No Jumper - TravQue on Transition from Vine to Tik Tok, Going Viral, Full-Time Content Creating & More

Episode Date: December 5, 2022

Comedian, actor, and rapper Travque talks about his viral skits, his relationship with Drake, his social media rise, and more! ------ 00:00 Intro 10:00 TravQue on His First Viral Video on Vine 12:25 TravQue's Thoughts on De-Platforming and Getting Ideas for Skits 21:40 TravQue on "Walk Away From Me" Videos & Getting into Rooms with A-list Celebrities 27:30 TravQue on Making a Viral Video with Drake 36:36 Will TikTok Face the Same Fate as Vine? ----- NO JUMPER PATREON http://www.patreon.com/nojumper CHECK OUT OUR NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5te... FOLLOW US ON SNAPCHAT FOR THE LATEST NEWS & UPDATES https://www.snapchat.com/discover/No_... CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE!!! http://www.nojumper.com/ SUBSCRIBE for new interviews (and more) weekly: http://bit.ly/nastymondayz  Follow us on SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ENxb4B... iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/n... Follow us on Social Media: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/No_... http://www.twitter.com/nojumper http://www.instagram.com/nojumper https://www.facebook.com/NOJUMPEROFFI... http://www.reddit.com/r/nojumper JOIN THE DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Q3XPfBm Follow Adam22: https://www.tiktok.com/@adam22 http://www.twitter.com/adam22 http://www.instagram.com/adam22 adam22hoe on Snapchat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No jumper, coolest podcast in the world. And we're back. Now, I don't even know how to introduce this guy, man. You feel me? Because, listen, he does it all, man. Rapper. You feel what I mean? Right?

Rapper. Social media, guru, skid maker. Actor. Actor, influencer. Networking specialist. Most definitely. Man, man, we got Traff Q. First off, like, am I saying it right the whole time?

Trav Q? You are. You always crazy. You got it right. A lot of people, they say Trav. I don't heard it all. Trust me. Traff K?

I don't heard Trif K. Bro, what type of special needs people are you talking to? Who gets like Trav K from a QUE? I mean, you know, some people have different languages, so, you know, they may say Tray but it's definitely Trif K, and I'm happy that you got it right. I appreciate that. Yeah, man.

Yo, like, Trav don't even know, man. Like, you almost altered my entire life, bro, right? Because, yo, see how much fun you was having at an HBCU? Right. Oh, yes. I say, yo, man, when I get older, bro, I'm trying to go to an HBCU, and then I sold it out, you feel it. I went to the widest school possible, bro. What school did you go to?

NDSU, North Dakota State. Okay, shout out the Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, the first HBCU, by the way. The first? Yes. Wait, hold up, so, like, they're the first, right? Yes. And then Cheney is the second? Yes, so we normally go back and forth with Cheney all the time, but we're the first degree

grants in college, well, first HBCC, degree grant in HBCU. So Cheney didn't, you know, they didn't give out any degree. So that's why they couldn't be considered, you know, God, that's-brow, I've been tricked by chaining niggas my whole life, man. Come, come on, man. That's why every time we have our football game, it's called the Battle of the First. Yeah, you know, it's Lincoln University. We're the first.

Nah, that's the fact, man. Well, here, listen, so, like, first off, man, who is TravQ? Like, like, where you're from? Because you went to Lincoln, that's like, in, like, PA. Yes. But where are you from? I'm from Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn, New York.

Yes. Yo, I knew you got that Brooklyn, nigger energy, man. You know the vibes, man. we outside. Fearless, I knew it, man. All right. So how was it like growing up in Brooklyn?

It wasn't easy. I'd tell you that. I didn't grow up in, you know, like the suburbs and anything like that. I grew up in a rough neighborhood. But, you know, it teaches you.

And it instills principles in you that you carry on to this day. So, you know, a lot of people hate growing up in the hood. I'm grateful that I grew up in the hood. You know, it just made me a better person. It made me realize

and know how to move as well, you know? Yeah, I definitely agree because I always say this, right? Like, even just speaking to dudes who are, like, from the streets and from that environment is, yo, when these dudes, you know, like expand from that environment, right,

and go into other things, like, they just come equipped with certain skills that, like, like, we're not got, right? Like, like, um. Street smarts. Yeah, yo, like, I work with this guy called AD. And I always tell them, bro, like, just how, like, how you know how to read people.

Right. Your emotional IQ, how to read a room, how to talk, how to really, like, get emotions out of people that you want. Exactly. That comes from, you know, having to survive every day, right? Exactly.

And I had to pick up quick, man. So, like, what skills, like, do you think that you, I guess, acquired from, like, those environments that made you, you know, I get successful today? Learned how to read people, knowing when, you know, people are really there for you and when they're really not. You know, that's a skill that I've learned over the years. And, you know, growing up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn New York, learned it as well. Crown Bridge.

Crown Heights. Yo, who's from Crown Heights? Because I heard that shit before. It's a couple people from Crowns. A lot of people from Crown Heights. Who? Rapper Troy Ave is from Crown Heights. Woo!

Chowna to Troy Ave, man. Real one, bro. So, Troy F and, like, who else? Is Jay's, no. Jay Z's from Best Style, Biggie's from Best Style, Fab is from Bedstah. So it's like, Best Style is probably like 10 minutes from Crown Heights. Yo, I'm going to lie to you, bro.

Like, Bestai is cooking you, you, niggas, man. Because damn, bro, Jay Z. Listen, at the end of the day, it's still Brooklyn, though. So, you know, it's still Brooklyn. Yo, I go loud, man, listen. I'm such a fake nigger, man, that like, if I was from, like, somewhere in Brooklyn that wasn't from where Jayzie Biggie was,

nah, bro, I'm playing Bestide, man. Listen, man, nah, you wouldn't trust me. It doesn't matter what part of booking you're from, you're going to claim that part. It doesn't matter what part. You could be from East New York, Brownsville, Red Hook, downtown. You're going to claim that part, for sure. Yo, yo, like, facts. But I, right, okay, so then, like, how did you go from the street?

