Trae Tha Truth recently released Tha Truth, Pt. 2, and it's clear on his new album that the veteran rapper out of Houston hasn't lost a step lyrically. Today, Trae reaches back to his last project and shares the video for "Children of Men." The record is a standout on Tha Truth and features the veteran rapper linking up with J. Cole and Ink to deliver a cautionary tale about growing up in the streets and that consequences that come with it.
The very first scene of the video sets in motion a storyline that mirrors reality for those with no guidance or someone to turn to, and this is echoed in Cole's opening verse about the struggles of the youth who go through their adolescence unchecked and angry. "Young niggas trapped, young niggas strapped, heart turned black, won't turn back," he raps over the soulful production. Trae keeps the narrative going with two verses detailing the pain and hopelessness that sinks in, as well as the aftermath of making one wrong mistake after another, and you see his words come to life on screen. It's a powerful message that brings to light a topic often overlooked in society today.
"The track was produced by J. Cole, I had the track for a while. He did the first verse, and I fed off the vibe it gave me and what he was talking about," Trae told us over email about the collaboration. "The song had to have a nice visual to it, that was very important to us. PhillyFlyBoy gave it the cinematic black and white feeling. Every video should enhance the song times 10 and I feel like this video does that. The storyline is about a kid that came from an orphanage, just dealing with life, getting caught up, dealing with the pressure, and at the end the pressure becomes so much that he kills himself. These stories happen multiple times when you come from the struggle, so it was real relatable, and that’s why the story was told so well.”
Check out the PhillyFlyBoy-directed video for "Children of Men" above and grab Trae Tha Truth's latest project here. Trae wraps up his Truth Tour next week, with remaining dates and tickets available on his official website.
