The original Freedom Riders set out on May 4th, 1961. A group of 13 activists – seven black, six white – loaded on a bus heading south to take a stand against racist segregation. Only 10 days later, in Anniston, Alabama, the riders were chased away from the bus station by a mob. This led to blown tires, a thrown Molotov cocktail, and brutal beatings. These men and women persevered and pushed through the violence and hate to wind up some of the most influential and important figures in American history.
Their inspiration continues to resonate in the work of Translee, the Alabama-born, Atlanta native whose Freedom Summer EP dropped last August — a nine-song opus designed to uplift and overcome the adversities inherent in this bleak modern moment. The stakes might not be as dramatic as that of ‘63, but a similar fear is omnipresent, along with the reality that we haven’t progressed nearly enough.
You might have first heard Translee on 2016’s “Lost In The Sauce,” which pays tribute to Gucci’s immortal words of wisdom, but he started long before that. At 16, Translee’s mother passed away, and he traces his creative inception back to that tragedy. After several mixtapes, he joined Grand Hustle, where he’s received the mentorship by trap pioneer, T.I. (their “Catch This Wave” might’ve been my song of the summer).
“I think it’s one of those feel good records, man,” says Translee. “When I first heard the beat, I was like “Oh no, this is mine!” I’m about to chop this.”
Sometimes Translee seems angry at the world, speaking of fighting as a way to help his unborn son receive better opportunities. Sometimes he’s optimistic, reveling in the gifts that life has currently brought him. Freedom Summer showcases that vulnerability and heavy passion, as he switches between uptempo tales of new possibilities and downtrodden stories of navigating through the bullshit. It’s a work that offers you a glance into the lens of how Translee sees the world, and more importantly, how he one day hopes to. — Issac Biehl
You just turned 26 this year. Is this where you always thought you’d be at this point in your life?
Translee: Man, I really started rapping when my mom passed away. So I uh, I never really saw myself, trying to grow into the superstar side of it. I used to want to do it to just clear my head space. It’s just getting to where, now I voice my opinions and can make a real career out of rapping. So I’m blessed to even be where I’m at, you know what I mean?
What was it like growing up in Huntsville, Alabama?
Translee: It was pretty cool man! I live in Atlanta now, but like growing up there, it wasn’t that different from Atlanta, just the size of it. Everybody had like that big city mindset, but it was still a small town. It was your regular country town and Atlanta was the place we would go to feel like superstars. It was pretty easy going, there wasn’t a lot of hectic things going on. It made for a pretty decent childhood.
It just made me who I am. People who are from where I’m from, they just act a certain way. I think we know how to maneuver and get in to like any environment. We’re like water — we fit any way.
You also went to college at North Alabama. Did you always have rap as the main plan while you were there?
Translee: Uh yeah. I mean that’s where I kind of organized and met my team. UNA is a pretty ordinary and small school. It’s about an hour outside of Huntsville, so it was a pretty cool place. I really went there because I just wanted to leave Huntsville. I was ready to be out of there.
Southern hip-hop has a huge legacy. Does it ever feel surreal you get to work with the likes of T.I.?
Translee: Man, it feels crazy. Just because growing up, people like T.I. are legends. You never really fathom working with them. To be sitting in the studio and to be able to create records, and to be able to give input on his projects, and have records on his projects is like a mind-fuck to me. It’s definitely a blessing, man. To me it proves that you gotta believe in your talent and you can go anywhere with it.
What’s the biggest piece of advice T.I. has given you?
Translee: To stay focused on the goal. Sometimes I’ll call him and be like “Yo, this person is being hard to work with,” and I be like complaining. He’s like “Yo, do you think you’ll get where you’re going and not have to work with someone you don’t like?” He’s like “Man you gotta realize in this game you’re gonna work with people you don’t like and you gotta figure out how to keep your sanity and be able to work with people.” It’s that advice to not get caught up in what people do and just stay focused on my goals, and work around people who might not be on the same mindset as me.
Other than T.I., what were some of the other first tastes of music that inspired you?