Well, not the streets, right? But, like, you know, growing up and in the hood to where, yo, I'm trying to go to college. But, like, this college shit is cool. Because a lot of us don't really think that college is cool growing up. Right. Knowing I wanted a better life for myself and my family as well. And, you know, always wanted to make my parents proud at the end of the day. So I went to Link University of Pennsylvania for health science.

Health science. And I did not, you know, excel in the health science. Obviously, I'm here, you know, entertainment. But what I did was I went on to get my master's at Westchester University. You got your master's still? I didn't get my master's. Okay. So here's the story.

This is why I left. Yeah. Because I'm the professor, and I was like, you know, this is not what I want to do anymore, you know. I was just doing this to make my parents proud. My father's in health and my mother's in health. So, you know, and they both Jamaican. My father's Jamaican and Costa Rican. Yeah.

you don't know, then I'd play it's blood, guy, yeah. So my father is Jamaican to Costa Rica, my mother's straight Jamaican. Yeah. So, you know, it's just something that, that Caribbean parents, and, you know, they instill that to go into health and, you know, something that, you know, that you can use for the rest of your life. But I was like, no, this is not for me anymore. I know who I am, I know who I'm going to become.

I know who I'm going to become and I wanted to help. I mean, I wanted to, you know, entertainment, I should say. My apologies. Yo, Jamaicans take education seriously. Yeah, they do. Education and food. Yo, bro, like, I know, so I've seen, like, how, like, Vytele, and he's in prison right now, and he's still making sure his kids is doing, like, oh, not, for sure.

I say, yo, can you imagine that, right? One of the most men, I love Vise Cartel. Right. Free Adi, man, you feel me, man, Adi, me, Dadi, you feel me? Dutti, done, no. Freedom on them. Freedom on them. You don't know.

Yo, bro, I'm African as fuck trying to sound Jamaica, man. Pardon me Dada. What are you from? Liberia. Okay, okay, okay. Do you I make Jalov Rice over there, too? Yeah, bro, we love Joloff Rice. All right.

So I'm going to ask you this, bro. Because I know it's a battle between, you know, Nigerians and people from Ghana. So who has the best Joloff rice? Is it Nigerians, people from Ghana or Liberians? Bro, Nigerians goloff is garbage, bro. Bro, that niggas got, bro. It's like fucking tomatoes and shit, watery as fucking. Listen, don't ever try no Nigerian joloff, bro.

If you like... I can't say that. I had it. It was fired in me. We were not a child. No, no, it was fired. That was the first Jolof rice I ever had. So now I had to try to try.

Liberian Joloff rice. Was there you a girl, though, who cooked you like the Joloff? No, it was actually one of my frat brothers. Your fried brothers? Yeah. Nah, listen. Here, right, so look, here's why Liberian Joloff is better, Senegalian joloff better, right?

Because, like, we have, though, the meat option is better. It's more like sauces, it's mixing with, like, the okraud, pepper. Trust me, bro. Like, if you had Nigerian joloff and you think that was fire, trust in the Goli. I got you, right? I bet. No, but, though, like,

here, right? So like, okay, so like, the Jolov shit is kind of weird, right? Because like, yo, we have like festivals. We have competition. There's national competition. Right. It gets serious, right? So, like, you come in here trying to shout out that Jordan Joloff is like banging a set, right?

For me, man. I mean, listen, I never had Liberian Jolov's. I'm paying homage once I, you know, try it for sure. Yeah, man. No, no, but, bro, but, bro, like, like, the education, man, for, like, Jamaicans is so serious, man. Like, even like, academics told me, like, when, like, he came here. It was quick for him to excel,

right? Like, he's going around like, damn, bro, like these niggas is underdeveloped. Do you, like, feel like, was you, like, born here or not? I was born here, but my mother sent me away for about two to three years to live in Jamaica. Ah, yes, right? So, like, when you went there, do you, like, feel like you came back at a higher speed,

like, in terms of education-wise, than, you know, so that's what my parents told me because I was so young. My mother literally, she sent me ready like when I was one year old. Yeah. Yeah, one year old. And then I came back here and I was like three, four. So I don't too much remember.

Yeah. But they said when I came back, like that's, I was more so in a technology. Yeah. Literally. Like I was taking my father's camera and walk around just filming everything. Yo, at that point, though, like, if you're filming everything at two, three years old, like you've had to know, yo, like, I love being on camera. For sure.

For sure. I got my first camera when I was 10 years old. It was a Tyco camera. And it was black and white. Yeah. Really? I started editing, I used to use the VHS though, and I started editing there. Yeah.

Yeah. So I edit all my videos, by the way, if I don't have, you know, Sean editing them for me. But you know. You edit your videos? Yeah. All the videos you see on Instagram and TikTok and Facebook, I do that. I edit. That's why you be winning, man, because it's like, bro, I'll be real, man.

Like, you can't be lazy in this shit, dog. Not at all. Because, like, niggas like me, bro. Again, like, I, like had, like, some success on YouTube, right? But, like, I just dropped, like, commentary videos. And now I'm trying to, like, transition into more so, like, long form. content that's like like actually like deep dives and breakdowns right but like but like what made you say yo like I want to learn every facet every skill that comes with this entertainment shit

because I know exactly how I want my content to look and come out and then on top of that you know I want it out at a certain time yeah in the time you fast so I know if I edit it I really don't have to wait but I know if I'm too busy I can get someone to edit it for me but if I can do it myself I will do it myself yeah man here right so I'm assuming then so like in like how you Was you like still like dropping videos in high school? So in high school I had had a camera. But my high school was so crazy. Like you couldn't bring in really nothing like cell phones and camera.

So I would have to sneak my camera in and now I would record there. But then people knew me for the person with the kid, like as the person with the camera. So and then you got to understand like sorry to cut you off. But like a lot of people back in the days, they didn't like to be on camera. They did not like to be recorded, especially growing up where I grew up. It's almost like, do not put the camera on me. Now it's a different situation. Everyone wants to be on camera.

