The Breakfast Club - Trae Tha Truth Interview

Episode Date: July 21, 2015

TraeThaTruth discusses Trae Day in Houston and his upcoming album. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. We need help! That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast

Post Run High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you?

Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. real people real celebrities real talk join the breakfast club morning everybody it's dj envy angela yee charlamagne the guy we are the breakfast

club special guest in the building mr trader truth what up what's up my brother i'm blessed i'm living i'm tired it's about that time of year again right yeah yeah most definitely trade a trade in the Day and the album. And the album comes out right after. July 22nd is Trey Day, July 24th is the album. Man, I gotta salute Envy for that. He on point. That's right. Now tell them about Trey Day. Trey Day, of course,

you know, a day given to me by the man of the city of Houston. But instead of me kind of celebrating for me, you know, I make it a day about the kids, you know, I give them their school supplies, immunization shots, HIV tests and backpacks, giveaways, game rides, you know, just normal big homie stuff. And a lot of artists come down and perform. Yeah, you know, I bring a whole bunch of friends, people that, you know, because it's a lot of people that I don't think people really realize. It's a lot of people in the struggle that may never have had the money to go to a concert and really only know y'all face from TV or the Internet.

So when they're able to be able to touch the people, you know what I'm saying, and be right in front of them and kick it with them, you know, that can carry them for a lifetime. I like how you bounce back from Trey Day, too, because it was at one point where they was trying to make it out. It seemed like Trey Day was violent. Yeah, I mean, that issue. And you never stopped doing it because i came out the year after that no you know that's life man i i think i overcome a lot of obstacles that's what make me me you know from it's it's been almost six years being worldwide i'm still relevant so you know that ain't the easiest thing on earth but i think you know when you when you built and come from the bottom you you know, you gotta

adapt to your environment, whatever that may be. Do you still feel the band, though? I mean, you got 93.7 The Beat be holding you down. You know, most definitely. That's the official sponsor for it now, so.

But yeah, you know, I get it here and there. You know, it's something I'm used to, you know. In certain markets, if they're dominant, you know, you can't really do concerts with me or you can't deal with me too much.

Hey, I'm even still. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember we were talking about this when it was happening and we had a long discussion about it. And I was saying the problem is that there was just one radio station. And now there's no longer just one radio station in Houston that can play your music. And I was saying there's so many other markets you could be in,

but it's hard when it's your backyard, your hometown. And Houston is such an important market. That was what made it difficult back then. But a lot of artists have stood by you anyway. Yeah, most definitely. And it's going to kind of speak for itself even with this album because the situation with the album, I wouldn't go on to feature everybody on it,

but it turned out to me having so many different collaborations. Because it's like everybody rooting for me. It's like everybody has seen me go through so much over and over time and time again. And still bounce back fighting. So now they feel like, man, we need to give them a shot. This is one of the cats who actually genuinely deserve it. Yeah, I heard the Future and Boosie song. You got them together on something. Yeah, I heard the Future and Boosie song. You got them together on something.

Yeah, yeah, most definitely. I did that song actually when Boosie came home. As soon as he came home, we were in New Orleans, me, him, his brother, and he had the personal family event before they did all the media stuff. That was one of the first ones we did. Now, Trey Day, I was talking to you last night, and Trey the Truth tried to get an elephant.

Oh, yeah, yeah, man. Free the homie, man, you know? I mean, you know, but you got to think. It's like, for one, everything that I do, because, you know, even in Houston, it don't snow like that. So at Trey Day, you know, I bring snow everything. You know, like for real. Yeah, once they show me, they don't snow like that. So at Trader, you know, I bring snow everything. You know, like for real. Yeah, once they show me, they can make it.

All right, come on, let's get it. And last year, I bought a camel. This year, of course, I know I got another camel. I don't know what other animals they got. But yeah, I tried to get an elephant. But me and him was talking. It was just so random. The day that I tried to bring the elephant,

I wanted to bring it through the hood. him was talking. It was just so random. The day that I tried to bring the elephant, I wanted to bring it through the hood. It was booked. The elephant was booked? The elephant was booked. There's only one elephant in Houston? Yeah. Look, look, look. That's what's so crazy.

So my thing is we even were trying to offer a little more money, but it was already obligated. So what they say, well, we got another route you can go. We can bring an elephant from out of town.'re gonna charge you the same price and we're gonna charge you the mileage and how long it take to get there it was i don't even know the price but it was far away so it was like man by the time i do that i might as well bring some super extravagant so i'm gonna wait till next go around to try and make something happen. So was it just the elephant you had to pay for, or was he traveling with a party? The elephant in the room. You know, man, the way I look at it is that was a free lick for the train or whatever because right out the gate I think he was charging me maybe either five or six grand just to bring him out there.

