Introducing ‘Notes from Mr. Sandman‘ – a column slapping a spotlight on lyricists overlooked, under appreciated, or just plain criminally slept on. Or like a man named Nas once said, “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.” Enter Mr. Sandman with what y’all missed while chasing the REM dragon; Photo: Audible Treats
Trae the Truth is a Houston-born lyricist known for his bumpy knuckles style of rap. He is a graduate of the old-school, a hardened rap disciple who studied under scholars like Scarface, UGK and Chamillionaire. His velvety voice and low-key demeanor project a deep maturity, and his ability to capture life in the streets makes him one of the most trusted voices in the game.
Trae’s debut Losing Composure is a lesson in hood politics. It’s stripped bare and raw, but that only meant there was nowhere to hide lyrically. Driven by youthful ambition, there was a grind to him that made him instantly relatable. He’s completely forthcoming with his experiences, rapping about life in the ghetto and how survival was a full-time job.
“Life on Da Edge” is a touchstone song, both in sound and content. Trae kicks a blistering flow, and holds a tight narrative throughout. The beat is decidedly pop, which shows how versatile he was even at a young age; combining a universal sound with esoteric lyrics: [LISTEN]
Trae’s rise through the ranks wasn’t an easy one. Despite the success of his debut album, he still was a virtual unknown; a local celebrity who had trouble breaking down regional walls. Persistent and supremely confident with his craft, Trae continued to churn out albums eventually riding the wave of southern rap in the late ’90s early aughts.
Trae’s major label debut Restless is all the things he’s known for but on steroids; grimy street tales and iced out beats. At that point in his career he was a grizzled vet, eager to show off what he had been cultivating for years. The balance he struck is what made it a breakthrough, it bridged gaps between multiple styles and blurred the line between gangster rap and pop.
“The Truth” is an example of how Trae can pen a verse that speaks to both the homies and outsiders. He relinquishes the rapid-fire delivery and eases into the beat, a style that would later become his token sound: [LISTEN]
With trailblazers like T.I. and Lil Jon (among others) paving the way, the southern sound would be accepted and embraced as a vital faction of hip-hop. Trae the Truth was right there, and waved the flag proudly for a whole generation of would-be lyricists to follow suit.
Trae’s latest studio album Tha Truth, Pt 3. is an affirmation of all his accomplishments. Nearly fifteen years in the game and he’s still pushing himself, but instead of riding trends and selling out he’s reasserting the values that got him to where he’s at. At this point he’s well past his street hustling days, but as heard in “Ghetto” he will always stay true to his roots: [LISTEN]
