Trinidad James Explains It All

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

Trinidad James is still wrapping his head around how it feels to be the proud owner of a viral hit. "To be honest with you, man, it's a learning experience," says the flamboyant Atlanta MC, 25. "It's a very fast, big learning experience."

James' "All Gold Everything" has racked up more than 10 million views on YouTube so far. Much of that attention is the result of a memorable drug reference: "Popped a molly, I'm sweating!" he exclaims midway through a verse, punctuating this observation with a quick "woo!" before repeating the line. This pithy phrase inspired a wildly popular online meme last fall, with countless tweets, funny JPEGs and even a YouTube supercut of James saying "popped a molly, I'm sweating/Woo!" for six minutes straight. "Honestly, man, I could not understand why that particular line connected with people," he says. "The reason why I did it is because the first time I tried molly, I got really hot. Shit! Like, it was a real expression. That's how real my music is."

Another key scene in the video features James strolling through the streets of Atlanta with an adorable puppy in one hand. "When we were shooting that scene, my friend that happened to be standing right in front of me had the puppy in his hand," he explains. "I was like, 'Hey, let me see that puppy.'"

James credits four years of experience managing a streetwear boutique for his unique fashion sense. "I'm not scared to wear anything, for the most part – if I feel like I look good in it, I will wear it," he says. "So when I did the video, I thought of the most hyped-up outfit I would want to wear to really represent me, the person, and that's what I came up with: the red slacks rolled up, Versace loafers, that leopard-print shirt from my favorite brand, Joyrich, and my Trinidad flag, repping my country, tied to the front so you know it's real."

James' stage name honors his birthplace of Port of Spain, Trinidad. "I lived a carefree young life, you know?" he says. "We weren't poor. We weren't rich. We were just happy. And then we moved to the States."

His family moved around a few times before settling in Atlanta when he was eight or nine. "You gotta think about it," recalls James. "I'm in second grade, with an accent, in Atlanta, which is the South – it's not even like New York or Miami, which are very cultural. This is Atlanta, where we know Spanish people, black people and that's it. You know? And I had an accent, so kids was giving me all the trouble. Like, me coming from Trinidad, and having to count, I'd be, like, 'One, two, tree.' Everyone was like, 'What is he talking about? Why he is talking about a tree right now?' So I had to deal with that for a long time."

Eventually, the schoolyard mockery helped shape his persona. "My aunties are very smart-mouthed, very snappy," he says. "That helped me to become very witty and get back at people when they started coming at me. People kinda calmed down on the jokes after a while when they figured out, 'Yo, he goes in. He comes back with his jokes.'"

James has only been rapping seriously for about a year, but the success of "All Gold Everything" has already landed him a lucrative deal with Def Jam, which is promoting his current mixtape, Don't Be S.A.F.E. "Dude, it wasn't about the money, honestly," he says of the label contract. "All it was for me was a bigger chance for more people to hear my music so that I get more criticism and more fame."

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Trinidad James Explains It All

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

Trinidad James is still wrapping his head around how it feels to be the proud owner of a viral hit. "To be honest with you, man, it's a learning experience," says the flamboyant Atlanta MC, 25. "It's a very fast, big learning experience."

James' "All Gold Everything" has racked up more than 10 million views on YouTube so far. Much of that attention is the result of a memorable drug reference: "Popped a molly, I'm sweating!" he exclaims midway through a verse, punctuating this observation with a quick "woo!" before repeating the line. This pithy phrase inspired a wildly popular online meme last fall, with countless tweets, funny JPEGs and even a YouTube supercut of James saying "popped a molly, I'm sweating/Woo!" for six minutes straight. "Honestly, man, I could not understand why that particular line connected with people," he says. "The reason why I did it is because the first time I tried molly, I got really hot. Shit! Like, it was a real expression. That's how real my music is."

Another key scene in the video features James strolling through the streets of Atlanta with an adorable puppy in one hand. "When we were shooting that scene, my friend that happened to be standing right in front of me had the puppy in his hand," he explains. "I was like, 'Hey, let me see that puppy.'"

