Source
r/hiphopheads•
borscht

[Discussion] Why Trinidad James?

Let me first start by saying that I use youtube views on music videos as a metric for a rapper's popularity, you may or may not agree with that but it works for me. I've seen all of A$AP Rocky's, Hopsin's, Mac Miller's, Kendrick Lamar's, and Macklemore's shit before any of it came close to a million views, and I'd periodically check back every month to listen to their stuff again and check where their view counts were at. I've noticed that whenever any rapper gets 3 or more music videos to break 2 million views each within the same year that's when their career starts to take off.

Now, what doesn't make much sense to me is why Trinidad James became a star overnight after a single music video (All Gold Everything) got only about 800 thousand views (it's gotten a lot more since then though, of course). There have been A LOT of underground and amateur rappers who have achieved this feat several times over, so why has Trinidad James gotten so much hype and buzz lately? Why has he gotten interviews on Hot 97 and Power 105.1? Why has he gotten T.I., Young Jeezy, and 2 Chainz on the remix? The guy's been rapping for only 10 months and he makes mediocre generic trap music. Why is everyone, including but not limited to record label execs, big name rappers, well known producers, popular radio hosts, and regulars on r/HHH jumping on his dick, especially so soon? Is it because he popped a molly and he sweating? Woo? I'm not a backpacker, I enjoy listening to, and I understand the appeal of, guys like Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka, but I can't wrap my head around why Trinidad James has been showered with love and publicity after accomplishing so little. You have to admit the attention he's been getting is kinda unwarranted.

Anyway, I'm gonna finish this post by throwing my prediction out there: Trinidad James is gonna be another Kreayshawn. He's gonna be really trendy and popular for 3-6 months because of a single song and then he'll be all but forgotten by the end of this year. Also, a general 2013 prediction: Logic is gonna be the next Hopsin/Mac Miller by the time he drops his next mixtape, if not sooner, except r/HHH will actually like him because he's not corny or gimmicky. Also, I know I'm submitting this at 2AM and barely anyone's gonna see it but I'm an insomniac.

TL;DR: Popped a molly I'm sweating. Also, just read it.

Posted Jan 8, 2013, 7:12 AM UTC · edited

318
SoHipsterItHurts•

I honestly dont know why James blew up like he did either. It's weird as fuck. But I agree with you OP, most likely he becomes another Kreayshawn. However, we'll always be poppin mollys and sweatin. ^woo

12
[deleted]•

His video has a lot more views than it says; when you sign up with VEVO they delete your old videos and rehost them. His original video was up to like 8 million before he went VEVO.

Also, its a ratchet ass song. Also it panders directly to the city of Atlanta. Like, not even kinda panders to Atlanta; it's basically the national anthem of Atlanta. Atlanta is hip-hop city. If you win Atlanta, you win the rest of the world.

All he had to do was shout out Spelman. You get them girls on your side and you win life

7
borschtOP•

when you sign up with VEVO they delete your old videos and rehost them. His original video was up to like 8 million before he went VEVO.

For real? I must have missed something then... if it really got 8 million in a month or so that'd explain some things.

Also it panders directly to the city of Atlanta. Like, not even kinda panders to Atlanta; it's basically the national anthem of Atlanta.

Well now that really explains it. I hate it when rappers do that shit, I hated Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" and I hated Jay Z's "New York State of Mind." I need to get my rap career started, but I don't feel like I could pull off a big city, so I'm gonna call myself Idaho Larry and rap about potatoes and shit, I may never make the big money but hopefully I'll carve out a nice small niche in the market for myself, maybe even get some endorsement deals from Ore-Ida.

2
[deleted]•

as someone who lived in atlanta, he calls out lenox mall, 2 huge strip clubs, and spelman college (which is home to the largest collection of hot as fuck black women on earth)

5
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
bayroots•

Trinidad James appeals to both thugs and white girls from the burbs for different reasons. Irrespective of those reasons, however, his personality and delivery is charismatic and reminiscent of 2 Chainz and, dare I say, Eazy mothafuckin E. He has a hot song getting radio play, iTunes downloads (#16 Singles in Hip-Hop), and respect on SiriusXM where he is played throughout the day, to my delight, on Hip-Hop Nation and Shade 45. His well-deserved co-signs from more establish artists only helps bolster both his image and hopefully his growth. Also he pops Molly and sweats