You know what I'm saying? Damn. So if you imagine that's what he was charging me, imagine what that mileage was plus that. And then who's going to clean up the elephant poop? Man, look. That part wouldn't know me, man. Usually I do it at Reliant.

This year it's at Sam Houston Race Park. This is my first time actually dealing with them. I don't know how that's going to be. Yeah, isn't that nerve-wracking? Like, I hope they be all right with me. Yeah, yeah. But I think, man, at the end of the day, once everybody experienced that whole event, you know, it turned out to be a good thing. Now, besides me and DJ Envy, who else is coming?

Man, we talked about it last night. I ain't announcing. He ain't announcing. He ain't announcing. You're not going to announce nothing for us? I'm going to tell you all, because I just made a post on my Instagram and I want to really make it to what people understand. It's about making sure those in need and them kids get there to get what they need to get back in school and get the help that they need. As opposed to let me see who it is so I can get my Instagram photos or let me see who's running with the homie.

But I think they're going to be more excited when they're out there kicking it with me and then you see all these people popping up. But I'm going to make the announcement just probably maybe a week or close prior. But I can say it'll be about 10 real important artists at the

least. Okay. It costs you a lot to do this, right? Are the people coming off the screen? Yeah, yeah, most definitely, man. Shout out to Ben Gordon. Actually, he out here right now. He donated.

Charles Lewis donated. My partner, Clint Dempsey, from the World Cup, he actually donated. And me and the homies, we just, you know, we do what we usually do.

This year, actually, it was a little less stress on me, you know, because I usually mainly handle it all by myself. But this year, people are coming for it. He really does because he really books all the flights himself. Yeah, I got it. Thanks to Angela, I was supposed to have been here at hers, but I might as well give her a last-minute first class right now because I still ain't got her info.

Wait, hold on. Let me get the jet ready. You can pay for an elephant. You can pay for an assistant to help you book for her. You was going to book an elephant. You have to change your company from ABN to something else. No, I got ABN. And GBN, nice guys by nature.

No, I got ABN and my nonprofit is Angel by nature. Okay. So, yeah, I'm on top of it. This new album, The Truth, it started off as a mixtape. And it evolved into what is going to be a double album. It will. Two-part album. Yeah, two-part now because they feel people's attention span

is not there to go through 24 songs. I was going to go against the grain. I'm always going against the grain. But yeah, it was a mixtape. And me and J. Cole was chopping it up, and he just felt like it's just a lane for me. People see me featured on so many people's things, and I'm dropping mixtapes here and there,

and the fact of me even being able to stay relevant so long with all the odds against me just felt like people take the album more serious, and, and you know effort is just another challenge in the obstacle i gotta come across i feel them on that like at this point why i drop a mixtape you can drop it i'd rather hear the album you know what i mean i think i think in most artists case you know they used to be worried about the the outcome and if it's gonna do numbers or this and that but you know when you when you've been in it so long like how we have and you're doing it for yourself and those who believe in you and you're not really caring about the opinions of others,

then it'll make you a little more comfortable. You know, with me, at the end of the day, I know I gave my all with this album. I don't care if I sell a couple or if I sell a million or whatever it is. At the end of the day, I feel like my music is going to spread itself. Sometimes everything don't jump out the gate and blow. Sometimes it takes time, but when it catches, it do what it's supposed to do. Now, you still on Grand Isle?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, most definitely. But I'm going the independent route, so it's me and Tip and Empire Distribution out the West Coast. They got Troy Ave. They got styling a few more people, so they working, doing their thing. And plus the independent hustle. I mean, that's where I started from. So why everybody panicking, trying to figure out what to do

because they so used to people pacifying them. I'm a goddamn on my own. What's your relationship with T.I. now? Yeah, most definitely. We aces. He throwing throwing my we got my listening party in houston saturday we just did one in la for the bt awards i mean you know he real supportive at the end of the day he kind of let me jump the front line you know like as far as the, you know, he heard it after it was already turned in, you know, like put together and stuff, you know,

because at the end of the day, he supported, he feel just like I feel, he normally get out there and handle my business just as well as I know he'll handle his. So, you know, when it come to us, it's just more supporting the brotherhood, whatever they got going, so. And you know what I like about you

is I see you working so much with other established artists, but you help out a lot of new and upcoming artists also. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Most definitely, man. I was actually thinking about that the other day. We were talking about, like, even who would ever imagine when I had that song, I'm On, I had Crit on there, Kendrick, Cole, B.O.B., Jada, like a little of everybody, man. But like I tell people,

it's just, I just love music. You know what I'm saying? So when I'm in that zone and I'm doing what I'm doing, I just get in that element. Now you know what else I wanted to ask you about?