Translee: One of my favorite rappers of all time is definitely Andre 3000. Kendrick Lamar is definitely one of my favorite rappers. I’m a big Chance The Rapper fan. I even used to listen to Michael Jackson, you know what I mean? I’m influenced by the greats, man. Anybody that’s took it to that next level and got where I’m trying to get to.
In some of your past interviews you mentioned that Kanye was one of your influences. If you don’t mind me asking, how do you feel about his recent antics in the media?
Translee: You know what’s crazy? Today or tomorrow I’m about to drop a rap over the “Everything I Am” beat. Just to rap about it all. But you know, it’s crazy because, I’m kind of torn with it. Because I’m not a Trump supporter. I really don’t support anything that he has going on. For me personally, I don’t understand why Kanye would wanna do that. But I also feel like, Kanye is the type of person that will run over the hill and take all the shots before anyone else gets there, you know? So everyone can come behind him when the coast is clear. I don’t agree with him trying to connect himself with that to make himself bigger though.
If you focus on some of the stuff that he was saying when he went up there, he was actually saying some good things. He was talking about prison reform, he was talking about education and how we’re so quick to say kids have ADD, when really school is just boring. He was saying a lot of good things but he leaves me conflicted. Kanye is one of my biggest influences, I left him out before when you asked me because I just don’t know how I feel about Ye right now. Whoever you want to support that’s your opinion, but it’s like he’s going over the top. He’s like “OH I LOVE THIS MAN” when this man didn’t even say he loves you. It’s almost like he’s trolling.
Some of Kanye’s early music is really inspiring to me. Some of the songs almost bring tears to my eyes, you know? I’m just gon’ put Kanye on ice for a little while.
So you dropped the Freedom Summer EP this year. Through the music on it, it’s clear you’re not afraid to talk about the bigger issues. Do you think that hip-hop is doing enough to talk about politics right now?
Translee: Um, yes. But I think that we have become social media activists. Once something bad happens we all make a post about it and everyone’s on the same page, and then the next day we’re on to the next one. I don’t think that’s actually how you get things done. I think we get things done with real legislation and actually taking things to the courts, and voting, and taking things straight to lawmakers. Marching and making social media posts don’t get anything done. It gets the media’s attention but doesn’t get anything done.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
What was it like growing up in Huntsville, Alabama?
Translee: It was pretty cool man! I live in Atlanta now, but like growing up there, it wasn’t that different from Atlanta, just the size of it. Everybody had like that big city mindset, but it was still a small town. It was your regular country town and Atlanta was the place we would go to feel like superstars. It was pretty easy going, there wasn’t a lot of hectic things going on. It made for a pretty decent childhood.
It just made me who I am. People who are from where I’m from, they just act a certain way. I think we know how to maneuver and get in to like any environment. We’re like water — we fit any way.
You also went to college at North Alabama. Did you always have rap as the main plan while you were there?
Translee: Uh yeah. I mean that’s where I kind of organized and met my team. UNA is a pretty ordinary and small school. It’s about an hour outside of Huntsville, so it was a pretty cool place. I really went there because I just wanted to leave Huntsville. I was ready to be out of there.
Southern hip-hop has a huge legacy. Does it ever feel surreal you get to work with the likes of T.I.?
Translee: Man, it feels crazy. Just because growing up, people like T.I. are legends. You never really fathom working with them. To be sitting in the studio and to be able to create records, and to be able to give input on his projects, and have records on his projects is like a mind-fuck to me. It’s definitely a blessing, man. To me it proves that you gotta believe in your talent and you can go anywhere with it.
What’s the biggest piece of advice T.I. has given you?
Translee: To stay focused on the goal. Sometimes I’ll call him and be like “Yo, this person is being hard to work with,” and I be like complaining. He’s like “Yo, do you think you’ll get where you’re going and not have to work with someone you don’t like?” He’s like “Man you gotta realize in this game you’re gonna work with people you don’t like and you gotta figure out how to keep your sanity and be able to work with people.” It’s that advice to not get caught up in what people do and just stay focused on my goals, and work around people who might not be on the same mindset as me.