4
borschtOP•

I understand and agree with everything you're saying, but don't you think it's weird he went from a being a nobody to being the next big hype in just one month after his only music video got only 800 thousand views? Why don't other independent rappers with MILLIONS of views on SEVERAL of their music videos get the same kind of attention and treatment? Why is Trinidad James a special snowflake that everyone became so suddenly infatuated with? His success is starting to become a product of his own unexplainable buzz rather than his music. People are listening to him now because he's getting radio play and a bunch of co-signs but how he got so much radio play and co-signs so quickly and so soon is still a big mystery. Every other new school rapper, from Kendrick Lamar to A$AP Rocky, had to put in a lot of work over at least a couple years, including putting out several music videos and getting millions of views on all of them, before they got the kind of buzz that Trinidad James has right now after being in the game for only a couple months.

4
Man_from_the_future•

His video got reuploaded a while back. I don't think the views are really accurate.

3
Ray229harris•

I personally think he went from a being a nobody to being the next big hype because (here me out) of how weird he is. He wears gold chains like he's asap rocky, has a frederico fro, an effed up grill, and wears heeled shoes. Take all those things away from him and he's just another rapper.

I guess i can't really explain how he became so popular.

#illuminati

2
borschtOP•

You gotta be weird and flashy to get attention in showbiz, in fact it's normal and expected, just look at anything Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, or Nicki Minaj have worn in the past 3 years. I know it's not as typical in hip hop, but I'm not at all surprised that James dressing like a confused bisexual is only making him more popular. He sets off my gaydar though, for real.

1
notyavgkat•

Truuuuuu.... yeh I still haven't quite figured out the skinny jeans and the 80's style shirts yet, maybe i'm missing something but i'm glad I am.

2
Riceburger•

I definitely agree, he has blown up so damn fast. It's just that his single is basically distilled and pure ignorance and has a phrase that is catchy (some blogger called him a hulked out 2Chainz and I agree). All three components for a mega-hit. Also ever since Soulja Boy, labels have wanted to jump onto the next big thing, they've missed guys like Odd Future and now they are constantly looking for the "next big thing" because music fans are generally fickle (when it comes to popular music that is).

He probably will be like Kreyshawn even though his mixtape wasn't terrible but I don't see him not succumbing to the pressure and fading into obscurity. Don't agree with the Logic bit though, he has mainstream appeal (especially with his Drake-esque songs) but unlike Hopsin and Mac Miller the dude is lyricists. He is corny sometimes but I hope he blows up I like him

3
borschtOP•

Don't agree with the Logic bit though, he has mainstream appeal (especially with his Drake-esque songs) but unlike Hopsin and Mac Miller the dude is lyricists. He is corny sometimes but I hope he blows up I like him

When I said Logic was gonna be the next Hopsin or Mac Miller I didn't mean he's similar to them lyrically or stylistically, because he isn't, but I meant he was gonna blow up on youtube and get 10+ million views on several music videos, and I predict that happening this year. I'm rooting for him too.

1
Riceburger•

Oh yeah agreed and I think he will blow, he has a really marketable image and he still makes good music.

2
notyavgkat•

Question..... Who is he signed to ?

3
borschtOP•

Signed to Def Jam for $2 million.

1
notyavgkat•

damn....he did blow the fuck up...i personally don't really see what all the hoopla is about...but whatever.

3
RampanTThirteen•

First: Break that up into paragraphs a bit more.

I think Trinidad will largely be a one hit wonder, I agree. But he has a lot of appeal because All Gold Everything was a solid trap style song, and has some super quotable lines(popped a molly I'm sweatin' WOO). That basically became a joke in and of itself and led to more popularity.

As for the Logic prediction. Hopsin and Mac Miller are quite different artists, other than the fact that they both got buzz in 2012, and for much different reasons, they don't have much in common. But in general? I also hope Logic has a big year. He has the potential I think to make some songs with crossover pop appeal, but also appeal to the r/hhh type crowd. Undeniable was very well received around here, so I think everyone is hopeful to see what he brings next.

2
borschtOP•

I edited my post into paragraphs to make it a bit more readable, and by my Hopsin and Mac Miller comparison all I meant is that he'd get most of his buzz from his mixtape and youtube music videos before he blows up, and he's already on the verge of doing that. I really expect 2013 to be a big year for him too.

1