Everybody. Everyone wants to be seen. So it was like being able to do that as when I was younger. And people like, put that down on it. And I kept going. And like, you know, it made me like, you know, made me want to do it more. Not, yo, like, it's a fact, right? And I'm like seeing, like, hey, Russell, like, guys like you who like spotted that wave, like, mad early of, yeah. Like this, like, this like, skin making shit, camera and shit is going to be the thing.

How did you even know from really early on, like even like in high school that you know, like creating, like just creating content is going to be the wave soon? Like how did you even predict that? To me, honestly, it was just me being myself and like my friends would tell me that I was funny. Yeah. And then once I started recording myself, you remember Vine? Yes. Yeah, so I started like, my first viral video was on Vine.

I walked inside of a McDonald's and I screamed and then I walked out like nothing happened. Yeah. So I even contemplating putting that on Vine because the videos you see, me do are videos that I would do without even recording myself. Really? Yeah. So it took some of the bros to be like, yo, start putting this stuff on the internet. And the first thing I said was like, who's going to want to see this?

They said, you never know. And once I started putting my stuff on the internet, it's like people who are really tuned in. And that made me realize that there were people like me. So that motivated me even more. Like, oh, snap, people, they definitely want to see this. So I'm putting some more stuff out. Yo, you was crazy behind the cameras? Wait, wait, wait.

So let me, man. Like, how crazy did you get through? Because if you're going to like McDonald's screen? on camera. Like, what's some wild shit, shit, though, that, like, y'all got into, like, when the cameras were off? You know, people get upset certain times,

but I just know how to handle myself and have to write people around me. Yeah, bro, because I'm, like, because you seem, like, so, like, reserved and calm, man. I can't imagine Trave, like, just being an absolute menace as a kid. Would you, like, an absolute menace?

Bro, I got in so much trouble in school. I got kicked out of my school. But the thing is they let me back. Because I was considered a class clown. Like elementary or whatever the case may be, just doing a whole bunch of things. But all right, so I would get my work done before everyone. And then I would turn into the class clown. So the teachers knew that.

You know, and they hated that. It's like, all right, you guys are following tribe. He gets his work done, though. You know, so then eventually they kicked me out. And I came back and, you know. They kicked you out because you was like a bad influence on the other kids? Yeah, because I would get my work done and bother everyone else. And I would distract everyone.

So I was like. Yo, that's interesting. Do you like, okay, do you feel, though, like, those principles should be applied, like, in real life? Like, for example, if there's, let's say, like, a political leader, right, who's just a bad influence, I'm talking about, no, deep platformer. Do you like, for example, right? So, like, how they kicked you out of, I guess, high school because you were just too bad, right? Elementary. Yeah, right.

Do you like, so, like, should, you know, like, certain, let's say, content creators who we can say, listen, that motherfucker is going to be a bad influence on these kids coming up. Should we be pushing for deep platforming or not? I mean, at the end of the day, it's up to the parents. You can watch and see anything, and you may not be influenced by it as long as you have the right upbringing. I listened to a lot of Eminem, you know, when I was younger. A lot.

But I didn't do any of the wild stuff you said in the songs, you know? So it's like, you know, it's all about your upbringing. Man, bro, I definitely agree, right? Now, college, man. So, like, why, like, your, like, skits is just so cool, right? is which is why too I kind of understand

like why you are in actor now right? Because it's like my friend will happen you're looking like I do something I do nothing to you

no exactly right no listen it's like when I do like do like the skits and shit right I have to draw

from like something I know from like real experiences right but like I would imagine like you're just like thinking of something

and just enacting it's like it's like situations that like you've probably never been it, but you were just like, like. I'm getting it done. How did you get that skill? It's just more so being around the right energy.

Once you're around the right energy, things just come up. If I'm in a different environment, my mind is always racing. You know, and I'm always in a situation, how can I create? Yeah. So I've always, I grew up with that mindset. So that's why when they place me in a situation, if I'm at a party, an event, wherever I might, I can come up with something on the spot. Yeah.

Because this has been me since I was younger. Yeah. Now, who is Eric Anthony the most annoying guy in the world? Who is that? So that's my middle name. That's my middle name. Yeah. Who's that character based around them?

No, no. That's just me. Like, you know, and that's what my mother named me. So my father's name is Eric Anthony Thompson. So my mother, she didn't want me to have my father's name. Yeah. Right. So she put Travis in front.

Ah. Yeah, so it was like a petty thing. So is Travis? Eric Anthony Thompson. Really? Yeah. Ah, not it. Because, like, I'm thinking...

You don't want to know what's crazy. My name is in Maya Angelou's book. Really? Yeah, because my mother worked for Ashton Simpson, you know, when we were younger. And Maya Angel and Asher and Simpson were best friends. You know, Asher's a Solid, Asha Rock. So they were best friends. And she has my name in a book on the list of kids that will be something one day.

Really? Really? So I have one of my best friends in there. Asia Simpson. Her name is Asia Ashra. Aji Simpson, there's a whole Elliot, there's a whole bunch of us in there. I even, I could show you a picture.

I mean, Maya, for sure. Yeah, she, I had to call her Auntie Myers. She would not let me call her Maya Angel. Yo, you were just blessed. Yo, and like, that kind of like goes to, like, do you, like, think that a bunch of what we're just going through right now is already, like, manifested and written, or, like, do you think it's like we have full control

and full autonomy on what we become? It's both. Yeah. To be honest, like, you know, people can put you in a position to win, but you have to win, You know, so you have to manifest what you want. Man, yo, but back to Maya Angelina, first of all, that's like, yo, how do you just, like, spring that on it? That's like.

Let me pull it up real quick, you know? Bro, that's like amazing. I'm going to show you a picture of when she was reading it to me in age when we were younger. Really? What's the best advice though, that, like she's ever given you? Maya Angelou could look at a lamp and tell you 100 things about that limb. Well, somebody could just tell you one thing. And now it's her creative process.