Other than T.I., what were some of the other first tastes of music that inspired you?
Translee: One of my favorite rappers of all time is definitely Andre 3000. Kendrick Lamar is definitely one of my favorite rappers. I’m a big Chance The Rapper fan. I even used to listen to Michael Jackson, you know what I mean? I’m influenced by the greats, man. Anybody that’s took it to that next level and got where I’m trying to get to.
In some of your past interviews you mentioned that Kanye was one of your influences. If you don’t mind me asking, how do you feel about his recent antics in the media?
Translee: You know what’s crazy? Today or tomorrow I’m about to drop a rap over the “Everything I Am” beat. Just to rap about it all. But you know, it’s crazy because, I’m kind of torn with it. Because I’m not a Trump supporter. I really don’t support anything that he has going on. For me personally, I don’t understand why Kanye would wanna do that. But I also feel like, Kanye is the type of person that will run over the hill and take all the shots before anyone else gets there, you know? So everyone can come behind him when the coast is clear. I don’t agree with him trying to connect himself with that to make himself bigger though.
If you focus on some of the stuff that he was saying when he went up there, he was actually saying some good things. He was talking about prison reform, he was talking about education and how we’re so quick to say kids have ADD, when really school is just boring. He was saying a lot of good things but he leaves me conflicted. Kanye is one of my biggest influences, I left him out before when you asked me because I just don’t know how I feel about Ye right now. Whoever you want to support that’s your opinion, but it’s like he’s going over the top. He’s like “OH I LOVE THIS MAN” when this man didn’t even say he loves you. It’s almost like he’s trolling.
Some of Kanye’s early music is really inspiring to me. Some of the songs almost bring tears to my eyes, you know? I’m just gon’ put Kanye on ice for a little while.
So you dropped the Freedom Summer EP this year. Through the music on it, it’s clear you’re not afraid to talk about the bigger issues. Do you think that hip-hop is doing enough to talk about politics right now?
Translee: Um, yes. But I think that we have become social media activists. Once something bad happens we all make a post about it and everyone’s on the same page, and then the next day we’re on to the next one. I don’t think that’s actually how you get things done. I think we get things done with real legislation and actually taking things to the courts, and voting, and taking things straight to lawmakers. Marching and making social media posts don’t get anything done. It gets the media’s attention but doesn’t get anything done.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
It just made me who I am. People who are from where I’m from, they just act a certain way. I think we know how to maneuver and get in to like any environment. We’re like water — we fit any way.
You also went to college at North Alabama. Did you always have rap as the main plan while you were there?
Translee: Uh yeah. I mean that’s where I kind of organized and met my team. UNA is a pretty ordinary and small school. It’s about an hour outside of Huntsville, so it was a pretty cool place. I really went there because I just wanted to leave Huntsville. I was ready to be out of there.
Southern hip-hop has a huge legacy. Does it ever feel surreal you get to work with the likes of T.I.?
Translee: Man, it feels crazy. Just because growing up, people like T.I. are legends. You never really fathom working with them. To be sitting in the studio and to be able to create records, and to be able to give input on his projects, and have records on his projects is like a mind-fuck to me. It’s definitely a blessing, man. To me it proves that you gotta believe in your talent and you can go anywhere with it.
What’s the biggest piece of advice T.I. has given you?
Translee: To stay focused on the goal. Sometimes I’ll call him and be like “Yo, this person is being hard to work with,” and I be like complaining. He’s like “Yo, do you think you’ll get where you’re going and not have to work with someone you don’t like?” He’s like “Man you gotta realize in this game you’re gonna work with people you don’t like and you gotta figure out how to keep your sanity and be able to work with people.” It’s that advice to not get caught up in what people do and just stay focused on my goals, and work around people who might not be on the same mindset as me.
Other than T.I., what were some of the other first tastes of music that inspired you?
Translee: One of my favorite rappers of all time is definitely Andre 3000. Kendrick Lamar is definitely one of my favorite rappers. I’m a big Chance The Rapper fan. I even used to listen to Michael Jackson, you know what I mean? I’m influenced by the greats, man. Anybody that’s took it to that next level and got where I’m trying to get to.
