Trai’d Interview: Promoting Traidmarks

conducted by Hugo Lunny

MVRemix: For those that are now hearing about you for the first time, tell us about yourself.

Trai’D: Man, where do I start? I’m just a young thundercat outta the south. Dallas, Texas to be exact, fresh out of high school. I’m signed to Hitz Committee/Jive [Records] and I’m let the music speak from there. Google my ass, look me up on YouTube, catch me on MySpace. Ask about me!

MVRemix: How did the name Trai’D come about?

Trai’D: Trai’d actually comes from the word “trademark” which I spell traidmark. With a trademark being a logo a company puts out to represent themselves. I’m basically saying every time I step out I’m reppin’ my city, my people, label and everybody down with me to the fullet. Trai’d/Traidmark!

MVRemix: Tell me about growing up in Oakliff.

Trai’D: Oakliff, Texas is home. If you ever been to Dallas, you gon’ hear about it. But life is what you make it. I kept my head on straight and found my way early learning from a lot of my niggas’ mistakes.

MVRemix: At such a young age, do you feel you’re well enough prepared to enter the current competitive rap industry?

Trai’D: Yup, I think I got it.

MVRemix: How did the song “Gotta Gutta Chick” come about?

Trai’D: I need a gutter chick so the best way to get they attention was making a song for them. “Gutta” chicks get at me myspace.com/traidmark 214-989-3177

MVRemix: I recently spoke with Cassie who has added her phone number to MySpace but solely for fan voice mail. What made you decide to do this?

Trai’D: I just wanted to keep ties with my fans. I really do call back and check up on them but some be forgettin’ to leave they numbers…

MVRemix: Do you feel it’s as effective as when Mike Jones did it?

Trai’D: Nah, he was the first to do it.

MVRemix: As a songwriter, who has influenced you?

Trai’D: A young thundercat named Trai’D.

MVRemix: Do you remember the first song you wrote?

Trai’D: Yeah, and I won’t tell you how it went. [laughs] Hell nah! Just know I done come a long ass way.

MVRemix: How did your relationships with DJ Freddy Hydro and Memphitz come about?

Trai’D: “Gutta Chick” got real hot on the MySpace and Freddy Hydro ran across my page. Being good friends with Memphitz – VP A&R at Jive Records and also the guy who brought the world T-Pain… Hydro brought it to his attention. The rest was history.

MVRemix: Now that you’re signed to Jive, what’s the next step?

Trai’D: Doin’ work! People don’t understand that when the grind gets intense I can’t get laid back now that I got a deal. I gotta grind it out more than ever.

MVRemix: Any videos planned?

Trai’D: Yeah, we ’bout to release a video we shot for this song I got called “Ex Pill.” The “Gutta Chick” music video is on YouTube and BET so check it out at youtube.com/traidtv

MVRemix: If I’m coming to a Trai’d show. What is it that I’m going to experience that I won’t experience simply from listening to your material on CD?

Trai’D: Seeing a young thundercat live in the flesh doin’ his motherfuckin’ thing!

MVRemix: In a sentence or less, what do you do to relax?

Trai’D: I don’t like gettin’ comfortable.

MVRemix: Have fun with this one, a la “Fight Club” – “If you could fight any celebrity, who would you fight”?

Trai’D: Kimbo Slice.

MVRemix: Would you win?

Trai’D: Hell nah, I wouldn’t even fight that nigga! I was lyin’ like a bitch!

MVRemix: Do you have any non musical aspirations?

Trai’D: Yeah, I wanna get into acting. I was just sent a script today, tell ya the truth. I’m tryin’ to Will Smith it out. From Jive to TV shows to big screen, ya dig?

MVRemix: What next do we have to look forward to from you?

Trai’D: More Thundacat music to vibe to. The album “Traidmark” coming soon. It’s going down in a major way; Hitz Committee got ’09. Watch what I tell ya.

MVRemix: Any last words?

Trai’D: Man, again, myspace.com/traidmark or holler at me 214-989-3177. Oh yeah, and get at me on the ringtone; text “GUTTA” to 66555.

Trai’d Interview