Being observant? Yes, being very observant. God. That's my angel. That's my friend Asian. That's me. God damn. Yo, God, man. I'm going to show you another one. This is me and her. This is like, you know, the year that rest and peace to her soul that she passed away. Yo, you'll actually stay close as well. For sure. Yeah. Yo, bro, I'm so jealous because you got all those gems, bro. Like, what's a gem, right?

That she, like, like, told you and say, yo, listen, like, here's a life lesson. Like, here's how you succeed. Like, what's a gem? Because I'm just imagining, like, knowing my angel, being able to speak to her personally, Right. You probably got the blueprint to how to just win in life, y'all. You want to know a gym? Yeah. Be yourself. God damn.

That was a gem that she told me, be yourself no matter what. I remember when I told her that I wanted to go to college for business, because when you're younger, you got the mindset of business makes you money. And then she was like, no, do what you want to do. But then I follow what my parents wanted to do. But I didn't take that advice until I got to grad school on doing what I wanted to do. Had I done it from the beginning, I don't know where I would be at, you know? But at the end of the day, it's always being yourself.

Yo, that's true, right? And, like, honestly, though, like, in 2022, like, being yourself is the hardest shit in the world, right? Because it's so easy to copy anyone. It's easy, you know? Bro, especially if you see, like, somebody, okay, look, right, so let's say, let's say, like, a content creator. If that person's, like, personality, their character, their content, if, like, you see them, bro, like, like, this nigga got, like, $2 million in, like, 30 days just doing this shit. Right. You just automatically want to copy it.

that blueprint right. That's what's TikTok. That's what TikTok is. That's what TikTok is. Like, you know, I have a lot of supporters that tag me and other content creators work. And they're doing exactly what I'm doing. Like, literally. But it's like it's, it motivates me up the end of the day

because now it's like those people are inspired by me. You know, so it lets me continue to create. Even though I will always create, it's like, all right, well, you know, if people aren't inspired by me, that means the youth will be inspired by me too. Of course. You know? But when it comes to like copying or whatever the case is,

you can always make something your own. And this is why I always told myself, whatever you do, Trab, think outside the box and do your own thing. Like, I don't too much follow trends. I create my own trends. That's why you see me do all the videos that I do. I like that.

And I walk away from me. Hey, who mans is this rude boy? What's your sign? Put it on his tab. I'm about to put some drinks on your time too after that. For sure. So, yeah. I'm broke, though.

I mean, like, I said, what can you go for? Not a god Listen, miss him like No jumping water man Come on man Wait, bro, wait Okay

Right, but like I'm just so like Now that's true Right but like Where does the Yo Y' y'all y'all Yo I'm honored

I'm inspired Where does that line go from I'm honored I'm inspired to Nick you're just jacking my shit Now bro fuck you I mean at the end of the day I don't too much

You know Focus on the negatives I just focus on the positives Yeah Yeah Bro listen man I'll be real bro Because I just

Again I have seen them shit right, bro. If I was you, like, to wear, like, well, also, too, is, like, you're just, like, so creative that, like, you don't even give a fuck, right? Because you could just, like, just find a new, try make a new one, right?

So, but for folks like myself who's not as creative, my nigga, nah, son of it, if I, not listen to that, man, if I find what work for me is a wide open lane with no saturation, and, like, I look up in, like, 12 months or, no, listen, nah, these niggas don't, Listen, these niggas don't like, don't even wait for 12 months, right? But your first viral video, it's going to be 20 TikTok to try and copy it, man. But like, now, but like back to college, right?

So then after, you know, like you left Lincoln, Westchester, when did Trash say, yo, I'm finna like start doing, you know, like, fuck college, concert created full time, I'm moving to L.A. Oh, I actually just recently moved to LA Oh shit, okay This year, so I've been doing all my content in New York Oh, wow Yeah, so, you know, from New York City

So it was like something I, it was just different out there With the content Yeah, I finally made the move out here this year Really? Yes, why though? Because, you know, I wanted something new, you know And it's like, you know, there's so many other creators out here That we can actually like, you know, create as well

So, you know, it's like, it's just something like I just wanted to do It's something I had to do And then one of my friends told me like, you know, you're too comfortable in New York. You have to get uncomfortable. So he was like, the only way you'll get uncomfortable is if you move out of your comfort zone. Yeah. So I was like, oh, literally the week after, I said, yo, I'm out of here.

But, bro, Texas here is crazy, though. I know, but at the end of the day, like, once you're doing something positive, all that will come back to you. And once you have the right energy, you don't have to worry about nothing. You know, like, it may get uncomfortable for you. But at the end of the day, you got to grind through that. Bro. You're going to pay you. Trust me.

You're going to thank yourself. that's real man so like wouldn't you say yo like if this master's i'm about to be a consecrated full time uh this was right after i graduated college because i went right into my master's program and i said i'm out of hand what's crazy is being that you know i had a degree in health science i was able to get a job as a therapist aide in new york city and then once i got that job as a therapist aide you know i was like all right you know this ain't really what i was just something to do for the time being until i figured out you know that i can you know start creating content and like it started going viral.

Yeah. Yo, bro, when did you like start the, um, walk away from me? I started that in college before I was even recording myself. But I had a camera in college, but I would just do it. And that's the thing like, I would just do. Some of the things you see, I would just do it, bro. How did you even think about that?

Because like, I'm just thinking about the creative process. I'm not in my room thinking about, you know what, dog, I'm going to find the baddest of women walk up to him and say walk away from me. Right. Like, how did you even like? Like, think about that. Being around the right energy. One time I was at a tailgate for a football game.

Yeah. And I was like, that girl is beautiful, but that's all I want to tell her. And I was like, I'm about to tell her. And my boy was like, hey. So I said, Miss, you are very beautiful. And I walk away from me. And she was like, wait, what? I said, walk away.