In some of your past interviews you mentioned that Kanye was one of your influences. If you don’t mind me asking, how do you feel about his recent antics in the media?
Translee: You know what’s crazy? Today or tomorrow I’m about to drop a rap over the “Everything I Am” beat. Just to rap about it all. But you know, it’s crazy because, I’m kind of torn with it. Because I’m not a Trump supporter. I really don’t support anything that he has going on. For me personally, I don’t understand why Kanye would wanna do that. But I also feel like, Kanye is the type of person that will run over the hill and take all the shots before anyone else gets there, you know? So everyone can come behind him when the coast is clear. I don’t agree with him trying to connect himself with that to make himself bigger though.
If you focus on some of the stuff that he was saying when he went up there, he was actually saying some good things. He was talking about prison reform, he was talking about education and how we’re so quick to say kids have ADD, when really school is just boring. He was saying a lot of good things but he leaves me conflicted. Kanye is one of my biggest influences, I left him out before when you asked me because I just don’t know how I feel about Ye right now. Whoever you want to support that’s your opinion, but it’s like he’s going over the top. He’s like “OH I LOVE THIS MAN” when this man didn’t even say he loves you. It’s almost like he’s trolling.
Some of Kanye’s early music is really inspiring to me. Some of the songs almost bring tears to my eyes, you know? I’m just gon’ put Kanye on ice for a little while.
So you dropped the Freedom Summer EP this year. Through the music on it, it’s clear you’re not afraid to talk about the bigger issues. Do you think that hip-hop is doing enough to talk about politics right now?
Translee: Um, yes. But I think that we have become social media activists. Once something bad happens we all make a post about it and everyone’s on the same page, and then the next day we’re on to the next one. I don’t think that’s actually how you get things done. I think we get things done with real legislation and actually taking things to the courts, and voting, and taking things straight to lawmakers. Marching and making social media posts don’t get anything done. It gets the media’s attention but doesn’t get anything done.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
Southern hip-hop has a huge legacy. Does it ever feel surreal you get to work with the likes of T.I.?
Translee: Man, it feels crazy. Just because growing up, people like T.I. are legends. You never really fathom working with them. To be sitting in the studio and to be able to create records, and to be able to give input on his projects, and have records on his projects is like a mind-fuck to me. It’s definitely a blessing, man. To me it proves that you gotta believe in your talent and you can go anywhere with it.
What’s the biggest piece of advice T.I. has given you?
Translee: To stay focused on the goal. Sometimes I’ll call him and be like “Yo, this person is being hard to work with,” and I be like complaining. He’s like “Yo, do you think you’ll get where you’re going and not have to work with someone you don’t like?” He’s like “Man you gotta realize in this game you’re gonna work with people you don’t like and you gotta figure out how to keep your sanity and be able to work with people.” It’s that advice to not get caught up in what people do and just stay focused on my goals, and work around people who might not be on the same mindset as me.
Other than T.I., what were some of the other first tastes of music that inspired you?
Translee: One of my favorite rappers of all time is definitely Andre 3000. Kendrick Lamar is definitely one of my favorite rappers. I’m a big Chance The Rapper fan. I even used to listen to Michael Jackson, you know what I mean? I’m influenced by the greats, man. Anybody that’s took it to that next level and got where I’m trying to get to.
In some of your past interviews you mentioned that Kanye was one of your influences. If you don’t mind me asking, how do you feel about his recent antics in the media?
Translee: You know what’s crazy? Today or tomorrow I’m about to drop a rap over the “Everything I Am” beat. Just to rap about it all. But you know, it’s crazy because, I’m kind of torn with it. Because I’m not a Trump supporter. I really don’t support anything that he has going on. For me personally, I don’t understand why Kanye would wanna do that. But I also feel like, Kanye is the type of person that will run over the hill and take all the shots before anyone else gets there, you know? So everyone can come behind him when the coast is clear. I don’t agree with him trying to connect himself with that to make himself bigger though.
