Trae Tha Truth is a national treasure. A gangster and gentleman from Houston, Texas who demands respect and is a master networker with music’s elite. Shit who else can get Sean “Puffy” Combs on the title track of their mixtape shouting them out? How bout Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather on an interlude? OK we’ll wait.

Seriously it ain’t all about connections. Trae has earned them and continues to be a seriously underrated talent. On the Lil Reese-featured “Fucked Up”, he goes off on those who dare impose. Paired with Snoop Dogg, Trae lyrically cruises over the competition on “Old School” and he goes for self on the album’s soul-bearing “Outro (Family No Family)”. He laments, “You tell yourself you ain’t mad, you disappointed/It kinda hurt cause they ain’t rockin like how you’re rockin for them.”

But then again, Trae got a lot of folks in his corner. His Grand Hustle boss T.I. and Meek Mill point out the bounce on “Ride Wit Me”; Lupe Fiasco glides on “Driven” and fueled by a vocal sample from Pimp C’s Mama, Trae and Big K.R.I.T. get introspective on the Inkredibles- produced “I Believe”.

Putting all his faith and passion into his product, I Am King is Trae’s most cohesive collection of music to date. Soon more fans will recognize, he’s the real deal.—YN