That's all I want to say. I just want to give you a compliment. Sometimes they just need a compliment, you know? Like, you never know, like who's having a bad day. Trave, Trave, that's game, man. Real talk. That's game, dog. Listen, yo, like, because, like, Trave reminds me of the dudes at the

HBCUs, who just effing all the holes, right? Like, like, how's about taking everybody down, right? Like, wait, have you ever, like, use that line of, yo, like, walk away from me? And that, like, turned into her being more interested and then, like, lead it into something else? I mean, I use it from time to time. Yeah. Yeah. God damn.

Hey, right. So, like, who's, like, the one celebrity, right, that you, like, use that on that was, like, that it turned out bad? It turned out bad? But we're cool now If you've seen a video with me and Tiana That's my sister now Yeah yeah so you see that video when she But I thought though like

That was just her playing Like that was like No she's actually No she's very amazing Once you get to know She's a very amazing person She actually invited me over To a Halloween party

Her father Shout out to them as well I seen that Great time had a blast Yeah It was amazing And shout out to my manager Hurricane

For actually like Setting that whole situation up Yeah No, wait, but I thought though, like, that was scripted. So, like, there was a real emotion, raw? Real emotions, raw. We get it done. Wow.

You can't wait. You just got to do it because you gotta think about it. You walk up to somebody and you'd be like, yo, I want to do this video with you. Let's do it. Probably not gonna come out the way you want to do it. You gotta get that real reaction and that's why people appreciate my content. Now, facts. How'd you get in those rooms though?

Like, for example, because I always say Travis and Luminati, man. Because you just know too many powerful niggas, man. Right? Just too many. How do you network yourself to where you are able to even get into these rooms to where you can even like do those skins? That's the key word, network. Yeah.

So once you start networking and you grinding out, you start to get invited, you know? So that's what you got to do. You got to network. But it wasn't easy. Being in New York City, I had to like find my way in these events because no one knew my name like that, you know, like when I was coming up. Like it took years to, 10 years to build like who Tribe Q is right now. You know, and then people nowadays, they want instant gratification.

because of social media. Like, it can happen overnight, right? But when it happened overnight, will it really last? You got to appreciate the gradual grind, the gradual buildup, because you learn so much from it. Yeah. You know, so I'm just very appreciative to everything I learned over the years to be able to be in these rooms now.

Yo, that gradual grind is so true because I've seen, bro, like, it was this cool shit, man. So I think it was French Montana and you at Lincoln or somewhere, right? Oh, that was my first, yo, French Montana gave me my first interview. Ten years ago. Yes, my first any, like he was the first artist to give me an interview. How did, like, how did that happen? So, I knew Cam.

So Cam is somebody who created Coke Boys clothing. Yeah. And also my cousin that works with them as well. So I seen Kim, because what I was doing, I was hosting at Lincoln University that year. So I seen Kim, I say, yo, Cam, like, you know, is it cool if I get an interview with French? And he spoke to French. And French is like, all right, let's do it. French has always been a cool, like, a cool person, like, you know, down-earth individual, like, since day one.

And I showed him the interview to the day. I said, yo, bro, you know you gave my first interview? Like, and he was like, oh, word. He was like, you know, malls to him. I thought the same thing. No, but, bro, I thought the same thing, right? Because, like, bro, it was such like a, just like a fulfilling, like a fulfilling, feeling to me, right? To see, like, that video from, like, 10 years ago.

Yes. And then see, like, a new video of you and him, like, I think at a club somewhere, right? Like, what you did, did the put it on his tab. Yep. And I'm like, bro, like, yo, this is such like a... Everything comes full circle when you grinding. Yeah, man. You know, that's why I tell people, keep going.

People like, listen, just keep going and don't quit. You know, like, something may pop for someone else before you, and that's totally fine, you know? Yeah. Don't hate, don't be upset. Just keep going. When it's your time, it's your time, you know? You always show love.

Straight up. Bro. So, like, how do you... So, like, how do you show love, though? when like right now it's a bloodspoor being a consequence meaning like it's so competitive due to it being just overly like saturated like like how do you like find that balance of showing love but like still being like just mad competitive and you know trying to like like just like

be you know like the top guy first I'm not competing with anyone nobody because Trav Q is in his own lane talk that shit man that's first thing for like I'm only like no one is not no one is doing what I'm doing yeah as far as like the type of content than I do. But when I see other content creators, I say, what's up? How are you doing? You know, let's work. Whether they want to work or not, yo, keep up to good work. Yeah. That's it. That's all you got to do. We have to motivate each other. We don't do that anymore. We see each other and act like we don't know each other is or whatever the case is. We walk in these rooms. We walk in networking events and don't network. We don't speak to each other.

It doesn't make any sense to me. Yeah. You know, we have to like continue to build with each other. That's the only way that's going to work. Yo, like, if you created like a book on the art of networking, I feel like you'll be the only person that I would actually like purchase that, like, book from, right? Because, man, like, you're in rumors with freaking Drake, bro. Like, and I hear see cool as hell. Drake is super cool, super cool. Bra, how did that, like, night with Drake happen to where, like, you got close enough

to walk up and say put it on, like, his tap? Shout to DJ Spade. My boy, DJ Spade invited me out. My boy, Callie and DJ Spade, they invited me out to, so I'm not going to say where it was that or whatever in the case because I don't really I don't say a little case or whatever but I was somewhere

and you know he was by the bar and I got it done and we got cool after that. Really? Yeah. Yo, bro. You know, because he didn't know what was going on but then he understood after you know.

Yo, have you ever got you like a request from a celebrity saying, yo listen man I got a promo run coming I'm trying to sell this little you know like album record whatever. Yo, can we do a skis?

Get together, Traff, please get me hot. I mean, that's something I really don't speak on. I just get my content done, bro. Content done? Yeah, I just get my content done. Yeah, because I'm like, I don't see you, like, do nothing with, like, the newer rappers, though, right? Right? Right?

Like, I see the French, the Drake's, but, like, would you ever collab? Like, who's a newer rapper? Like, the, like, the Sophagos, the Yottis, the, the, the, uh, the two-o-gis, the, the, right? I will collab with anyone if it makes sense. You know, like, listen, I'm not biased. I'm not a hate or whatever case. If I can get something done with someone and it makes sense for both of us, why not?