James credits four years of experience managing a streetwear boutique for his unique fashion sense. "I'm not scared to wear anything, for the most part – if I feel like I look good in it, I will wear it," he says. "So when I did the video, I thought of the most hyped-up outfit I would want to wear to really represent me, the person, and that's what I came up with: the red slacks rolled up, Versace loafers, that leopard-print shirt from my favorite brand, Joyrich, and my Trinidad flag, repping my country, tied to the front so you know it's real."

James' stage name honors his birthplace of Port of Spain, Trinidad. "I lived a carefree young life, you know?" he says. "We weren't poor. We weren't rich. We were just happy. And then we moved to the States."

His family moved around a few times before settling in Atlanta when he was eight or nine. "You gotta think about it," recalls James. "I'm in second grade, with an accent, in Atlanta, which is the South – it's not even like New York or Miami, which are very cultural. This is Atlanta, where we know Spanish people, black people and that's it. You know? And I had an accent, so kids was giving me all the trouble. Like, me coming from Trinidad, and having to count, I'd be, like, 'One, two, tree.' Everyone was like, 'What is he talking about? Why he is talking about a tree right now?' So I had to deal with that for a long time."

Eventually, the schoolyard mockery helped shape his persona. "My aunties are very smart-mouthed, very snappy," he says. "That helped me to become very witty and get back at people when they started coming at me. People kinda calmed down on the jokes after a while when they figured out, 'Yo, he goes in. He comes back with his jokes.'"

James has only been rapping seriously for about a year, but the success of "All Gold Everything" has already landed him a lucrative deal with Def Jam, which is promoting his current mixtape, Don't Be S.A.F.E. "Dude, it wasn't about the money, honestly," he says of the label contract. "All it was for me was a bigger chance for more people to hear my music so that I get more criticism and more fame."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Trinidad James Explains It All

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

Trinidad James is still wrapping his head around how it feels to be the proud owner of a viral hit. "To be honest with you, man, it's a learning experience," says the flamboyant Atlanta MC, 25. "It's a very fast, big learning experience."

James' "All Gold Everything" has racked up more than 10 million views on YouTube so far. Much of that attention is the result of a memorable drug reference: "Popped a molly, I'm sweating!" he exclaims midway through a verse, punctuating this observation with a quick "woo!" before repeating the line. This pithy phrase inspired a wildly popular online meme last fall, with countless tweets, funny JPEGs and even a YouTube supercut of James saying "popped a molly, I'm sweating/Woo!" for six minutes straight. "Honestly, man, I could not understand why that particular line connected with people," he says. "The reason why I did it is because the first time I tried molly, I got really hot. Shit! Like, it was a real expression. That's how real my music is."

Another key scene in the video features James strolling through the streets of Atlanta with an adorable puppy in one hand. "When we were shooting that scene, my friend that happened to be standing right in front of me had the puppy in his hand," he explains. "I was like, 'Hey, let me see that puppy.'"

James credits four years of experience managing a streetwear boutique for his unique fashion sense. "I'm not scared to wear anything, for the most part – if I feel like I look good in it, I will wear it," he says. "So when I did the video, I thought of the most hyped-up outfit I would want to wear to really represent me, the person, and that's what I came up with: the red slacks rolled up, Versace loafers, that leopard-print shirt from my favorite brand, Joyrich, and my Trinidad flag, repping my country, tied to the front so you know it's real."

James' stage name honors his birthplace of Port of Spain, Trinidad. "I lived a carefree young life, you know?" he says. "We weren't poor. We weren't rich. We were just happy. And then we moved to the States."

His family moved around a few times before settling in Atlanta when he was eight or nine. "You gotta think about it," recalls James. "I'm in second grade, with an accent, in Atlanta, which is the South – it's not even like New York or Miami, which are very cultural. This is Atlanta, where we know Spanish people, black people and that's it. You know? And I had an accent, so kids was giving me all the trouble. Like, me coming from Trinidad, and having to count, I'd be, like, 'One, two, tree.' Everyone was like, 'What is he talking about? Why he is talking about a tree right now?' So I had to deal with that for a long time."

Eventually, the schoolyard mockery helped shape his persona. "My aunties are very smart-mouthed, very snappy," he says. "That helped me to become very witty and get back at people when they started coming at me. People kinda calmed down on the jokes after a while when they figured out, 'Yo, he goes in. He comes back with his jokes.'"

James has only been rapping seriously for about a year, but the success of "All Gold Everything" has already landed him a lucrative deal with Def Jam, which is promoting his current mixtape, Don't Be S.A.F.E. "Dude, it wasn't about the money, honestly," he says of the label contract. "All it was for me was a bigger chance for more people to hear my music so that I get more criticism and more fame."

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Trinidad James Can't Maintain 'Gold' Standard in New York

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

It's hard to believe that three months ago Trinidad James held the strange distinction of being a cultural flashpoint, a divisive figure on the level of, say, Chief Keef. Once he dropped the video for "All Gold Everything," and for months after, James wasn't just part of the conversation – his name practically choked out the sun. It could not have been more impossible to visit a record company without getting surveyed your opinion on the guy, his song, his outfit, his teeth, the shopping cart, the puppy in his hands. Was his song more than just one line? Was he an artist or a meme? What else was up his sleeve – a second hit, or a second puppy? Purists bristled at his claim that he'd been rapping for only nine months. More casual fans passed around the "news" that producers of Martin planned to sue James for looking too much like the character Jerome, until it became a trending topic. Blogs churned, hype beasted, and the rapper signed a seven-figure-deal with Def Jam Records.

Yet now, in person, in 2013, Trinidad James seems very run-of-the-mill, just another Atlanta rapper. Maybe it's that too much time has passed – a hard assumption, given that he only just popped out of the toaster. But really, experiencing his live show, as at SOB's for his spot in Hot 97's Who's Next Live series last night, it's hard to remember what we all found so shocking in the first place. He sounds like a less-polished B.o.B. and dresses the way he dresses, which is barely enough to create a conversation, let alone many.

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

At this point in time, Trinidad James' biggest crime is that most of his songs are so derivative of his one song as to mirror and sometimes quote it, which – while something only music writers care about – seems to be part of a larger issue, where his career path has been overtaken by a catchphrase. If he was sweating over the molly, he must be defecating himself thinking about his next move. Just yesterday, the rapper Problem released a song, featuring a verse from Trinidad James. Its name? "My Last Molly Song Ever I Promise." (And yet he can't separate himself from it: whenever enthusiasm seemed to lag at his show last night, he pulled out the line "Popped a molly, I'm sweatin'" as a call-and-response.)

Last night James showed that he has personality oozing out of his pores. He's someone you can't help but smile at, or with, or because of. He's a character, hoarding the quality so many lack; one can see what made Def Jam sign him. He's a one-man pep band, popping his neck like a shampoo bottle top, delivering lines like the Rock or a Baptist pastor on a good Sunday. When it works, it's a revelation: "Females Welcomed" bounced and juked, its hook and enthusiasm undeniable. James ran the stage as if each step were a touchdown dance.

As the show dragged on, though, for the next half-hour, James revealed himself to be a good salesman usually pushing bad product, climbing to the top of a mountain just to get you to come down. During "Givin' No Fucks," he hurried so far ahead of the beat as to practically be on it again, plowing through anyway. As a whole, the concert experience was like watching a spinning top succumb to gravity. It became clear two songs in that people had just showed up wanting to hear the one song.

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

Long after the sheen had worn off, James teased, "Y'all ready for the turn up? Say you ready for the turn up." Some responded, most silently pulled their cameras up, as if the inevitable had finally arrived. And he performed "All Gold Everything," and it was good. But then he performed it again, on top of a table near the Def Jam section, and people started streaming out. A guy stood onstage with a giant Trinidadian flag. People still shouted the "woo" from "All Gold" as they passed through the doors. People still love that "woo."

