No Mas, No Menos; Meet Trap Saavy

Beyond the music, the Atlanta native is a father, creative, gamer, and artist who found his voice almost by accident who now uses that same voice to remind people that being yourself is more than enough.

For TrapSaavy, music was never part of some calculated plan. Trap Savvy becoming an artist was almost by accident. His natural ability to put emotions into words eventually became a form of self-expression, a way out of his shell, and a space where he could simply be himself. TrapSaavy who is not only a father, but a gardener, a gamer, and someone who enjoys the ordinary parts of life just as much as the creative ones. Being a dad, he says, is something he loves more than anything. That devotion to family has been part of his story since childhood. His parents divorced when he was young, and his siblings were separated between his parents. “I’ve been a little advanced in that area [writing music] since as far as I can remember,” TrapSaavy explains. “I would always write my mother little poems and things like that back in the day because I missed her and I got the emotions out of my mind and onto paper. After serving in the military, TrapSaavy planned to return home to Atlanta, Georgia. Instead, a friend invited him to the studio. He brought along a song he had written, recorded it, and caught the attention of the engineer, Layoh from Au Fait. The response was unexpected. Layoh recognized something in TrapSaavy’s first attempt and offered him the opportunity to stay in El Paso, record for free, and develop his sound. TrapSaavy didn’t have much money or direction at the time, but that opportunity gave him somewhere to start. The rest, as they say, became history.

TrapSaavy didn’t initially set out to become a musical artist. Naturally introverted, he admits that he once preferred to live life with as little interaction with other people as possible. Music pushed him outside of that comfort zone and gave him a reason to connect. One of the artists who influenced him most was Young Thug. It wasn’t simply influential because of the music itself. It was the freedom behind the artist. “He was so odd and just unapologetically himself,” he says. “He was going to be who he is no matter what anyone says or how society says he should be.” That motto became bigger than music. It became something TrapSaavy wanted to embody in his own work. That spirit of experimentation is especially apparent in TrapSaavy’s upcoming EP, SaavyWorld. The project wasn’t even necessarily supposed to have that name. After putting the decision to a vote on his social media, the title won and SaavyWorld it became. The EP shows another side of his artistry. TrapSaavy has been experimenting with different vocal tones, moving from his natural voice into a lower register and becoming increasingly comfortable with simply rapping rather than relying on a melodic approach. For him, part of the fun is seeing just how far he can take his creativity. One song even features two noticeably different versions of his voice, allowing listeners to hear him play with the contrast between the two styles he uses in his music. Then there is “Kirinas Way,” a song that was originally intended to be an interlude. Instead, TrapSaavy decided to make it the closing track.

“I love you Kirina,” he says simply.

Alongside SaavyWorld, TrapSaavy is also promoting The Last 2, a joint album with Klaykoh Jayoh. The title carries a personal meaning. The two were once part of a larger group of friends who considered themselves family. Over time, people went their separate ways, but the two remained. Sometimes what feels permanent doesn’t stay that way. Yet, they did. “We the Last 2,” TrapSaavy says. In an industry where visibility, numbers, followers, and notoriety can easily become the goal, TrapSaavy takes a very different approach. He isn’t chasing fame. He isn’t trying to convince the world that he’s the next biggest name in music. And that’s what makes his perspective interesting. When asked what separates him from other artists, his answer is surprisingly candid: many artists have a hunger for recognition that he simply doesn’t share. “They want to be famous, they want notoriety, they want the world to know their name,” he says. “I simply have fallen in love with this method of self expression and I love to be creative.” That creative instinct even extends beyond music. While discussing a video concept with CashVisionz, TrapSaavy was met with a simple observation: “You don’t like doing regular shit, huh?” The answer, no. If there is one message TrapSaavy wants people to take from his music, it isn’t complicated. Be yourself. The same lesson he took from watching Young Thug become unapologetically himself is something he hopes to pass along through his own work. You don’t have to become what society expects. You don’t have to imitate anyone else. “It is cool to be you,” he says. Then he adds the phrase that may best summarize his entire approach:

“No Mas No Menos.”

No more. No less.
For all of the creativity, music, shows, projects, and ideas, TrapSaavy says his biggest challenge isn’t necessarily the music industry itself. Being a father and being creative are the two things he loves most, and balancing them without allowing either to receive less attention is a constant challenge. “There are 2 things I really love doing and that’s being a father and creating,” he says. “So just trying to find the time to do both while not giving either one any less care and love it deserves.” It’s a familiar struggle for anyone trying to build something while also maintaining a life outside of it. For TrapSaavy, the goal isn’t choosing between being an artist and being a father. It’s finding a way to honor both. There are still plenty of sides to TrapSaavy that listeners may not immediately see. He’s a gamer, particularly drawn to survival-crafting games. He also plays sports games with his friends, although he’d rather disappear offline and spend time playing the games he actually enjoys. He’s athletic, too which he admits may not exactly qualify as a secret. There doesn’t seem to be much separation between the artist and the person. The music is simply another extension of who he already is: a father, a creative, an introvert who found a way to communicate, and someone who would rather make something interesting than simply make something expected.

And if there is one philosophy tying all of it together, it’s found in a simple image.

“No Matter What, A Rose Will Still Be A Rose.”

Regardless of where it grows, what surrounds it, or what anyone expects it to become, a rose remains a rose. For TrapSaavy, the same principle applies. You can evolve, grow, even find your voice. But you don’t have to become somebody else to be worth listening to. TrapSaavy’s music, including The Last 2 with Klaykoh Jayoh, is available across all major streaming platforms. His upcoming EP, SaavyWorld, continues his exploration of different voices, flows, and ideas.

Music: Search TrapSaavy on all major streaming platforms 
 Instagram: @TrapSaavy
 YouTube: TrapSaavy

Photo Credit: @sinzterz & @Cashvizionz

Written by Cici | IEST Magazine