A friend of mine and a friend of yours, Julia Beverly, she just recently did a book about Pimp C. Did you have a chance to? I've been seeing people. I haven't got it yet.

I ain't ran across it, but I know she is going to be at Trade Day, and she said she's going to be giving them out. Them big-ass books. You probably don't got a backpack to fit that book in. That book's 700 pages long. But you got to think, man.

One thing I know about my homie, he had a whole bunch of interesting days. I know you had a great relationship with Pim C., also. Yeah, yeah, yeah, most definitely, man. A lot of people, man, within media and just whole perception, people make things way more than what it is, man. He was solid just like we solid. He going to tell you what he feel just like I am. And sometimes within the industry and being around people like that,

people tend to fear that because, you know, they're used to people fabricating a baby in them. That ain't what we going to do. If we feel you're bull, I'm going to say you're you know, they're used to people fabricating the baby in them. That ain't what we're going to do. If we fear you booing, I'm going to say you booing, then we're going to keep it moving. I just hate the fact that Pimp C never got to use social media, man. Pimp C Twitter would have been lit. Yeah, because you got to think, there's so many people on Instagram and Twitter that just from them doing little things that it could take them. I was actually talking to the little homies. I was telling them, man,

nowadays Twitter can, in a matter of seconds, can either make you or fuck your life clean, smooth. Absolutely. Because it's like the court of public opinion on social media. So you guilty before you even get a chance to be like, nah, nah, that ain't true. And it's fucked up because nobody

would never really know the truth. They don't even care. They don't even care about the truth. They don't care about the truth. It's a live more entertaining. Right, we were just talking about Tyga and these pictures he sent out, these penis pictures that he allegedly sent to a transgender. I don't even want to talk about this.

This is not my cup of tea. But does that make you feel like with all the social media and stuff, you got to be careful too with anything that you send out as far as text messages, phone calls, you never know who's recording something. No, not with me because I think anything. I got my phone. I stand behind. So I'm not going to even play myself to even put myself in that situation.

Right. You know? Because you got to understand, man, when people used to say what's in the dark come to the light, it's always going to come. I don't know when it's going to come, man, when people used to say, what's in the dark come to the light? It's always going to come. I don't know when it's going to come, but it's going to come. So prepare yourself. Just don't do no shit like that.

What's your relationship with the other Houston artists out there? I mean, you know, I help a lot of the up and coming, you know, because at the end of the day I feel like I want to see, I want to see N***a win, you know what I'm saying? And even not just with just Houston artists, just with new artists, period. Like, I still even be cautious to the point to where I can guide and give them game, because you still got to understand with that band and stuff I got going on, if you deal with me, they're automatically going to move you out the way.

You know what I'm saying? And I hate even talking about that situation, but I mean, it is what it is, you know? I mean. What about now that things are a lot, I think, a little bit smoother, you know, for you than they used to be? Have some of those artists before, because I remember coming to Trey Day,

and I'm like, where's all the Houston artists at? It's always still been the same. Right. I mean, you know, of course, you know, Bon support, J-Law support, Pokey, you know. Other than that, you know, people don't really, as far as within the element of the ones I came up with that you would know. No, they don't come. I ain't mad that they don't come.

They don't owe me nothing. I don't owe them nothing. But does it bother you because, like, when Drake, let's say Drake does a Houston week, and it seems like all the artists come out and support him, but here you are, somebody from Houston, and some of those artists don't. Man you gotta understand when you come up how we come up with how I come up it's like certain shit like that don't even matter man

I can't sit up daily and worry about why somebody doing this for that person and they ain't doing it for me you know it is what it is. I think it would be great if they just pop up this year. Huh? I think it would be great if they just pop up this year that'd be. I mean. I'm just putting it out there it'd be. I'm you and I think it would be great if they just pop up this year. That'd be... I mean... I'm just putting it out there.