If you focus on some of the stuff that he was saying when he went up there, he was actually saying some good things. He was talking about prison reform, he was talking about education and how we’re so quick to say kids have ADD, when really school is just boring. He was saying a lot of good things but he leaves me conflicted. Kanye is one of my biggest influences, I left him out before when you asked me because I just don’t know how I feel about Ye right now. Whoever you want to support that’s your opinion, but it’s like he’s going over the top. He’s like “OH I LOVE THIS MAN” when this man didn’t even say he loves you. It’s almost like he’s trolling.
Some of Kanye’s early music is really inspiring to me. Some of the songs almost bring tears to my eyes, you know? I’m just gon’ put Kanye on ice for a little while.
So you dropped the Freedom Summer EP this year. Through the music on it, it’s clear you’re not afraid to talk about the bigger issues. Do you think that hip-hop is doing enough to talk about politics right now?
Translee: Um, yes. But I think that we have become social media activists. Once something bad happens we all make a post about it and everyone’s on the same page, and then the next day we’re on to the next one. I don’t think that’s actually how you get things done. I think we get things done with real legislation and actually taking things to the courts, and voting, and taking things straight to lawmakers. Marching and making social media posts don’t get anything done. It gets the media’s attention but doesn’t get anything done.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
What’s the biggest piece of advice T.I. has given you?
Translee: To stay focused on the goal. Sometimes I’ll call him and be like “Yo, this person is being hard to work with,” and I be like complaining. He’s like “Yo, do you think you’ll get where you’re going and not have to work with someone you don’t like?” He’s like “Man you gotta realize in this game you’re gonna work with people you don’t like and you gotta figure out how to keep your sanity and be able to work with people.” It’s that advice to not get caught up in what people do and just stay focused on my goals, and work around people who might not be on the same mindset as me.
Other than T.I., what were some of the other first tastes of music that inspired you?
Translee: One of my favorite rappers of all time is definitely Andre 3000. Kendrick Lamar is definitely one of my favorite rappers. I’m a big Chance The Rapper fan. I even used to listen to Michael Jackson, you know what I mean? I’m influenced by the greats, man. Anybody that’s took it to that next level and got where I’m trying to get to.
In some of your past interviews you mentioned that Kanye was one of your influences. If you don’t mind me asking, how do you feel about his recent antics in the media?
Translee: You know what’s crazy? Today or tomorrow I’m about to drop a rap over the “Everything I Am” beat. Just to rap about it all. But you know, it’s crazy because, I’m kind of torn with it. Because I’m not a Trump supporter. I really don’t support anything that he has going on. For me personally, I don’t understand why Kanye would wanna do that. But I also feel like, Kanye is the type of person that will run over the hill and take all the shots before anyone else gets there, you know? So everyone can come behind him when the coast is clear. I don’t agree with him trying to connect himself with that to make himself bigger though.
If you focus on some of the stuff that he was saying when he went up there, he was actually saying some good things. He was talking about prison reform, he was talking about education and how we’re so quick to say kids have ADD, when really school is just boring. He was saying a lot of good things but he leaves me conflicted. Kanye is one of my biggest influences, I left him out before when you asked me because I just don’t know how I feel about Ye right now. Whoever you want to support that’s your opinion, but it’s like he’s going over the top. He’s like “OH I LOVE THIS MAN” when this man didn’t even say he loves you. It’s almost like he’s trolling.
Some of Kanye’s early music is really inspiring to me. Some of the songs almost bring tears to my eyes, you know? I’m just gon’ put Kanye on ice for a little while.
So you dropped the Freedom Summer EP this year. Through the music on it, it’s clear you’re not afraid to talk about the bigger issues. Do you think that hip-hop is doing enough to talk about politics right now?
Translee: Um, yes. But I think that we have become social media activists. Once something bad happens we all make a post about it and everyone’s on the same page, and then the next day we’re on to the next one. I don’t think that’s actually how you get things done. I think we get things done with real legislation and actually taking things to the courts, and voting, and taking things straight to lawmakers. Marching and making social media posts don’t get anything done. It gets the media’s attention but doesn’t get anything done.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
Other than T.I., what were some of the other first tastes of music that inspired you?