Yeah. You know? Now your facts, yo. Yo, but like, speak on now the acting career, right? So what's coming from that? So, like, what's the goal? The goal is to do more movies. So my first feature film was in 2015.

Oh, okay. What's that? It's called White House the movie, but for certain reasons, It had to get taken down. Damn. But my first lead road feature film was in 2019, which is a movie called Swag Inc., which is on BET and Prime Video.

And what's crazy is that's another reason why I fell in love with the West Coast because we shot it out here in Corona, California. Yeah, so it was like, it always has something in my heart, you know? Swag Inc is definitely a movie about a guy who was working for a mail, he's working for a mail company, right? He was the male manager, and he used the money from that company to fund his own company. He got rich off that, him and his friend. So the previous company found out.

And he was like, yo, look, it's either give us the company or we sue you. Now in the midst of that, he found his high school sweetheart. And he lost her two. So he had to get the company back and his girl back. So go check that out. Swagging, S-W-A-G-I-N-C. Man, bro, that's so dope. So, like, did you have to, you know, like, take, like, acting classes or just some all-natural shit?

Like, yo, you know, like, how did you learn how to act? I feel like, you know. Is it natural? It is natural. But at the end of the day, you want to take the craft serious. so you want to get some acting classes because there are some things that you may learn from acting that you will learn actually

from an acting coach that you don't know how to read a script, you know, how to turn it off and turn it on. So like I've taken a few acting classes actually. A few? Yeah, a few. Yo, bro, and like that's how like you win right? Because like... Perfected craft. Yo, like it just seems like everything that like you do

like you just take it 100% seriously, right? Got to, got to, man. It's the only thing. It's the only way you've got to put 100% into everything you do. You can't have anything. Matterly. For sure. Yeah.

For sure. Now, Trav got the rapping, got the skits, got the act, no, sorry, got the act and got the skits. Would Trave get into the rapping, man? Most definitely. We have a few songs that we're working on right now. Really? I have a few songs with a couple of artists. Really?

I can't really. Talk to much about it. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, but, Treve, listen. Okay, right, look. Like, like, what sound is it, though? So, like, are you, like, doing, like, the New York drill, like the, like the, you? Or just some like other stuff. I mean, to be the best artist you can be,

you got to be able to, you know, lock in with all genres and all sounds. You know, like, look at Drake. Drake doesn't, he doesn't, like, limit himself to one sound. Yeah. It's always a different sound. So it's a bunch of different sounds. Yo, bro, I'm excited for that, though. Appreciate that.

Damn, bro, like a track. Bro, okay, okay, right. Again, it's probably not into the works right now, right? but can you please hop on a Bronx drill? Like, bro, just do some Bronx drill shit, man. I feel like I could do that for sure. I'm from New York. I mean, it's like when you're from New York,

you just hear it and you're able to adapt. So I got you, I got you. Yo, what's your favorite N.Y era? Like, the drill scene currently, or do you feel like the 2000s, let's say, 50 and Jaru or the 90s, will let's say, Biggie, you know? Favorite NY era is all NY eras. Because I've learned something from all those errors,

Like I learned something from the 90s, the early 2000. You had, you had Nas, Hove, you know, like Buster Rhimes. I'm super cool Buster Rhimes. Then you got 2,000, you got dipset, you know, G unit. So you learned something, being from New York, you learn something from all those errors that you take in with you. Because it's different errors where it teaches you how to dress, how to approach people, you know, how to go about different things.

What car that you're going to have? With drink you drinking. So it's always, you know, I pay attention to all those errors. So, like, who's the greatest NY rapper? of all time. The greatest NWI rapper of all time. That is a good question. I'm a fan of all of them, so, you know, like, you know, I just...

Look, though, right? But, okay, but, like, I honestly, though, right? I listen to a lot of Hove. So, Hove's black album, like, was one of my favorite albums. Hove? Yeah, for sure. Like, that's one of my favorite albums, the black album, for sure.

Like, you know, encore, you know, like, dirt off your shoulder, you know, because actually Valerie Simpson, like, she bought me that album for Christmas. Really? Yeah, I was excited. I was excited. Bruh, like you, wait, back to Hove, though, right?

But you said, okay, right, but is it tough, right, knowing Hove and JZ because it's like, I'm a Drake stand, right? So, like, I'm the kid and who's going to these, like, lunch tables pounding my chest about why Drake's the greatest of all time, right? Right, right, right.

So, like, if you have to choose between, let's say, who's the goat, Drake or Jay Z? Man, I'm a fan of both of them. I think both of them are the goats, to be honest with you. Traff the goat, man. Come on, now, right? I appreciate that. Well, yeah, you know, you can kiss it to me that show.

What a little baby said? Yeah. What was the goat line? I forgot the goat line that he said. He said, I let the people, like, decide about that, like, if I'm the goat or not, you know? Mm. So, yeah. Yo, but right now, though, man, like, it's like a, like the content creating scene right now for New York content creators is dope as hell.

Man, have you like... I love it. I love it. I went to Times Square the other day. Tom Square is a big TikTok hub now. Crazy. It's a big TikTok hub, and I'm like, yo, but it reminds me of myself 10 years ago being in Times Square making videos.

When nobody was doing it, you understand what I'm saying? So when I go out there and I see that, I'm like, yo, y'all in the right direction because y'all don't know what this is about to turn into. Just keep going. I don't tell them that. Like, I'm mentally thinking in my mind. Now, if I'm speaking to somebody, I would tell them. But when I just see it, I'm like, yo, mentally, you, y'all, y'all are doing something.

something great right now. Yeah, man. For sure. Now, facts. Have you gotten a chance to link up yet, like with the new creators, like the Kasa, not, the Phantoms and, like, those guys? I think Kai is from Bronx and Phantom is from Bronx, too, I think, or Brooklyn. I haven't got a chance to link up with them, but I'm sure that we'll definitely

cross past. And what we do, I'm sure it's going to be a movie. Bro, you all got to, right? For sure. Right. Because you're the old era and a new era, right? But, bro, a trap and Casa Nott, like, Twitch Stream will go crazy. bro, listen, bro, bro, bro, look, like, I can death set that up.