It'd be... I think everybody entitled to their own opinion. I think the biggest thing with me even as far as artists and just my situation in general

is once I start letting go because you got to realize I had a lot of anger and a lot of animosity with a real big chip on my shoulder but as I let go you know I tend to be able to live and relax a lot more these days the way I ain't even really worried about that that's just like with the with the music like I'm I'm

I'm in a place comfortably now where I'm just doing me you know and I feel long as I do me shit it ain't nothing I really need to complain, whine about, because me whining, what that's going to do for me? It's going to do a goddamn thing. You had a cartoon. I used to love that. Oh, yeah, yeah. I was with What The Funny. The contract was up with that,

so right now we just free agents pushing it. We pushing it back again to hope we land on the network. Matter of fact, since we right here on the Power Club, Adult Swim, somebody needs to come holler at me because shit. They doing a lot of animated hip-hop shows right now. But it's so crazy. I've been doing this shit so long,

and the artists actually, they want to be part of my shit. Like, I did one at 420 with Snoop and Riff Raff. I got the new episode finna come out. I was with me and B.O.B. I had one with Duval. Matter of fact, you've been on there. I need to do one with y'all because, you know, it's simple for us to do them. I remember the first one I saw

was the Ozone Awards with Mike Jones. That was hilarious, a little throwback. Where is Mike Jones now? I don't know. I know, man, they did a Welcome to Houston show recently. Funny, I was the only Houston artist that wasn't invited, but I wasn't mad about it.

I congratulate them doing their thing, but I know he was part of it. It's good to see him trying to do his thing and handle his business. You know what? With me, as far as how a lot of other people be, man, I ain't really

in the hole, no grudges. It was what it was then, you know. Now I salute niggas moving, just handle your business because it's about feeding family right now. It's funny as an artist, if I was an artist in Houston, I wouldn't care what another radio station thought simply because there's another station in the market, but even bigger than that, social media.

They shouldn't let that one station dictate how they move and who they move with. I like your way of thinking. That's my response to that, man. And, you know, it's crazy. I ain't even mad at them. You know, when I see them, when I see certain ones, I still speak. I keep, man.

At the end of the day, if you ain't trying to fuck with me or my family or stop, oh, I don't even know if I'm supposed to be. You don't care. It's like 25 times. My bad. I got y'all a few fines. But my bad. It's like if you ain't directly messing with me or my family or stopping what I'm trying to do or throw out my plans, it is what it is.

You know what I'm saying? Well, the 24th is The Truth Part 1. Truth Part 1. And the 22nd, of course, is Trade Day. Yeah. And DJ Envy and I will be there I just looked at the flight flights is expensive

they are? yeah we might have to fly to Southwest or something let me give you this private jet oh my god Charlamagne might be there me and him

gonna have a conversation I can tell you right now Charlamagne is not gonna be there nah do you gotta understand me and him have a relationship on side of all this

so me and him we gonna holler man I just wanted an experience you know it's different, man. When you get to see how them kids' faces be lit up, you know what I'm saying, from the time it start to the time it end, that can change a person's life. And this is Envy's first one.

Yep. So we're excited for that. This is my second one. Okay. Well, I know yours. You going to, I mean, trust me, you'll be coming back. Everybody will come back. Everybody loves trading. I mean, trust me, you'll be coming back. Everybody will come back. Everybody loves trading.

I mean, it's a good event, man. They gave, well, they actually told me they got a whole bunch of more awards to give me from the city of Houston. I don't know what they are. I mean. You already got a kid. You got a day. What more do you need?

I got a lot more than that, though. I get awards like crazy for just so much stuff I do as being a big homie out there. But I don't do it for that, so I never really just focus on what I'm getting. Okay, well, can people donate now if they want to donate? Where can they go if they wanted to donate? Somebody asked me about that recently. I wouldn't even know the route to go. Jay, can we please set that up?

We need a website someplace where we can go donate. I just't even know the route to go. Jay, can we please set that up? We need a website someplace where we can go donate. I just actually learned. You gotta donate. You know what you mean, Jay? Let's set up this.

Now, Charlamagne asked every artist up here for $100. No, no, he can't. Come on. Ed Sheeran gave him $100. Troy Ave gave him $100. Cheddar the Connect

gave him $100. You should give $100 to Tr the Truth. I don't have $100. You should give $100 for the kids. You should give $100 right now to Trade the Truth

for the kids. I don't have $100 on me. You're not going to donate? I don't have the money on me. You got a checkbook? No. I don't actually. You got a PayPal account?

Nope. I'm lying. I don't have $100. This guy's a liar. If I had't, actually. You got a PayPal account? Nope. I ain't got no line. I'm trying to tell you, I don't have a lot of money. This guy's a liar. If I had it, I'd give it to him for the kids, but I don't have a lot of money. Run your pockets out, man. Run your pockets. Run your pockets. See? You see that?

It's trade and truth. That's the Breakfast Club of the morning. Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy.

55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets.

Listen to Escape from Zakistan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, or wherever you get your podcasts. Trying our best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before.

Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, my undeadly darlings. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you?

Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.