Translee: One of my favorite rappers of all time is definitely Andre 3000. Kendrick Lamar is definitely one of my favorite rappers. I’m a big Chance The Rapper fan. I even used to listen to Michael Jackson, you know what I mean? I’m influenced by the greats, man. Anybody that’s took it to that next level and got where I’m trying to get to.
In some of your past interviews you mentioned that Kanye was one of your influences. If you don’t mind me asking, how do you feel about his recent antics in the media?
Translee: You know what’s crazy? Today or tomorrow I’m about to drop a rap over the “Everything I Am” beat. Just to rap about it all. But you know, it’s crazy because, I’m kind of torn with it. Because I’m not a Trump supporter. I really don’t support anything that he has going on. For me personally, I don’t understand why Kanye would wanna do that. But I also feel like, Kanye is the type of person that will run over the hill and take all the shots before anyone else gets there, you know? So everyone can come behind him when the coast is clear. I don’t agree with him trying to connect himself with that to make himself bigger though.
If you focus on some of the stuff that he was saying when he went up there, he was actually saying some good things. He was talking about prison reform, he was talking about education and how we’re so quick to say kids have ADD, when really school is just boring. He was saying a lot of good things but he leaves me conflicted. Kanye is one of my biggest influences, I left him out before when you asked me because I just don’t know how I feel about Ye right now. Whoever you want to support that’s your opinion, but it’s like he’s going over the top. He’s like “OH I LOVE THIS MAN” when this man didn’t even say he loves you. It’s almost like he’s trolling.
Some of Kanye’s early music is really inspiring to me. Some of the songs almost bring tears to my eyes, you know? I’m just gon’ put Kanye on ice for a little while.
So you dropped the Freedom Summer EP this year. Through the music on it, it’s clear you’re not afraid to talk about the bigger issues. Do you think that hip-hop is doing enough to talk about politics right now?
Translee: Um, yes. But I think that we have become social media activists. Once something bad happens we all make a post about it and everyone’s on the same page, and then the next day we’re on to the next one. I don’t think that’s actually how you get things done. I think we get things done with real legislation and actually taking things to the courts, and voting, and taking things straight to lawmakers. Marching and making social media posts don’t get anything done. It gets the media’s attention but doesn’t get anything done.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
In some of your past interviews you mentioned that Kanye was one of your influences. If you don’t mind me asking, how do you feel about his recent antics in the media?
Translee: You know what’s crazy? Today or tomorrow I’m about to drop a rap over the “Everything I Am” beat. Just to rap about it all. But you know, it’s crazy because, I’m kind of torn with it. Because I’m not a Trump supporter. I really don’t support anything that he has going on. For me personally, I don’t understand why Kanye would wanna do that. But I also feel like, Kanye is the type of person that will run over the hill and take all the shots before anyone else gets there, you know? So everyone can come behind him when the coast is clear. I don’t agree with him trying to connect himself with that to make himself bigger though.
If you focus on some of the stuff that he was saying when he went up there, he was actually saying some good things. He was talking about prison reform, he was talking about education and how we’re so quick to say kids have ADD, when really school is just boring. He was saying a lot of good things but he leaves me conflicted. Kanye is one of my biggest influences, I left him out before when you asked me because I just don’t know how I feel about Ye right now. Whoever you want to support that’s your opinion, but it’s like he’s going over the top. He’s like “OH I LOVE THIS MAN” when this man didn’t even say he loves you. It’s almost like he’s trolling.
Some of Kanye’s early music is really inspiring to me. Some of the songs almost bring tears to my eyes, you know? I’m just gon’ put Kanye on ice for a little while.
So you dropped the Freedom Summer EP this year. Through the music on it, it’s clear you’re not afraid to talk about the bigger issues. Do you think that hip-hop is doing enough to talk about politics right now?
