Trae Tha Truth

Now, you just opened a bumpbox store in San Diego, right?

Yes, I am in the one in the Galleria (Houston). Our grand opening in San Diego is this weekend, so I am getting ready to head that way.

How do you feel about traveling this year, after the pandemic?

Man, brother, I had Corona at the beginning. It is just like the streets. Once you experience and make it through the tough times, the rest is a breeze. I have not been stressed, brother.

Speaking of someone who’s had Coronavirus (COVID-19), are the myths true? Are the theories true? From a first-person point-of-view, how is it?

What people got to realize is the flu can shut you down. COVID-19 was just a little stronger, but once you make it through those first few days and build your system up. You will wave it. It is a process. I had asthma, and I did not have to worry about asthma in so many years. When (COVID-19) happened, it took a strain on my chest, for real. It was powerful but, I got through it.

Switching gears, philanthropist. Man, you’ve been very busy in houston. In times of crisis, you’ve helped people with their rent. You’ve helped people with their gas…

I think in the last three weeks, we have helped over 50,000 families. We going’, man. We going and it does not stop, that is the motto for the team. We do not wait for people to do stuff, and we do not make any excuses. We get it done.

How important is it, you helping out your community like that and just setting the example for other artists in your region to do the same?

I do not do it to set examples for artists. I do it to inspire people; it does not matter if you are an artist or not, man. If it is in your heart to do it, do it, you know. You will be the biggest artist or smallest, or you can be a normal human being. What happens is; people set it (philanthropy) to only celebrities being able to help, but anybody can do it. Five dollars out of your pocket might change somebody’s life, or just hearing them, assisting them over something they are going through.

How do you plan on being more involved as an activist…?

Please stop calling me that… I am just Trae, man [laughs].

[Laughs], I mean, your influence impacts a lot of people, man?

I am not a leader, brother. I am a General. It works itself out how it needs to, man.

Have you gotten more involved, politically?

I am not into politics, brother. I am getting people in the position that will be in the best interest to give us a fair shot. Furthermore, that is where I leave it at. Many people ask me to be the Mayor of Houston, but I will not do that because I do not follow the rules. I do stuff how I want to do it, and it works. So, when you go to try and do it differently, that will change the formula. That is not going to be as authentic or transparent. I do not want to be a Mayor. I want to keep doing me. I am a street ni**a; it will never change.

Touching on your background. To be so involved in your community comes from a strong family support system. Tell us about your upbringing that made you the man you are today?

I do not think that I came from a strong family upbringing -- but do not get it twisted -- love my mother and my father to death. Like, they are both in my life. I have always been there with my brothers. You know, I jumped off the porch at an early age. Just learning on my own, you know. Been through a lot of real-life situations.

More so, I think that because experience can direct you a certain way and open your eyes to certain situations. That is kind of what I was dealing with.

In other news, you’ve returned to animation. How does it feel bringing back your popular cartoon, trae, for season 4?

Oh yeah, it’s cool, man. We got more and more episodes coming, so it is going to be dope. It (the series) was held up a long time because I had a deal, and then COVID-19 hit, and it messed everything up, so everything was on hold. Now, I am back free. We are just going to keep on working and figure out what we are going to do.

Tell us about your current situation as an artist?

I am a free agent. If I put something out now, Empire and I will rock out, but I have not been shopping for a deal. Now, the crazy thing, I got over 2000 unreleased records, and I got these projects that are sitting up now that I do need to make sure they get circulated everywhere. I am pretty sure I am going to be looking for a situation.

With the pandemic ending and live shows make a return in 2021, are you ready to get back on the road?

Like yesterday, man. You know Trae Day is coming up soon.

Yeah, I want to get into that, is trae day coming back?

Yeah, it is coming back this year. That will probably be the main kick-off for me doing all my shows and stuff, again.

With the current time we are living in, this will be an important trae day event. Anything you’d like to share with the fans on what they can expect this year?

No -- I hope and pray this will be one of the bigger ones -- because my impact is only growing day by day. Last year, we did not have one, so this year we will probably make a hell of a statement.

Of course, we can’t end a trae the truth interview without receiving and update on your music. What can we expect from trae in 2021?

I just put out the project with Mysonne and me (If You’re Scared Stay Inside). I got a Trae & Friends coming out. One of my biggest albums was called Restless. Restless 2 is coming.

What made you decide to put out Restless 2, right now?

Everyone has been asking me for it for a long time.

For more information about Trae the Truth follow him IG: @traeabn

“...experience can direct you a certain way and open your eyes to certain situations.”