A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH TRAP LIVES MATTER

Trap Lives Matter is a new streetwear brand mending the streets and fashion together. The brand, although somewhat new, has been seen thousands of times online with its bold color ways and it’s memorable Trap Lives Matter logo. Here’s a few questions to give answers to where this brand came from and where it’s headed. 

What first sparked the idea for the brand?

TLM: What sparked the idea of my brand was growing up in the hood everybody was hustling and trapping. I seen many people get locked up for it, including myself. The name basically explains itself u got people out here that can’t get a 9-5 and that don’t wanna get a 9-5. They rather feed and provide for their families with hustling their lives matter to everyone isn’t perfect so that’s why I choose the name Trap Lives Matter.

Have you always been into designing clothing and accessories? 

TLM: Yes I’ve always been into designing clothes. I’ve been designing since I was in middle school. I just finally got that push I needed to start doing my own thing. Now I got my own equipment making my clothes in house.

What was your first experience selling your clothing? When did you decide to make a website?

TLM: My first experience selling my clothes was at my cousin’s tattoo shop. I gave him a shirt and then a couple minutes later he was calling like, “Bring the shirts pull up they want them ASAP”. I made the website the second month after I started cause I was getting people from all over on my dm asking about it and asking when the website was coming.

You’ve done vests, satchels and strap bags, what are your plans for future accessories? 

TLM: One of my plans for the future is watches and purses. That’s all I can give out right now the other stuff low key y’all just gotta wait around and see.

Will we see more original designs and graphics in the near future?

TLM: Yes, in the future I will see original always gotta keep the OG around, but I got like 3 more logos coming soon.

How could someone reach out to you for a custom piece?

TLM: For custom pieces all u gottta do is dm me the colors u want and ima create a buss down fit for u.

Do you have any plans on hosting a pop-up shop or store?

TLM: Right now I’m planning a book bag give away. I’m not really pressed for pop ups shops rn I like to give back, but I will be doing some pop up later this year. And about the store, I do have something in the works now just waiting to see how it plans out.  

Any plans to collaborate with other brands down the line?

TLM: Yes, I plan on doing a collab with my brother ty and his brand RÈUSSI y’all go check him out. He really putting in work out here and Tatted Tone we got a collab coming FOREVASTR8 x TLM.

Click here to view the Trap Lives Matter website.

A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH DONALD $LUMP

Donald $lump arrives as a new sound within the underground. His ride in popularity in only comparable to his rise in skill and potential. His image is captivating, to say the least, but it’s his music and personality that binds him with his listeners. I asked him a few question to get to know the guy behind the image a little better. 

Where are you from?

SLUMP: I’m from Arizona. I grew up in Mesa and Chandler and went back and forth between my mom and my dad, but I lived in a small town till I was 6 years old.

How has your childhood affected your creativity? Do you often gain inspiration from your environment? 

$LUMP: I would say my childhood has definately affected my creativity in a positive way more than a negative way. I didn’t have many friends so that left alot of time for learning to play instruments and writing songs. Just being alone in my room gave me endless time to be creative and nowadays i gain most of my inspiration from things that happen in my personal life.

How did your name come about and what gave you the confidence to pursue a career in music?

$LUMP: It’s kind of a weird story: One day I was sitting there and I just dropped a song and I was sending it out to everybody showing everybody and nobody was really f☆cking with it so I felt that I was the rap game Donald Trump because nobody really liked me at that time. The fact that nobody was liking the stuff I put out really gave me the push to say hey if I wanna get better and show these ppl that I do have what it takes then I need to keep pushing the hate from the people who always gave me confidence in a wierd way.

How did your family and friends respond when you started?

$LUMP: My mom and dad have always been supportive of me pursuing music. I’m very blessed that they have been at mostly every show and even to this day my mom gives me feedback on songs before I drop them. My freinds have always supported me too. Shoutout my homie, Og Wilikers.

What do you think is unique about you and your listeners’ relationship?

$LUMP: I love my listeners and what I think is unique about our relationship is they keep it real with me, you know. If they dont like something they tell me and they always show me nonstop love I like to connect with them directly so lots of days I’m just in my dms directly communicating with my listeners/supporters. A lot of ppl just expect the streams/plays to come organically but you have to actually get out there and interact with ppl because your personality will take you a long way.

Do you see yourself venturing outside of music in the future?

$LUMP: Yes! There is no doubt in my mind that eventually I will venture into other areas. I would like to have a clothing line, get some shoes out, maybe a cooking show or something like that. I like to do many things and I hope music opens up some doors for me.

What’s a misconception you run into on the Internet about yourself?

$LUMP: A big misconception I run into alot is because my name is Donald $lump ppl tend to think that I support Donald Trump wich is not true. Another box I get put into a lot and I hear a lot is that I look like Lil Peep so ppl tend to pass me off as a Peep copy. Which, I don’t really mind because I love peep, but our music is very different. RIP Peep.

What are your hopes for the rest of 2019?

$LUMP: My hopes for the rest of 2019 are that I will continue growing exponentially and hopefully hit my first 10k views on Youtube on my most recent music video. Also I would like to collab with some of my idols before the year is over.

Click here to listen to Donald $lump’s SoundCloud.

All Tinted by Wolftyla

All Tinted is one of the last hits of the summer, boasting over a hundred thousands SoundCloud plays in its first week. Wolftyla takes her listeners on a rhythmic adventure layered with her smooth vocals. The track sounds like a sunset and captivates the energy of a summer that will be very much missed.

Click here to listen on Apple Music.

LOOK by Supa Bwe featuring Qari

Chicago is on a hot streak with the release of LOOK by local stars Supa Bwe and Qari. The explosive, bass-filled drill beat personifies Supa Bwe’s energy and makes it contagious.  Qari quite literally calms the track with his verses- cutting off Supa’s rage filled rants. The two rappers balance each others’ energy and the pacing of the song. On top of that, the song’s official Lyrical Lemonade visual has just dropped on YouTube, a collaboration with a fellow Eastern Illinois native Cole Bennett. It has all the right elements to be a hit.


                                     


Click here to listen on SoundCloud.
Click here to watch the Lyrical Lemonade video.