Translee: Um, yes. But I think that we have become social media activists. Once something bad happens we all make a post about it and everyone’s on the same page, and then the next day we’re on to the next one. I don’t think that’s actually how you get things done. I think we get things done with real legislation and actually taking things to the courts, and voting, and taking things straight to lawmakers. Marching and making social media posts don’t get anything done. It gets the media’s attention but doesn’t get anything done.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
If you focus on some of the stuff that he was saying when he went up there, he was actually saying some good things. He was talking about prison reform, he was talking about education and how we’re so quick to say kids have ADD, when really school is just boring. He was saying a lot of good things but he leaves me conflicted. Kanye is one of my biggest influences, I left him out before when you asked me because I just don’t know how I feel about Ye right now. Whoever you want to support that’s your opinion, but it’s like he’s going over the top. He’s like “OH I LOVE THIS MAN” when this man didn’t even say he loves you. It’s almost like he’s trolling.
Some of Kanye’s early music is really inspiring to me. Some of the songs almost bring tears to my eyes, you know? I’m just gon’ put Kanye on ice for a little while.
So you dropped the Freedom Summer EP this year. Through the music on it, it’s clear you’re not afraid to talk about the bigger issues. Do you think that hip-hop is doing enough to talk about politics right now?
Translee: Um, yes. But I think that we have become social media activists. Once something bad happens we all make a post about it and everyone’s on the same page, and then the next day we’re on to the next one. I don’t think that’s actually how you get things done. I think we get things done with real legislation and actually taking things to the courts, and voting, and taking things straight to lawmakers. Marching and making social media posts don’t get anything done. It gets the media’s attention but doesn’t get anything done.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
Even with Colin Kaepernick, and the police shootings of unarmed black men, like there’s no amount of kneeling – if a cop wants to shoot somebody, he’s gonna fucking shoot somebody – but the problem is the legislation that lets cops decide that they can shoot whoever they want, all they gotta do is say “I felt scared.” THAT’S what needs to change. We gotta go to the root of the problem, and not just try to change people’s hearts and make people realize it’s not right. That’ll never happen.
No cop is gonna be out here like “Oh shit, Colin kneeled…” Like, no. You gotta let them know that if I shoot this person, there’s a chance that I may go to jail. As a cop, who has that much time to think? But it has to be some type of middle ground. It happens in legislation, not in just us yelling out. Not just doing the most and just trying to be heard. That won’t get anything done.
You brought up Colin Kaepernick. You have this song called “Fist,” and the hook goes: “They don’t want black leaders to exist / Unless it’s points, rebounds, and assists.” That’s a very timely line. What do you think of that whole situation?
I kind of got that from whenever they talked to LeBron, he was speaking on things and they told him to just “shut up and dribble.” You’re rich, you’re an athlete, don’t speak on things. But that’s the people that are supposed to speak on things that make them feel uncomfortable. That made me think they only want you to lead if it’s points, rebounds and assists. Nothing else. That’s where that particular record came from. I’m really all about the movement and and targeting the actual problem. I don’t want people to feel like it’s a black versus white thing, but it’s really just a right versus wrong thing. That’s what I’m on. I need to get Colin Kaepernick to repost it!
You’re a lyricist at heart. What’s the writing process like for you? Or are you more of a freestyle in the studio guy?
Translee: Man, to be honest, I’m not a really good freestyler. That’s something that happens if maybe I’m in the right mood or if I had the right amount of liquor in my system – nah I’m playin’ – but I really write off of inspiration. When I’m inspired to do something, whenever something comes to me, then I write. I could be in the shower, I could be in the gym, I could be on a date, it don’t even matter. I’m gonna have to zone out and get in my memo pad, and she’s just gonna have to deal with it you know what I mean? When the inspiration comes it comes. I feel like my music is special, because I don’t feel like I have the coolest sounding voice where it doesn’t matter what I say and it’s just gonna sound good. It matters what I say. So I have to say something.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
Your music, like you said you have to say something, it has this uplifting quality to it. What are some things you want to inspire people with through your songs?
Translee: Really man just to be yourself. That’s what got me so far. Even just using my real name as an artist. When I first started rapping I would try to sound like what was going on, but that never works for anybody – well it works for some people apparently – but it don’t last long. For me, I’d rather build that foundation of people that support my music, that know it’s genuine. When you get a Translee album it’s gonna be all real.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
Can you talk about the story behind “Freedom Summer?” There are a lot of powerful images in there.
Translee: The term “Freedom Summer” came from 1964 Mississippi. There was a lot of things going on with the voting process. Basically black people were 50% of the population but only 7% of them were voting. They were sending black and white college students down there to teach them how to vote. Those were the Freedom Riders. When they got to Mississippi they got their asses beat. Three of them got killed, two white kids got killed, so the country was like “Oh shit, they killing white kids too?”
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
So it opened it all up. I named it Freedom Summer because on their way down, they were on these buses, they would sing to each other. And even when they were locked up they would still sing from down the hallway in these cells and that’s the only thing that got them through these times, was the music. So I thought I would name my album Freedom Summer because we’re going through crazy times right now. So let’s hope my music can get somebody through these crazy times. I wanted to take from that movement.
I think it came out full circle. I’m getting messages from people saying – one guy said he was about to commit suicide – but listening to my album stopped him. For me, being able to do that is amazing.
You have another song off the project called “Generation WTF” that kind of references some of the new players in the rap game. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop?
Translee: To be honest man, I think it’s in a good place. One thing T.I. said that really resonated with me was – like people always say “what about the 90’s when there was real hip-hop?” T.I. said “There were wack rappers in the 90’s.” There’s artists we deem wack in every generation. Now with social media, it gets more views and likes. Someone like Vanilla Ice, if he had social media back in the 90’s he woulda been a fucking superstar. If we woulda had social media in the 90’s there woulda been a thousand Vanilla Ices. The perception we put on likes and views, it just makes a lot of the nonsense stand out. It’s funny and people like funny. People that do goofy shit all day have massive followings.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
In that social media cycle, how do you navigate being able to stay around for a long time?
Translee: Just staying me. I’m not following trends, I’m not using auto-tune on my voice because that’s what’s cool this week, like when you listen to my albums you know what you’re going to get. Once you build a fanbase, that’s YOUR fanbase. When he’s 50, J. Cole will be able to go on tour. Once they’re a fan, they’re a fan you know? That’s the goal. To get real fans and followers. They’ll stick with you forever. Shit, look at Kanye! We still out here defending this motherfucker. I need them – I need them Kanye fans.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
I saw on your Instagram you put up a clip about a “top secret” movie role. Are you trying to get into acting?
Translee: Oh man, yes, I am actually! I was actually doing that with Chase Walker who shot a lot of my videos. He does a lot of short films. That was kind of me putting on more than what it was, but I wanted to put it out there that I do have acting chops. I can get out there and do this.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
Do you have a dream role you’d like to play?
Translee: I wanna play a real broken down role where I have to get really ugly, you know what I mean? I don’t wanna play like a rap star or anything. I wanna play a role where I gotta cry, and struggle and fight – I wanna play a real role where I could win like an Oscar or something like that. Who knows, man. We’ll see. T.I. is a big time movie star so maybe if he does ATL 2 I’ll hop in there or somethin’.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
Do you have any immediate plans for what’s next with your music?
Translee: Freedom Summer was put out to kind of create buzz for my next project. We’re actually wrapping that up now and I’ll probably put out the next project within the next month or so. I’m still wrapping up a couple more records and I’m trying to get a big feature on “HD Bling,” so we’re gearing up. Me and T.I. just shot the video for “Catch this Wave” and that’s dropping soon. We got a lot in the works. Keep pushing the movement.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.
I read that you’re the third “Translee.” How important is that name to you?
Translee: It’s very important man. Growing up I always thought I had like a weird name, and I didn’t like it. Now that I’m grown I really appreciate having a different name, so much so that I made it my rap name. It’s important to me. I don’t even want to tell you what my initial rap name was – I had two of ‘em. It was either going to be T-Lee, which is shortened of course for Translee which is whack, and I don’t even know why but I wanted to be called “Numbers.” Like I’m doing numbers. That shit woulda been so wack, man.