Please let me set it up, bro. Let's get it. Bro, like, because your energy. Let's get it. The same place, bro, Del. And you said he from New York, too? Yeah, bro. Definitely shout out to New York City, you know.

Yeah. We got to turn it for sure. Like, you know, because if you're from New York, you just come from something different. And this is no, like, this to any cities or any states and new countries, you just come from something different. You know, especially with New York City being the mecca of hip hop. You see how big hip hop is right now. Yeah, of course. You know, so it's like, shout out to New York.

Bro, y'all winning right now, right? Because even, like, Kai, right? Just to see it's like, bro, like, we watch this kid from, from, like, I'm talking about in, like, project apartments, just roaches and raft, like, crawling on his live stream, right? Like, four years ago, we're watching this shit, right? And then four years later, he goes from being in his Bronx apartment to Twitch announcing that he's the most subbed Twitch streamer like ever, right? Major win. Ever. That's why you can't quit.

Just keep going. No matter, you know, whatever situation you're in, no matter how the press you are, you know, no matter what you're feeling, just keep going. Every, man. And understand that you can really turn your life around and also turn the people life around that's around you. Yeah, man. Yo, do you think that TikTok will suffer the same fate as Vine or is TikTok going to be here

way longer than the Vine era? To be honest, I can't really gauge that because I thought Vine would live out, live forever. I thought Vaughn was going to be like, you know, I'm telling you like, I was there for Vine like, you know, going out. They were content creators crying on it. Like, yo, Vine is about to be ended.

My mindset was all right, well, Vaughn about the end, what's up on Instagram? You know, on Instagram got 15 seconds. Oh, they got a minute now. You can't dwell on the past You gotta keep moving You know So

Not as well We're just gonna make TikTok For what it is right now How did you find out though That Vine was Was like losing its theme Being on Vine I kind of seen it

And you know It just turned into people That just wanted to be famous You know When Vine first first started It was people actually You know Vine was only six seconds You have to be creative in six seconds

People really take the time out And it was spent two hours to make a six second video. Now you just have people just doing anything. So it became like oversaturated, you know? But and then like, then Instagram came out with 15 seconds. But I would always have a love for Vind because that was the first social media platform

that I went viral. And that's the first social media platform that launched my career. You know, so my social media career, I should say. And I'm just very appreciative of it. So I would always have a love for Vind. Walk me through it. So like, when did it become apparent,

yo, this Vicer? shit is dead. Like, this shit is no longer pop. When you see people start, you know, they stop posting on there. It was at one point where, you know, I remember it. There were people like saying their goodbyes on Vine. And that's how you know it was really over. Like, concert creators like, yo, you know, it's over. You know, like, sorry to my fans, whatever I, I. Well, no more views. Yeah, no more views. It's over. I don't know. Because, you know, a lot of people, they didn't transition on another social media platform. So they just left it at Vine. And they were like, all right, well, my career is over. I'm done.

I'm looking for what's next. Exactly. What's going? What else is happening over here? You know? Yeah. Gotta keep moving. Like even with TikTok, once I seen what TikTok was going on with TikTok, I'm like,

I'm on TikTok. I'm on it three times a day. What's up? You probably said though, man, bro, TikTok. It's like, I feel like TikTok was like catered for like for, you know, like, um, content creators like you, right? To where you probably thought, man, bro, like these little niggas don't know, bro, like, like, like, this should start off like, like, from us, right?

So we're about to take over this shit, right? I mean, but when you come into a new lane, you have to study it first. You know, because a lot of people thought that let me just post a video that I posted on Instagram that's going to pop. No, I studied TikTok for like two weeks to like a month. Why? Well, I should post this time. This hashtag I should use. This type of content they may want to see.

Yeah. You know, like this trend is going on so I could do something, you know? It's a science to it. Yeah, for sure. It's a science in social media period. Like, man, I would give you so many gems, but they'd be how you have to pay for it. for that. Yo,

start a book, man. You start a book, man. I give you so many gems. It's a science to social media, bro.

It's a science to it. It's a science, bro. Trust me. Yo, and that's why, though,

like, I feel like there's certain people and who, when they come on, like, they just pop in a week, right? Because, like,

they just know what they're doing, right? Now, like, have you uploaded your old vine content to TikTok? So I have, some of them,

you know, because a lot of the vine content. It's golden. Yeah, It is golden, but it's like, you know, my content to me, like, it lives on forever. Absolutely. You know, like, it's just something that I posted one of my old TikTok videos on my Instagram,

and people laughed at it like it was their first time seeing it. And I'm like, yeah, y'all know this is 10 years old. Yeah. But, you know, it's totally. I've always focused on making timeless content. You know, like, for sure. So definitely post a lot of my old vines on TikTok. Yeah.

For sure. Yo, why don't you post as often on YouTube? On YouTube? I mean, that's what, that's what me and Sean was talking about, so we're about to get to that. Yeah, so we're about to turn up on YouTube for sure. Yeah, I'm like, bro, like, y'all like, I feel like right now, especially with like YouTube shorts, like it's just made for me.

No, but I do post, well, okay, so when you say YouTube, I thought you meant like the longer content. Yeah, I always post on YouTube shorts. Yeah. Boy, I make a killing on YouTube shorts. I thought you were talking about the regular YouTube now. YouTube shorts, I'm on there. If you see me post on TikTok, see me post on Graham, it's going on YouTube.

YouTube shorts. Bro, it's a smart man, right? So that's another thing. So sorry to cut you off again. But never limit yourself to one platform. Absolutely. So I'm on TikTok. I'm posting it on Facebook.

I'm posting it on Instagram. Facebook, too? Facebook, man. They don't know about Facebook, bro. They don't know about, listen, you never know who's watched from any platform. I'm posting it on all those platforms, bro. Yo, your Facebook just shows, like, you really like. For sure.

