What’s eating Trinidad James?
Rapper vents frustration with the industry in new song.
Life was much easier for Trinidad James when all there was to rap about was “all gold everything.” These days, Trinidad has been sounding less like a happy rapper and more like a tired, frustrated veteran. (If you’re a sports fan, think Rashard Mendenhall.) Is James going to retire? Who knows, but the above track (featuring 31), “Rap Game Just Too Funny,” finds the artist questioning everything about the industry, including himself. Via the track’s lyrics and a message posted on his SoundCloud page, here are five things we’re learning about Trinidad James.
1) “My nigga, why you rapping?”
This is one of the first lines we hear on “Rap Game Just Too Funny.” Trinidad poses the question like it was meant for someone else, but he also sounds as if he’s putting himself on the hot seat, trying to keep things honest.
2) “Sometimes I wish I never started rapping/it changed how my friends started acting.”
Trinidad’s calling out his own people here. Success changes everyone, for better or worse, and it sounds like during Trinidad’s ascension from clothing boutique cashier to million dollar Def Jam baby, he lost some friends on the way.
3) “I just want to burn in the flames and live through the ashes.”
Despite the fact that it sounds like Trinidad has reached his boiling point, and it’s only a matter of time before things blow up, he seems to believe he’ll survive through it all. I mean hopefully the record labels just kill careers and not actual people.
4) “I’ve got to talk about a whip, 26’s on the Chevy/I’ve got to talk about a bitch now you niggas want to listen.”
Oh, and the labels seem to be a huge source of Trinidad’s issues. He mentions having to talk nice cars and bad chicks as if it was a subject matter forced on him. Is Def Jam pushing him to be something he’s not, or doesn’t want to be? Kind of sounds like he thinks so.
5) Lil’ Boosie and DMX were slated to be on the track.
According the message posted on Trinidad’s SoundCloud page, “This song got leaked by some Fuck Nigga or Nigga$. If you dont rap then DONT Rap because these niggas to funny. ” So yea, he’s pissed, but the message also leaves us with a little anecdote about the song’s potential collaborators before shit hit the fan. “Wanted to Put Boosie x DMX on here for my album but thats up in smoke now.”