Meet Trent the HOOLiGAN, the newest rapper coming from the South. Growing up, Trent the HOOLiGAN was raised between Florida and North Carolina. Being the son of a pastor, he grew up listening to Christian rock and other worship music. However, after listening to OutKast and UGK, his imagination was broadened. He decided to make rap music that discusses the harsh realities of the world. We reached out to Trent the HOOLiGAN to get to know his story.
Trent the HOOLiGAN 1
Tell me about yourself. What was it like growing up in the South?
“I’m 22 years old, I grew up in a lot of different parts of the South. I was born in Atlanta and from the time I was 5 to 15, I lived in Orlando, Florida and then when I was 15, I moved to North Carolina and that’s where I became a man and started rapping, so in a lot of ways that’s what I rep. I think those were super pivotal years in my life. I grew up in the South and I don’t know what to compare it to because I haven’t been to too many places. I live in LA now and I do see the difference. The culture is different and the food. I think the way we talk to people, we’re a lot more friendly down South. I think respecting your elders is more of our culture down there. I think in a lot of ways the music just has a lot more flavour, a lot more attitude.”
When you started rapping, how did you come up with the name, Trent the HOOLiGAN? What is the meaning behind it?
“I think it was kind of like sarcasm in a lot of ways. You know, I wasn’t no bad kid but every time I walked into one of my classrooms, my teacher would look at me crazy. I don’t know if it’s because of the way I dressed or the way I talk or the way I acted, but I always felt a type of way, so I thought if that’s how y’all want to paint me then that’s what I am. So, I think that’s the way it started and it kind of stuck and I just ran with it.”
Essentially, this name was created based on other people’s assumptions about him. He was perceived as a “hooligan” and decided to use this to his own advantage. Now, Trent the HOOLiGAN is on the come up, as he continues to release heat.
Your music involves such unique lyricism and themes, tell me what inspires your writing process? How do you bring an idea to life?
“That’s a really good question. I feel like when I write my best shit, I can’t even remember how I did it once I do it. It’s almost like a spiritual experience. Literally, I just become inspired and I just write until I think it’s done. I don’t know how to explain it. Obviously, I had to practice the fundamentals of writing for a while before I was good at it, but once I put in the work and put in those 10, 000 hours…I can’t really explain to you what my writing process is like. I don’t believe in writer’s block because if I’m not feeling it, I just won’t write and when I am feeling it, I just go straight to the paper and write how I feel. Most of the time, I’m happy with it.
That’s an interesting idea, when you are inspired, you make sure you write until you get it out.
“Yeah exactly. I think writer’s block is a myth because if you’re not inspired then it’s not time to write. You know I might go three months without writing, not because I’m being lazy but just because I’m not inspired at that time. Then you know, I might write 100 songs in the next three months, you know what I mean. I feel like writing is such a delicate thing, the second you force it, it’s not going to be good. It should be your best work.
I completely agree, I’ve never heard that before, and it’s really eye opening. My next question to you is what are your upcoming goals for the future? Who would you like to work with?
“My upcoming goals for the future, I want to be the biggest thing in the world, and I don’t mean that in a “I want all the money and the fame and the accolades” type of way. I think I really want to be the biggest thing in the world because I think what I have to say is important and I think I can impact the whole generation of youth. And when it comes to those I want to work with in the future, I want to work with Andre 3000, George Clinton, Kanye West, Tyler the Creator, Kendrick Lamar, Big Boi, Monte Booker, 40, Baby Keem, Tierra Whack and a lot more artists.
For those new listeners and fans out there, what songs would you suggest to spark their interest?
“I would say Yellow, 2sectionz and Crash.”
And for your current fans, what is a message you would like to tell them? What would you like them to get from your music?
“Whatever you do, you can do it, plain and simple. I think the one thing that really made me want to rap is the fact that when I was in school, I didn’t have a whole lot of friends. I don’t know if it was because I moved a lot or because I was antisocial because I was going through some shit, but I felt alone. The one thing I had was my favourite artists in my headphones. There’d be times at lunch when I’d sit in the bathroom stall and eat lunch because I had no friends, but the one thing I always had was the rappers. They were my friends. So, I think my biggest purpose is to be that rapper for those kids now. You know what I mean, because without that, I don’t know if I’d be here. That helped me get through a lot of shit.
So, my message to my fans is if you’re going through a similar predicament, just push through because shit gets better.”
I understand, you want your music to be an escape for them, a place where they can be safe and themselves. Is there anything else you’d like to say?
“All gas, no breaks. My project is coming soon and to everyone that is reading this article, I love them and that’s it.”
Trent the HOOLiGAN hopes to share his stories and create music that inspires a new generation of listeners. His new project will be coming out at the end of September, along with a new music video for his single ‘Crash’.