Yeah, for sure. No, Facebook is lit. Yeah. It's lit. I'm telling you. And what did you realize, yo, I'm famous now? When people started to come in and ask me for pitches and I would just like I would just be outside or whatever the cases. And at first it caught me of God because, you know, growing up where I grew up, somebody running up on you.

Like, hold up, you know. Yeah. But then I had to learn that, yo, bro, like, you're putting content out there. People now recognize you. Yeah. And they now support what you do. And you have people DM me you saying, you made my day. Wow.

You saved me from doing this just by watching your content. So I took all that into consideration like, yo, this is what I'm going to keep doing. because if I can turn someone's day around, let's not even talk about the deals. Let's not even talk about, you know, all the views that people get, all the likes, all the followers. Let's talk about making somebody happy.

Because there are people going through a lot right now, bro. And as long as I can make somebody happy, it makes me happy. Bro, nah, that's cool, man. What's all? But when you get famous, though, right now, I'm assuming this was probably like Vine, right? Yeah. I'm telling you, Vaughn was a different type of fame.

Different. Different type of fame. Because, you know, when you were, Vine famous as now people get TikTok famous, but sometimes you may not recognize them because everyone is doing the same trend. Yes. So it's almost like, you know, they don't really separate themselves. When you were Vine famous though, they knew who you were.

They would hold a conventions for Vine famous people. Big trips. I'm telling you. Like you knew who are people from Vine. For sure. Bro, even now, right, some of our like biggest stars like came from Vine, you feel me? For sure.

Like a King Bach, you, DC Youngfly, Desy Banks. All of us came from Vine, literally. Poor brothers. Yo, like who else, man? You're even like the TikTok like stars now, like, but they do like more, like, it's kind of crazy, right? Because you can actually like tell like who the OGs are. Like, for example, like your content, a king buy content is like well polished.

Right. And just great, right? A post with like the new viral niggas where it's like they're not, you know, we're not, you Like, you're not, let's say, as pilots, right? It's kind of like a hit and miss, right? But for your shit, it's like, yo, I think it's because more so content creators just want to get anything out there nowadays. And I'm going to tell on my content, I'm going to give you this, Jim.

Make sure your content is something that's timeless and something that will last forever. So take your time with it. You know, we live in an era where people just want to go viral. You know, actually take the time with your content, edit it the right way, and make sure it's something that can last forever. And you'll always be good. Trust me. Now, people just, it's like, I call it force posting.

Yeah. I'm just going to put it out. It's a bad. I'm just put it out. I just want to go viral. Yeah. You know how I go viral? By being myself.

I never think like, I'm going to go viral for this. I just like, all right? They may like this, you know? Really, you can tell though, right? Like, I mean, you never know. Yeah. You know, so I just, I just do it off love, bro. And if it goes viral, it goes viral.

Man, bro. Yo, listen up, man. Like, we need the Trath Q. Bro, I want the manual dog. Like, you know, because. We don't write something up. We're going to write something up. Because, bro, I'm telling you, man, like, I know for sure that I'm going to cop it, right?

Or, yo, at least a Patreon, right? So we're, like, every morning give us, like, yo, game. Yo, listen, like, post at this time. Bro, I'm telling you, right, because, like, just this knowledge, man. Like, for example, right now, like, I feel like the rappers right now are doing, like, a great job and kind of, like, passing down, like, their tools to, like, the younger diggas, right? Right. But I feel like the older content creators or, like, the old content creators or, like, the

Oh, geez, like, we really don't, like, have, like, a active line of communication between, like, the niggas, like, who really, like, you, the king vows, who was lit? Right. And then, like, the new niggas coming up, right? So, bro, I'm telling you, man, like, if you, like, just create a manual and really, like, just, just break down the size, man. Bro, guys like me would appreciate that, man. I got you. You got me? Got you.

Bro, yo, listen, man. So, our last question, man, what's next, man? Because you already, like, conquered everything, right? So what's next, man? like where is Trav Q going to be at next year, five years from now? Like, what's the overall plan? More movies, more shows. More more commercials?

You know, expanding the brand. You know, like I said, I have one of the best managers out right now, Hurricane. My boy there. Right now. And, you know, he's been taking care of me. Yeah, man. So, you know, the moves that you see me making right now, got to thank him. So we got a few things, you know, in the play right now.

You know, don't want to talk about too much, but when they see it, they see it. Yeah, man. You, you know, listen, and he's a great manager too, right? Right. You know why? Why is that? Because, like, he's a, he's prompt and fast-responding, right? Meaning, right, look, I would, like, um, text him, right?

And, like, and, like, he's finding back within, like, two minutes, right? Right. While me is, like, I'm always busy and shit. Bro, like, I'll be forgetting, right? Right. I miss his text by, like, 12 hours, and I respond back at, like, 4 a.m. I, ain't. I mean, no sleep, man.

That man don't sleep. I'm like, yo, bro. Bro, but like, that's how y'all win, though, man. For me, man, man, Traff. I appreciate you, bro, man, for coming, man. Listen, Traff. Anytime. No, listen, I appreciate you inviting me, bro.

Yeah. I mean, I'm in your house right now, you know. Thank you for inviting me. And I appreciate the hospitality. We had the water. Come on, man. You know, I felt comfortable in here. The bodyguard was like, yo, you know what I mean?

Yeah. You know, so I appreciate you. You know? I appreciate you. You know. I appreciate you. Love. No fan, right?

So, bro. So I think Adam will be back, I don't know, like next week or so right, but bro, listen, like we need... Shout up to Adam for sure. Bro, listen, like we need a part two, right? Let's do it. Me and you and Adam, you feel what I? And just have like a conversation and just give game to all the new content credits. Do you feel me?

Let's get it. Ben, you. Yo, Hurricane, I'm going to hit you, right? About that. You feel me? Like me, Trave and Adam, man, but no jumper coolest podcast in the world. We're out of here, folks. Stay humble.

Stay working. Stay humble and stay working, man. Yes, sir.