Shaw Launches 4-Part "Trap History Talks"
Instagram Live Series Today
Instagram Live Series Today
“Nipsey’s Legacy One Year Later” With Guest Nation of Islam Student Minister Tony Muhammad, Former Nipsey Hussle Mentor
Watch “Trap History Talks” at 12 p.m. PST / 3 p.m. EST
Pre-Order “Trap History” eBook, Physical Copies Available May 2020
Veteran Atlanta-based culture journalist A.R. Shaw announces that his “Trap History” eBook will be released on Thursday, April 9, and is available for pre-order purchase on Apple, Kindle and iTunes at TrapHistory.com. Physical copies will be out in May. The compelling, thoroughly researched 300-page work that has been covered by REVOLT, The Source, The Hype Magazine, The Urban Influencer and the Day 1 Radio podcast tells the story of the popular hip hop subgenre by describing the rise of the music as well as explaining the politics and sociology that fueled the sound.
Leading up to the release, Shaw launches the four-part “Trap History Talks” Instagram Live series TODAY, March 31, at 12 p.m. PST / 3 p.m. EST, on the one year anniversary of the death of hip hop artist and visionary Nipsey Hussle. The episode entitled “Nipsey’s Legacy One Year Later” will feature guest Nation of Islam Student Minister Abdul Malik Sayyid Muhammad also known as Tony Muhammad, Hussle’s former mentor.
Shaw discusses Hussle’s impact in “Trap History” chapter XI -- “Trapped by Circumstance: Rap’s Death Trap.” While Hussle did not make trap music, Shaw wrote a passage about Hussle because of the late artist’s ties to Atlanta, the subgenre’s epicenter. “DJ Drama, who is based out of Atlanta, actually hosted Nipsey’s ‘Crenshaw’ mixtape,” Shaw says about the famous, limited-edition collection Nipsey sold for $100. “He had a lot of Atlanta ties, so I wanted to highlight them. He was friends with people like T.I., Zaytoven and Scotty ATL, whether it was from a musical standpoint or just generally connecting with him as a person.”
Shaw, who interviewed Hussle, felt the impact the hip hop artist had on his hometown when he visited Hussle’s Marathon Clothing store after his death. “I was in Los Angeles covering the NAACP Image Awards and he passed the day after,” Shaw says. “To go down to the Crenshaw and Slauson area and see how much Nipsey meant to the community showed that he was more than just a rapper. He was a person for the people.”
Being released amid the tumultuous Coronavirus pandemic, the “Trap History” eBook offers an interesting perspective as it chronicles how the Black community was affected by the crack epidemic 30 years ago. “We’re all trapped,” Shaw says with a lighthearted laugh when asked how “Trap History” is relevant during the global COVID-19 crisis. “It’s going to be interesting to see what happens after we get out of this. How will communities change? Will the wealth gap widen? I think initially the mental trap we talked about in the ‘80s and ‘90s that came because of income and equality and the [President Ronald] Reagan Era and Reaganomics and how that affected certain inner city communities. So with this happening with the Coronavirus, they are saying that unemployment is going to be up to 20 to 30 percent. After it’s all said and done, how will the Black community and the inner city be affected by the virus?”
“TRAP HISTORY TALKS” INSTAGRAM LIVE SCHEDULE
Tues., 3/31 at 3 p.m. EST - “Nipsey’s Legacy One Year Later With Minister Tony Muhammad”
Thurs., 4/2 at 3 p.m. EST - “How DJs Saved the World During Coronavirus”
Tues., 4/7 at 3 p.m. EST - “The Evolution of Trap Music”
Thurs., 4/9 at 3 p.m. EST - “How the Atlanta Music Industry Is Being Affected by Coronavirus”
ABOUT “TRAP HISTORY”
Trap is a term coined in Atlanta as a place where drugs are sold and bought. Trap music is a form of rap that reveals how the sale of illegal drugs, drug use, and America’s war on drugs affects poor and disenfranchised communities. Shaw takes readers on a journey that is informative, entertaining, poignant, and inspiring while delving into the origins and social climate that surrounds the music genre. “Trap History” stands as the first book that firmly details the birth and rise of Trap music.
The book and audio documentary feature Shaw’s curated interviews with dozens of history makers including pioneering Atlanta artists, producers, music executives, and experts who witnessed first-hand the origins and rise of Trap music. Rapper Kilo Ali recalls penning “Cocaine (American Has A Problem)” at the age of 16 in 1990 while serving time in the Fulton County Juvenile Detention Center. DJ Toomp recounts touring as the deejay for the 2 Live Crew in the late 1980s and producing early hits for Atlanta rappers Raheem The Dream and MC Shy D. Former Fulton County Assistant District Attorney John Turner explains how the Miami Boys drug gang began infiltrating the Techwood Homes housing projects in 1986 and Magic City strip club founder Michael Barney describes how the gentlemen’s club provided a viable platform for emerging rappers to promote their music. Shaw additionally interviews the likes of OutKast’s Big Boi, T.I., Khujo of Goodie Mob, Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Migos, Shawty Lo, Killer Mike, Zaytoven, Future and 21 Savage as well as veteran Atlanta music executives Antonio “LA” Reid, Kawan “KP” Prather and Shanti Das.
“Trap History” is more than just a music narrative. “I made it a point to shine light on the musicians who shaped Atlanta’s culture and the systemic failures which led to poverty, crime, and the war on drugs, all of which, inspired the foundation of the Trap and Trap music,” Shaw says. “The audio documentary/podcast is an extension of the book as it tells the story of Trap music and Atlanta in a docu-style format.”
ABOUT A.R. SHAW
A.R. Shaw is a journalist based in Atlanta with over 10 years of experience in the media industry. During his career, Shaw has extensively covered Atlanta’s vibrant music scene while also covering national stories in politics, sports, and culture.
Connect With A.R. Shaw
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