Trae: Artist & C.E.O.?
March 2006
MVRemix: Why the rap name "Trae"?
Trae: I mean Trae ain't really just a rap name, Trae my real name. I'm the third. So if you second you joined here, if you third, you "Trae." Trae is just that, I ain't come up with a rap name I just used my name.
MVRemix: What's your first memory of Hip Hop?
Trae: [ponders] My first memory of Hip Hop was just music itself. Some shit that I could vibe with... So I mean my first memory of Hip Hop was way, way, way back.
MVRemix: Any particular artists?
Trae: I ain't gonna lie to you, I used to listen to everybody you can think of. You got me goin' way back [chuckles].
MVRemix: Tell me about the G-Maab label and your artists.
Trae: G-Maab Entertainment is the label that I own. The artists consist of me, and the group S.L.A.B. - Slow, Loud and Bangin'. We deal with Dallas, that's a singer and we deal with Shauna, that's another singer. For the most part that's about it. It's our label really, our family. All of us are family members except for Dallas and Shauna.
MVRemix: And "Restless" is coming out through Rap-A-Lot/G-Maab/Asylum?
Trae: Yeah, "Restless" is coming out through Rap-A-Lot, G-Maab Entertainment and Asylum.
MVRemix: How many songs in total would you say were recorded for "Restless"?
Trae: I'm still recording songs to this day. I'm finna do a song after I get off the phone with you.
MVRemix: So the album's not quite finished yet?
Trae: Nah, the album's done, but I'ma keep workin'. Until it's time to lock it up and send it for press, then I'll be done.
MVRemix: Any plans on a video for "Cadillac"?
Trae: There's gonna have to be one because that's gonna be a crazy song man. That song features S.L.A.B., Paul Wall and Three 6 Mafia.
MVRemix: What are your thoughts on the comments made by artists like 50 Cent and Saigon about music from the South, it being dumbed down and such…
Trae: Tell 'em to get a load of my album when it come out.
MVRemix: What are your thoughts though on those comments?
Trae: I don't entertain shit like that, but I'ma tell you - I'm somethin' way different to see. June 27th, you gon' see what it is. I'm finna bring you the street side of the south. That's where I'm from. So I'ma have to answer all they questions; put it like that. They call me Trae the truth, they don't call me that for nothin'.
MVRemix: Tell me about Asshole By Nature and the movement associated with that.
Trae: Asshole By Nature is a movement, you know what I'm sayin'? It was a rap group but it's also a gang. Meaning with a gang the way I did it was it's a lot of... Believe it or not it's a lot of gangs out here. I had the top notch niggas from each set; I did it with the bloods, I did it with the crips and I did it with the BD's and GD's and it's like I came together under one circle with the niggas who on that grown up shit, meaning they on some mature shit to where they understand the movement. What we did was we formed one big ass circle, kind of where coming up there's these little niggas who's comin' out here under us to understand it's not always about plexing, it's about real recognize real. It's about unity to an extent, 'cause some niggas don't understand how to care about themselves.
For the most part unity is important, so that's the movement that we on. When you go to see a concert with me in Houston, you likely to see any different set on stage with me. We all together as one, you know what I'm sayin'? We on some real grown man type shit. Then it's not even that, we on some shit where we dissin' out all the bullshit. We ain't got time for that, we showin' 'em that other niggas shouldn't pop off no bullshit. So the A.B.N. movement is real strong. We definitely respected out here, niggas don't really fuck with us. I mean as far as trippin'... But a lot of niggas fuck with us because they got love for us 'cause we know so many niggas. So the movement is there.
MVRemix: Tell me about the "All Regional" mixtape.
Trae: The "All Regional" with my man DJ Quest... Quest set up the "All Regional" where you have two artists from the East Coast, I'm one of the representatives from the South and I think it's with the DJ's like Green Lantern, DJ Smallz and Dow Jones. Quest is one of them people who set up a lot of stuff man. Like he currently doing some stuff to try to set me up with these EA Sports games. He doin' his thing. "All Regional" gonna be big because you've got top notch artists. You've got shit on there like me with Kool G Rap, you've got shit with me on there that you'd never think.
MVRemix: I'd heard you were working on some movie endeavours - can you tell me a little about those?
Trae: Actually, it's funny. I guess shit travels fast. I made a call to my homie J. Prince the other day, talkin' about I had this idea. So we gon' get ready to run with it. I'm already part owner in a company South Porch Swings who shot my "Swang" video with Tom Campbell and Jason Raid. I'm just one of the partners, but I'm still a part of it. What I'm gonna do is I'm working on my album, I'm finna get ready to do the script for a movie that I wanna do. You know what I'm sayin'? I'ma make this shit right. I'm a real nigga; I'm a all out grinder. So it's like I ain't out here to be sittin' still. I'm out here to do some real shit.
MVRemix: How do you feel about Three 6 Mafia winning an Oscar?
Trae: For one, that was a blessing, truly. Those niggas deserved it. They been payin' they dues for real and the fact that I'm cool with the niggas... That makes me even more happy. They some of my people and I love to see my people make it. No matter how they make it or what they make it with, I just love to see my people make it, man. That was a good thing.
MVRemix: You said you weren't content just being an artist, you wanted to also be a CEO - don't the two conflict?
Trae: Nope, I been a C.E.O. If you look back in my career, I always been a C.E.O.
MVRemix: Do you find that influences your music or not? Because you have to look from a business standpoint as well, versus creativity...
Trae: [ponders] Really, I'ma tell it to you man. I'm not your everyday rapper. I don't have to think to be creative. My reason for rappin' - that's how I been out. So I don't have to be creative with rappin' because that's how I really feel. It's just a blessing people like my music for what it really is. I've never had to think about how I'ma do this or how I'ma do that. I just do how I'ma do.
MVRemix: Why do you think the Houston rap scene is so strong?
Trae: I think because everybody got they time. Right now it's Houston's time to do what they do. That's just like when anybody else's time, like they shit was strong. It's only natural for our shit to be strong too. For a while we been in our own little section. We been gettin' money, we been doin' everythang down here. So I mean each one of us got hustle so it's gonna be great.
MVRemix: What's the current situation with Guerilla Maab?
Trae: Right now everybody kinda doin' they solo thang.
MVRemix: But are there any plans, or is it up the air?
Trae: Don't get me to be lyin' to ya. I just did some stuff with Dougie D on his album, so I don't know. If somethin' comes to the table then that's what it's gon' be. If not we each gon' make it.
MVRemix: Any last words?
Trae: Trae is the truth. June 27th, the album "Restless" is comin'. Make sure you fuck with it and free Dinkie! R.I.P. Screw, R.I.P. Fat Pat. Asshole By Nature for life.
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