Trae's trademark is a low, deep, guttural voice. His flow is very fast. In these two areas his style is somewhat reminiscent of Z-Ro's, as well as that of Flesh-N-Bone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Trae sometimes, though not always, mixes multiple vocal layers into his songs.
Trae first gained exposure on the Houston rap scene when he appeared on Z-Ro's album 'Look What You Did to Me'. In 2003, he began his solo career with the album 'Losing Composure'. 'Same Thing Different Day' (2004) and the acclaimed 'Restless' (2006) soon followed. Trae is currently signed to Rap-A-Lot Records.
He was featured in a video called Smash Exclusive: Houston Mic Pass with Lil' Flip, Chamillionaire, Chingo Bling, Bun B, Short Dawg, Big Hawk, and Mike D. He also appeared on the official remix of Yung Joc's song "It's Goin' Down", which earned Joc national attention and became one of the biggest mainstream pop hits of 2006.
"Real Talk" was featured on the soundtrack to the video game Madden NFL 07. Trae won an Ozone Award for Patiently Waiting Artist for Texas.
Hard 2 Smile
Trae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why they always told me to smile
Shit it ain't too much shit
Out here to smile fo'
Real talk - you know it's
Still Assholes By Nature, peep game
I remember comin up labeled the lil'nigga
But see I kept it realer
But bein real ain't always what
Niggas make it to be
I never thought we'd make it and
I'd have niggas hatin a G
I got enough shit that I deal
With on the day to day
Pennitentaries and life after death don't
Seem to go away
Even though I never know the outcome
Somethin say to pray
And try to do my best to
Understand he right around the way
I got a call from MrRogers just the other
Day - telling me he by my side
I'm like what the fuck you talkin bout
- until he told me Loinna died
It fucked me up so much I
Couldn't even go the wait
But if her family call I'm a
Make sure that they straight
It's like this part of my life
I live is damn near mastered
The mo'people I love
The mo'they get took away faster
Sometimes I feel I talk to
God alittle mo'then a pastor
Probably to live and make sure my
Son never become a basterd
I never been the one to quit
I always been a leader
But I feel this world is like a bitch
And I know I don't need her
If I knew it was this I'd never
Took the time to meet her
So I feel the frown across my face
The only way to greet her
In the process of bein'Trae
I missed out as a child
Probably because reality my style
And they told my cousin death before
He's thirty after checkin his file
He damn near twenty - eight so how
The fuck am I suppose to smile?
I don't know my nigga
I ask myself the same shit everyday
How the fuck am I suppose to smile?
Life's real over here, you know
Styles don't smile, the hood too foul
The lil'niggas is wild, man lost trial
Hit e'm with some numbers
He ain't even gon'chow
He ain't even sleepin
He been thinkin 'bout his child
It's real fucked up but he
Won't see him for awhile
Same bullshit tryna get you a money pile
We all see the reefer
Or the kill - doors locked
I keep the tech with the air hose cocked
Now I don't wanna shoot or get shot
But Paniro's not
Gon'fuck with these fuck niggas
I air those blocks it's real hard to sleep
When it's money on the mind
Murder on the mind
Puffin on a dutch with a fist full of iron
Somebody's mom cryin
Cause somebody's boy dyin
It's the same ole shit
From the wait to the funeral same ole trip
Crack money, rap money the same ole grip
Ask Trae could I smile out in Texas
Livin wreckless
Said the cops gon'get you and
Niggas'll leave you breathless
Shit I'm a winner, mo'like a sinner
Tryna make it to dinner -
Then live after breakfast
You know, Trae - SP
How the fuck are we suppose to smile?
Nigga answer me that
And maybe I'll fuckin smile, you know
In Trae's song "Hard 2 Smile," he reflects on the challenges and hardships of his life, expressing his struggle to find reasons to smile. He questions why people always tell him to smile when there is so much negativity and pain surrounding him. Trae acknowledges that he has witnessed people betraying and taking advantage of each other, but he has always remained true to himself. However, being real doesn't always bring positivity, as he never expected to achieve success and have people hating on him.
The rapper shares the difficulties he faces on a daily basis, including dealing with the prison system and the constant threat of death. He feels the weight of these struggles and acknowledges that even though he never knows the outcome of his actions, he still prays and seeks to understand the presence of a higher power in his life. Trae talks about receiving a call from someone who informs him about the death of a loved one, which deeply affects him. Despite his own pain, he emphasizes his willingness to be there for her family and support them.
Trae expresses the heartache of losing loved ones and how it seems that the more people he cares about, the more they get taken away from him. He confesses to having deep conversations with God, maybe even more than a pastor does, as he seeks guidance and wants to ensure that his son doesn't become a victim of the world. With such experiences, he feels the need to protect himself and learns to greet the struggles and challenges with a frown, rather than a smile.
Trae then features another artist, Paniro, who further emphasizes the difficulties of life in their neighborhood. They highlight how the hood is filled with violence, young individuals acting recklessly, and layers of deceptive relationships. The artists discuss the constant presence of danger, money on their minds, and the impact it has on their ability to sleep. Trae and Paniro explain that smiling feels impossible when there is so much to worry about, from personal safety to the loss of loved ones. They emphasize that their reality is far from joyful, and they question how they are expected to find reasons to smile.
