June 03, 2007 @ 9:46 pm

FIRST SHOT: Trae, "Life Goes On"

Henry Adaso

VIBE previews Houston rapper Trae's next album, out late July.

If you've been anywhere near a radio lately, chances are you're already familiar with "Screwed Up," the blistering new single from Houston icon Trae and NOLA stunna Lil' Wayne. Trae recently welcomed VIBE into his home studio, a room wallpapered with approximately five Scarface posters, a couple Godfather posters and one Goodfellas poster. Among his G'd up decor, the rapper gave VIBE a whiff of the emotionally raw album he calls "another classic" - Life Goes On, slated for a late July release. Trae conceded that Life Goes On is heavy on features, but stressed that he's not worried about being eclipsed by his guests. "I know I won't get outshined on my own song," says the GMaab chief. Noticeably absent on the album is Trae's well-known cousin and favorite collaborator Z-Ro, who is currently imprisoned in Beaumont, Texas for possession of a controlled substance. Trae says that since "Ro is still locked up" it was impossible for them to team up on new material - though Z-Ro is up for release July 9, 2007. FEATURED TRACKS
"Give My Last Breath": This is a heartfelt tribute to Trae's friend and idolized H-town rapper Big Hawk, who was murdered on May 1, 2006. Trae reflects on receiving the bad news, rhyming, "Sometimes, I wish I would've never got the call." Like most tracks on Life Goes On, it contains chopped-in vocal samples and a thunderous bassline. "A Million Bucks": Even though Trae's myspace page still says "Free Jay'Ton," you can find him here ripping a verse alongside his big brother. It's a braggart track with a hard-hitting beat.
"Gangsta Gangsta": Over a cinematic backdrop, Trae takes his enemies to work. The vocal bit "I'm a gangsta/They don't make these on the block" (sampled from last year's "Real Talk") forms the crux of the chorus. "Against All Odds" (f. 2Pac): Posthumous 2Pac collaborations are nothing new, but this one sounds like both rappers were in the same room for the event. However, Trae says he never had the opportunity to meet 'Pac while he was still walking the earth. Something about Shakur rapping about "busting on Giuliani" makes this sound so timely. "Probably Gettin' High": "Probably Gettin' High" sounds like a cliched ode to buddha bless... well, that's until you hear Trae's take on getting blazed. He maintains that he's a non-smoker. So, what's the point of the song? Well, if life became too stressful, he would probably turn to banned substance as a last resort. "Smile": Slightly different from the version that leaked online several months ago, "Smile" now features a third verse from Jadakiss. It's one of the most outstanding songs on the album. "Ghetto Queen": With its mellow piano riffs and mid-tempo production, "Ghetto Queen" is clearly a potential single. It features R&B singer Lloyd and rapper Rich Boy. "Truth": Trae's adrenaline flow is prominently featured here. After spewing over 100 bars, he feigns breathlessness and fades out the track abruptly. One of the songs that may or may not make the final cut is a fun, fast, and feisty track tentatively titled "Rock-N-Roll." College rap nerds are going to love the fact that Trae is rapping over Nirvana's "It Smells Like Teen Spirit," but with cross-genre sample clearance protocols now more stringent than ever, there's little hope it will see the light of day. Listen to "Screwed Up":

Article tags: FIRST, SHOT, Trae, Life, Goes 

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