And then, with a half-empty room sort of watching but mostly leaving, Trinidad Jame provided the night's one surprising moment. He looked down at the ground, away from the crowd still there, and said, "You don't gotta turn up with me. You don't have to, but you did, and I thank you for that. A lot of people don't, and that's fine. I'm gonna treat you like my fans, even if you're not, because a lot of people don't get the chance that I got right now. And I appreciate y'all for giving me a chance." For as much as he is gut and chest, he also seems to have something in his heart and a lot on his shoulders.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

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Trinidad James Can't Maintain 'Gold' Standard in New York

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

It's hard to believe that three months ago Trinidad James held the strange distinction of being a cultural flashpoint, a divisive figure on the level of, say, Chief Keef. Once he dropped the video for "All Gold Everything," and for months after, James wasn't just part of the conversation – his name practically choked out the sun. It could not have been more impossible to visit a record company without getting surveyed your opinion on the guy, his song, his outfit, his teeth, the shopping cart, the puppy in his hands. Was his song more than just one line? Was he an artist or a meme? What else was up his sleeve – a second hit, or a second puppy? Purists bristled at his claim that he'd been rapping for only nine months. More casual fans passed around the "news" that producers of Martin planned to sue James for looking too much like the character Jerome, until it became a trending topic. Blogs churned, hype beasted, and the rapper signed a seven-figure-deal with Def Jam Records.

Yet now, in person, in 2013, Trinidad James seems very run-of-the-mill, just another Atlanta rapper. Maybe it's that too much time has passed – a hard assumption, given that he only just popped out of the toaster. But really, experiencing his live show, as at SOB's for his spot in Hot 97's Who's Next Live series last night, it's hard to remember what we all found so shocking in the first place. He sounds like a less-polished B.o.B. and dresses the way he dresses, which is barely enough to create a conversation, let alone many.

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

At this point in time, Trinidad James' biggest crime is that most of his songs are so derivative of his one song as to mirror and sometimes quote it, which – while something only music writers care about – seems to be part of a larger issue, where his career path has been overtaken by a catchphrase. If he was sweating over the molly, he must be defecating himself thinking about his next move. Just yesterday, the rapper Problem released a song, featuring a verse from Trinidad James. Its name? "My Last Molly Song Ever I Promise." (And yet he can't separate himself from it: whenever enthusiasm seemed to lag at his show last night, he pulled out the line "Popped a molly, I'm sweatin'" as a call-and-response.)

Last night James showed that he has personality oozing out of his pores. He's someone you can't help but smile at, or with, or because of. He's a character, hoarding the quality so many lack; one can see what made Def Jam sign him. He's a one-man pep band, popping his neck like a shampoo bottle top, delivering lines like the Rock or a Baptist pastor on a good Sunday. When it works, it's a revelation: "Females Welcomed" bounced and juked, its hook and enthusiasm undeniable. James ran the stage as if each step were a touchdown dance.

As the show dragged on, though, for the next half-hour, James revealed himself to be a good salesman usually pushing bad product, climbing to the top of a mountain just to get you to come down. During "Givin' No Fucks," he hurried so far ahead of the beat as to practically be on it again, plowing through anyway. As a whole, the concert experience was like watching a spinning top succumb to gravity. It became clear two songs in that people had just showed up wanting to hear the one song.

Trinidad James performs at SOB's in New York.Griffin Lotz for RollingStone.com

Long after the sheen had worn off, James teased, "Y'all ready for the turn up? Say you ready for the turn up." Some responded, most silently pulled their cameras up, as if the inevitable had finally arrived. And he performed "All Gold Everything," and it was good. But then he performed it again, on top of a table near the Def Jam section, and people started streaming out. A guy stood onstage with a giant Trinidadian flag. People still shouted the "woo" from "All Gold" as they passed through the doors. People still love that "woo."

And then, with a half-empty room sort of watching but mostly leaving, Trinidad Jame provided the night's one surprising moment. He looked down at the ground, away from the crowd still there, and said, "You don't gotta turn up with me. You don't have to, but you did, and I thank you for that. A lot of people don't, and that's fine. I'm gonna treat you like my fans, even if you're not, because a lot of people don't get the chance that I got right now. And I appreciate y'all for giving me a chance." For as much as he is gut and chest, he also seems to have something in his heart and a lot on his shoulders.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

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