Overall, Trae's "Hard 2 Smile" is a raw and introspective exploration of the struggles and pains faced in life, questioning the significance and relevance of putting on a smile when confronted with a harsh and challenging reality.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I never did understand
I have always been confused
Why they always told me to smile
Why people constantly expect me to be happy
Shit it ain't too much shit
There isn't much in life
Out here to smile fo'
To be happy about
Real talk - you know it's
Speaking honestly, you know it is
Still Assholes By Nature, peep game
We are still true to ourselves, observe and learn
I remember comin up labeled the lil'nigga
I recall growing up being called the young boy
Watchin niggas fuck over they own
Seeing people betray their own friends
But see I kept it realer
But I stayed true to myself
But bein real ain't always what
However, being genuine is not always
Niggas make it to be
What people portray it as
I never thought we'd make it and
I never believed we would succeed and
I'd have niggas hatin a G
I would have people envy me, a gangster
I got enough shit that I deal
I have plenty of problems that I handle
With on the day to day
Every single day
Pennitentaries and life after death don't
Prisons and the consequences of death do not
Seem to go away
Disappear
Even though I never know the outcome
Despite never knowing the result
Somethin say to pray
Something tells me to pray
And try to do my best to
And make an effort to
Understand he right around the way
Comprehend that God is near
I got a call from MrRogers just the other
Recently, I received a call from MrRogers
Day - telling me he by my side
Informing me that he supports me
I'm like what the fuck you talkin bout
I asked him with confusion
- until he told me Loinna died
- until he informed me about Loinna's death
It fucked me up so much I
It greatly affected me
Couldn't even go the wait
I couldn't even attend the wake
But if her family call I'm a
But if her family contacts me, I will
Make sure that they straight
Ensure that they are okay
It's like this part of my life
This aspect of my life
I live is damn near mastered
I have almost perfected
The mo'people I love
The more people I care about
The mo'they get took away faster
The more they are quickly taken away
Sometimes I feel I talk to
At times, I believe I communicate with
God alittle mo'then a pastor
God more than a pastor does
Probably to live and make sure my
Perhaps to live and ensure that my
Son never become a basterd
Son does not become a fatherless child
I never been the one to quit
I have never been someone to give up
I always been a leader
I have always been a person who leads
But I feel this world is like a bitch
But I believe this world is like a difficult woman
And I know I don't need her
And I know I do not require her
If I knew it was this I'd never
If I knew it would be like this, I would never
Took the time to meet her
Have bothered to get to know her
So I feel the frown across my face
So I let the sadness show on my face
The only way to greet her
The sole way to acknowledge her presence
In the process of bein'Trae
While being Trae
I missed out as a child
I missed out on my childhood
Probably because reality my style
Maybe because realism defines me
And they told my cousin death before
And they warned my cousin about dying before
He's thirty after checkin his file
He reaches thirty years of age, after assessing his situation
He damn near twenty - eight so how
He is almost twenty-eight, so how
The fuck am I suppose to smile?
Am I expected to smile?
I don't know my nigga
I do not know, my friend
I ask myself the same shit everyday
I question myself daily
How the fuck am I suppose to smile?
How on earth am I expected to be happy?
Life's real over here, you know
Life is tough in this reality, you know
Styles don't smile, the hood too foul
People like me don't smile, the neighborhood is too corrupt
The lil'niggas is wild, man lost trial
The young boys are unruly, the man was unsuccessful in court
Hit e'm with some numbers
Provided them with statistics
He ain't even gon'chow
He won't even eat
He ain't even sleepin
He isn't even sleeping
He been thinkin 'bout his child
He has been worrying about his child
It's real fucked up but he
It's really messed up but he
Won't see him for awhile
Won't see him for a long time
Same bullshit tryna get you a money pile
The same nonsense trying to accumulate wealth
We all see the reefer
We all witness the marijuana
Or the kill - doors locked
Or the murder - with locked doors
I keep the tech with the air hose cocked
I keep the gun with the compressed air ready
Now I don't wanna shoot or get shot
Now, I do not want to shoot or be shot
But Paniro's not
But Paniro is not afraid
Gon'fuck with these fuck niggas
Will mess with these worthless individuals
I air those blocks it's real hard to sleep
I confront those blocks, it is very difficult to rest
When it's money on the mind
When I am constantly thinking about money
Murder on the mind
Thoughts of killing
Puffin on a dutch with a fist full of iron
Smoking a blunt with a hand full of guns
Somebody's mom cryin
Somebody's mother is crying
Cause somebody's boy dyin
Because someone's son is dying
It's the same ole shit
It's the same old situation
From the wait to the funeral same ole trip
From the hospital waiting room to the funeral, it's the same difficult journey
Crack money, rap money the same ole grip
The money from selling drugs, the money from my music, it's all the same hustle
Ask Trae could I smile out in Texas
Inquire if I can be happy in Texas
Livin wreckless
Living without caution
Said the cops gon'get you and
Said the police will catch you and
Niggas'll leave you breathless
People will leave you lifeless
Shit I'm a winner, mo'like a sinner
Well, I am a winner, more like a sinner
Tryna make it to dinner -
Attempting to survive until dinner -
Then live after breakfast
And then make it through the morning
You know, Trae - SP
You know, Trae and SP
How the fuck are we suppose to smile?
How are we expected to be happy?
Nigga answer me that
My friend, tell me the answer
And maybe I'll fuckin smile, you know
And perhaps I will actually smile, you know
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind