Jacksonville, Florida Native, Trap Beckham Brings "New Bass" To Def Jam

Jacksonville, Florida Native, Trap Beckham Brings His Hip-Hop Flare To Def Jam Records

Def Jam’s newest recruit, Trap Beckham, has steadily been on the rise dating back to 2012 when the young & hungry upstart unleashed his Young Cash assisted hit offering, “Top Of The Line,” which also pays homage to Yo Gotti’s smash selection “5 Star Chick.” Beckham continues to drop the hits as evidenced by his latest entry, “Birthday Bitch”. The song has been bubbling since it’s release in June and the young emcee, is making his Jacksonville, Florida home town proud.

His most recent mixtape, 7.14.16, an annual release celebrating his own birthday, has been buzzing and leaving a fans with much to look forward. In this, his first installment since being signed, he provides 12 tracks that provide an introduction to his style and music, for those who may be unfamiliar. It’s clear what Def Jam sees in the young talent.

We caught up with Trap Beckham recently to talk musical influences, his come up in the industry and of course the latest single. Check out the complete interview below.

Parlé Mag: Tell me your whole inception into music — When did it first begin for Trap Beckham?

Trap Beckham: It was a long time ago. I was around like eight years old (when) I started writing music, and from there I just kept writing music. About twelve, my mom bought me a tape recorder so that’s when I started recording and I heard myself for the first time. Then fourteen, I got software for my birthday and I started recording in the living room. From there, I got better and better and I started getting in the studios. Started from just always loving music; always listening to the radio and listening to the music that my mom would play.

Parlé Mag: Growing up who might’ve inspired you to do what you’re now doing today?
Trap Beckham: As far as other artists goes, I listened to a lot things like Michael Jackson, Prince…a little bit of everything. Just a lot of southern rap.

Parlé Mag: With that being said, how then do you define your sound overall?

Trap Beckham: I’d say it’s like the new version of bass. I call it New Bass… 2 Live Crew, 95 South; I’m New Bass. I don’t like to limit myself to one genre of music because I feel like I’m very versatile. If it was a specific genre, it’d be New Bass.

Parlé Mag: At what particular stage in your life did you actually opt to pursue music professionally?

Trap Beckham: In high school, I created a small group of promoters and we started doing… I bought like hats and shirts so we can walk around the school with hats and shirts, and I started pushing my music, promoting it, just having people help me promote it online. And it started spreading out, and once people started taking to it, like really taking to it fast, it was like, “Yo!

Parlé Mag: What particular string of events led to your current signing with Def Jam Recordings?

Trap Beckham: It was basically like one day I was just chillin’ with my regular team, you know doing what we do, promoting music and stuff like that, and I get a call. One of my friends, who’s involved with the situation, was like, “Man, what you doing tomorrow?” I was like, “Nothing,” he was like, “Hey, they want to see you out in L.A.!” So the next day, the next morning, I’m out in L.A. linking up with these A&Rs at a Def Jam studio, and they wanted to see how I worked. They wanted to listen to some more records. So, that’s what we did. We came up with something and they took to it, they liked it, they liked my work ethic.

Parlé Mag: Tell me about your single “Birthday B*tch”…
Trap Beckham: Well, you know, just being in the club a lot, I just realized that every day is somebody’s birthday. I just made a club song, something that I knew that the ladies could move to, about birthdays, and I hit it right on the head with the lyrics.

Listen to Trap Bekham “Birthday Bitch’ Below:

Parlé Mag: What has been the ultimate key to your success thus far?

Trap Beckham: The key to my success is consistency. Every year on the year I drop a tape, on the same date, that definitely plays a big part in my consistency. And then, all the other music I make outta that… and just telling the truth and staying grounded, and just knowing that this is what you want to do. Knowing that, “Hey, this is what I want and I signed up for!” That keeps me going, and I think that’ll keep me floating in the future.

Parlé Mag: Aside from music, do you have any other future aspirations?

Trap Beckham: Well, I’m sure that I’ll get into something, but as of right now doing music is all I do. That’s all I want to do. if I can make the same money just doing what I want to do, versus just doing something else and trying to be an entrepreneur, that’s cool, but, I’m sure I’ll get into something later on down the line, but right now it’s about music, selling records, just living the life, enjoying the ride.

Parlé Mag: On a more serious note, are you happy with the state of Hip Hop?

Trap Beckham: Hip Hop, I’m digging Hip Hop. A lot of people say, “Hip Hop is dead!” I just think its evolving. It’s a new artist thing. People getting used to it, same ole stuff. Like people are not gonna be the same. So, I think Hip-Hop is heading in a good direction. A lot of good artists out right now.

Parlé Mag: To date, what has been your biggest career moment?

Trap Beckham: When I got my jacket at Def Jam, that was a big moment. They had did like a little meeting they had for me, I met everybody up there, and they kinda crowned me into getting a letterman jacket. So, I felt like I was joining the team.

Parlé Mag: Looking ahead, futuristic-ally speaking, where do you see yourself?

Trap Beckham: I see myself as the CEO of Back Door Music Group, which is my music group. So that will be my music venture that I get into in the future. I see us signing artists, doing the same things that I’m doing now. Basically I’m setting the foundation so we can do that in the future.

Parlé Mag: Right now you’ve been out there on the road heavy, grinding, what can be expected from that live experience?

Trap Beckham: My live show is pretty lit, you know! We turn up, we like to turn up with the crowd, I like to share my liquor with those over age. Yeah, we just like to have fun, you know. Who knows what can happen!?!

Parlé Mag: Any parting words?
Trap Beckham: Thank you for reading. You know, look out for Trap Beckham, Back Door Music, Def Jam, coming!

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