Trae tha Truth

Trae Tha Truth gained exposure on the Houston rap scene in 1998, when he made his rapping debut with a guest appearance on Z-Ro's album Look What You Did to Me.[9] In 2003, he began his solo career with the album Losing Composure. 2004's Same Thing Different Day, 2006's Restless, and 2007's Life Goes On followed shortly after. Trae Tha Truth has also worked relentlessly with fellow Houston rapper Chamillionaire on his various Mixtape Messiah series.

He also collaborated with Z-Ro to form the duo ABN or Assholes by Nature. They have released two albums, Assholes by Nature (2003) and It Is What It Is (2008).

Trae Tha Truth was involved in a fight with Texas rapper Mike Jones at the 2008 Ozone Awards. Both later apologized for the incident.[10] It was recently suspected that Trae Tha Truth's music was banned from Houston's local radio Station, 97.9 The Boxx.[11]

After creating a buzz for himself, T.I. announced he signed Trae Tha Truth to Grand Hustle Records on March 1, 2012. On October 9, 2012, Trae was featured on the annual BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, alongside his Grand Hustle label-mates Iggy Azalea, B.o.B, Chip and T.I.[12] His first Grand Hustle album, then-titled Banned, was scheduled to be released in 2014.[13] However, prior to that he was involved in the recording process for the Grand Hustle Records compilation album.[14] His Grand Hustle Records debut titled Tha Truth was released on July 24, 2015.

In 2008, Trae Tha Truth was awarded by the mayor of Houston, Bill White, and Council Member Peter Brown with his own day, Trae Day, in honor of his outstanding work within the community.[15] This is the first time the honor has been extended to a rap artist. Trae Day is celebrated every year on July 22.

During Hurricane Harvey in September of 2017 Trae and his friends, dubbed the "Relief Gang", spent a full day driving trucks and SUVs around the Houston area helping get residents to safety. They worked in Beaumont, Winnie, Kingwood, and Cleveland Texas - all areas where flooding was severe.[16]

In October of 2017 Trae hosted a fundraiser for a Houston area grandma attacked and carjacked at a gas station.[17]

In late 2020, Trae and his non-profit organization Relief Gang handed out clothing including jackets and face masks for the homeless.[18]

Trae Tha Truth hosted the second annual Trae Day in July 2009, near Texas Southern University. After the event had ended, eight people, ranging in age from 14 to 21, were shot near a parking garage located on the Texas Southern University campus.[19] When he explained to the morning crew at radio station KBXX "97.9 The Box" that he did not condone the shooting, he was accused by one of the personalities of being responsible for the violence per the lyrical content. When Trae Tha Truth retaliated against her on a mixtape, KBXX banned Trae Tha Truth's music and contributed music from the station and ordered their personalities not to play his music. It caused backlash in the music community as several DJs at KBXX were terminated from their positions due to playing songs that featured Trae.[20] Due to his inability and hindrance from being able to promote his music in Houston as a result, Trae filed a lawsuit against KBXX early in 2010 citing damages to his career.[21]

On July 15, 2020, Trae among 87 people were arrested in Breonna Taylor protest in Louisville, Kentucky;[22] he was among two rappers alongside YBN Cordae in a protest to be arrested.[23]

Studio albums

• Losing Composure (2003)
• Same Thing Different Day (2004)
• Restless (2006)
• Life Goes On (2007)
• The Beginning (2008)
• Street King (2011)
• Tha Truth (2015)
• Tha Truth, Pt. 2 (2016)
• The Truth, Pt. 3 (2017)
• Hometown Hero (2018)
• Exhale (2019)