Trinidad James Admits "Doing Drugs Is Not Right" - XXL
XXL: In A-Traks article, he talks about drug culture in hip-hop and mentions that its celebrated too freely by some of the genres biggest artists. What do you have to say that?
Trinidad James: Honestly man, life is based on moderation. Anything that you do, you have to do it in moderation. People overdo it and it turns into people ODing or dying, but its all about how extreme you go with it. Some artists have made some of their most incredible music on drugs, so for me to say that drugs are messing up hip-hop, Im not going to say that. Its just that some people really believe so much of what we say, and people honestly dont understand moderation.
But with an artist like Juicy Jwho raps about popping a molly on every single songyounger listeners might hear that and be like, Well, if Juicy does it every day then I should too.
But tell me thisif Chief Keef is shooting people every day, is that what youre going to do? You got to be your own man, you know? If thats what Juicy is doing, then fukk, man, you gotta let him do what he do. Hes just being real with you. If I was doing molly every day then I would rap about doing molly every day. People just have to understand that its about moderation.
Do you feel like some rappers glorify drugs to the point that listeners who had never done drugs before might try them?
That definitely happens There are some artists who make drug references just to look cool, or just trying to appeal to somebody, right? But shyt, dude, people have been doing that forever. Its not even about drugs, it can be about anythingcars, whips, jewelry. Artists make music, and some artists talk about shyt that they really live, but its on the listener to decipher if its real and if they really fukk with it or if theyre going along with it because everyone else is. Thats how this game is set up, man. Youve got people who want to hear about the shyt that they want, but not the shyt that they need to hear about. People dont want to hear positive raps as much as people want to hear negative rap.
Like ignorant rap?
Well, consistently talking about violence, and drugs and bytches, thats not the right thing to talk about, from a Godly standpoint or from a moral standpoint. But thats what people want to hear! Like, how many positive rappers are really making it these days?
Not many. I want to talk about a line you have on your first big hit All Gold Everything, where you rap, Popped a molly, Im sweatin. Woo!
But I wasnt telling you to do molly, I was just telling you about my experience.
Right, but lets say some kids hear that and then they go to your show and take molly and end up getting really sick or ODing. Do you have any sympathy for them?
When I made that song I wasnt thinking about the kid who was going to listen to the song. I was just speaking about my life, and if you can relate, great. But why cant you relate to the line, Count your blessings? No, you want to relate to Popped a molly, Im sweatin. Thats not my fault, you chose to listen and focus on the drug reference. Thats on you, my nikka. I dont feel no type of sympathy or anything, because at the end of the day I know whats right and wrong. Ive done wrong and Ive done right, but these people who do stupid shyt and blame it on rap get the hell out of here. Its your choice if you want to pull out a gun. Ill say this though, the music does have an influence, Im not going to say it doesnt. But you still have a choice and a conscience that God gave you. So its on you.
he basically callin all you pill poppers sheep
XXL: In A-Traks article, he talks about drug culture in hip-hop and mentions that its celebrated too freely by some of the genres biggest artists. What do you have to say that?
Trinidad James: Honestly man, life is based on moderation. Anything that you do, you have to do it in moderation. People overdo it and it turns into people ODing or dying, but its all about how extreme you go with it. Some artists have made some of their most incredible music on drugs, so for me to say that drugs are messing up hip-hop, Im not going to say that. Its just that some people really believe so much of what we say, and people honestly dont understand moderation.
But with an artist like Juicy Jwho raps about popping a molly on every single songyounger listeners might hear that and be like, Well, if Juicy does it every day then I should too.
But tell me thisif Chief Keef is shooting people every day, is that what youre going to do? You got to be your own man, you know? If thats what Juicy is doing, then fukk, man, you gotta let him do what he do. Hes just being real with you. If I was doing molly every day then I would rap about doing molly every day. People just have to understand that its about moderation.
Do you feel like some rappers glorify drugs to the point that listeners who had never done drugs before might try them?
That definitely happens There are some artists who make drug references just to look cool, or just trying to appeal to somebody, right? But shyt, dude, people have been doing that forever. Its not even about drugs, it can be about anythingcars, whips, jewelry. Artists make music, and some artists talk about shyt that they really live, but its on the listener to decipher if its real and if they really fukk with it or if theyre going along with it because everyone else is. Thats how this game is set up, man. Youve got people who want to hear about the shyt that they want, but not the shyt that they need to hear about. People dont want to hear positive raps as much as people want to hear negative rap.
Like ignorant rap?
Well, consistently talking about violence, and drugs and bytches, thats not the right thing to talk about, from a Godly standpoint or from a moral standpoint. But thats what people want to hear! Like, how many positive rappers are really making it these days?
Not many. I want to talk about a line you have on your first big hit All Gold Everything, where you rap, Popped a molly, Im sweatin. Woo!
But I wasnt telling you to do molly, I was just telling you about my experience.
Right, but lets say some kids hear that and then they go to your show and take molly and end up getting really sick or ODing. Do you have any sympathy for them?
When I made that song I wasnt thinking about the kid who was going to listen to the song. I was just speaking about my life, and if you can relate, great. But why cant you relate to the line, Count your blessings? No, you want to relate to Popped a molly, Im sweatin. Thats not my fault, you chose to listen and focus on the drug reference. Thats on you, my nikka. I dont feel no type of sympathy or anything, because at the end of the day I know whats right and wrong. Ive done wrong and Ive done right, but these people who do stupid shyt and blame it on rap get the hell out of here. Its your choice if you want to pull out a gun. Ill say this though, the music does have an influence, Im not going to say it doesnt. But you still have a choice and a conscience that God gave you. So its on you.
he basically callin all you pill poppers sheep
