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
- ↑ "#YESTour - EXCLUSIVE Trae Tha Truth Announces New Album "Banned" At TI's video shoot". YouTube. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ↑ HipHopDX. "Trae The Truth Addresses Radio Ban, Details "I Am King" Mixtape". HipHopDX. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ↑ Caldwell, Brandon (2015-07-22). "On Trae Day No. 8, a Rapper at the Center of His Community". Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ↑ Houston Police Department > News Releases Investigation into Shooting at 3100 Cleburne
- ↑ "AustinSurreal: An Open Letter to 97.9 The BoxFrom Matt Sonzala". Austinsurreal.blogspot.com. 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ↑ Shea Serrano (2010-06-23). "Out of the Box - Page 1 - Music - Houston". Houston Press. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ↑ Houston Police Department > News Releases Investigation into Fatal Shooting at 9850 Westpark Drive
- ↑ "5 shot, 3 killed, in club shooting | News - Home". Click2houston.com. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- ↑ "Investigation into Fatal Shooting at 9850 Westpark Drive". Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ↑ HipHopDX. "Trae Tha Truth Describes Hospitalization After June 20 Shooting". HipHopDX. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ↑ "Man arrested in triple killing after concert | News - Home". Click2houston.com. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
- ↑ http://www.khou.com/news/crime/Man-arrested-in-connection-with-deadly-shooting-involving-Trae-Tha-Truth---161373825.html
- ↑ "Suspect Arrested in Trae Tha Truth Shooting". Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ↑ MTV News Trae Tha Truth Drops ‘Bittersweet’ I Am King Mixtape With A Heavy Heart. MC talks to MTV News about releasing his mixtape two years after the death of his best friend and 'brother' Dominic 'Money Clip D' Brown. by Rob Markman 11/25/2013
- ↑ XXL Mag Dec 4 2013 Trae Tha Truth Pours His Heart Out On ‘I Am King’ Mixtape
- ↑ BET / Black Entertainment Television LLC Mixtape Review: Trae Tha Truth, I Am King Underground MC goes mainstream on latest mixtape. By Jake Rohn: 11/26/2013
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trae. |