UP N COMIN
ABN
Puttin' It Down For H-Town
By: Cozi Orlen
Rappers Z-Ro and Trae are both strong forces in Houston, Texas's independent scene. Though the biggest names out of Houston these days are Paul Wall, Slim Thug, and Bun B, these two MCs have been holding it down for the streets locally for over a decade. As a duo, they're known as ABN (Assholes By Nature).
Joseph Wayne "Z-Ro" McVey ("The Crooked") was always interested in music. In his childhood, he sang in church choirs and with groups. His father played music, and his mother sang. At age six, his young life took a turn for the worse when he lost his mother to cancer. He moved to a rough neighborhood, so rough that he got shot once in high school. But things started looking up when Z-Ro met Street Military, a rap group signed to EMI. He eventually joined up with their Killa Klan crew. Later, he formed Guerilla Maab with his brother Dougie-D and cousin Trae. The group would go on to release two albums, then two more after Z-Ro quit.
Z-Ro been releasing records and mixtapes since 1996, when he put out his debut Look What You Did to Me. He followed this up with six solo records. Z-Ro signed with Rap-A-Lot Records, then released his first major studio cd, The Life of Joseph W. McVey, featuring his biggest hit to date, "I Hate U Bitch". Z-Ro went to prison for possession of a controlled substance, and was still serving the term during the releases of his next three albums. He got out in 2007. On September 23rd, 2008, Z-Ro put out his latest and most successful solo cd, Crack, which reached #6 on the U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums. Z-Ro now owns King Of Tha Ghetto Entertainment, an imprint under Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince.
Frazier "Trae" Thompson III ("The Truth") is doing pretty well for himself, too. He's the CEO of label Guerilla Maab Entertainment, which is distributed through Asylum Records/Rap-A-Lot. Houston named July 22nd Trae Day, honoring Trae's work in the community. Trae also created ThaTruthIsHere.com, basically a MySpace for the hood. Like Z-Ro, Trae is a former member of DJ Screw's Screwed Up Click. DJ Screw was the originator of the "Screwed and Chopped" method of remixing music.
Trae released his solo debut, Losing Composure, in 2003, followed by Same Thing Different Day, a four-disc set. Two discs were S.L.A.B.ed (Slow Loud & Bangin') versions of the first, and the fourth was a DVD. In 2006, after signing to Rap-A-Lot, Trae put out Restless. The album featured guest spots by artists like Mya and Jim Jones, along with rhymes by late, great Houston heavyweights Fat Pat and Big Hawk. Trae's latest solo cd, Life Goes On, was released in 2007. There were cameos by Jadakiss, Lil' Wayne, Lloyd, Rich Boy, Yung Joc, and others.
ABN got started in 2003, when Trae and Z-Ro got together and recorded an album under that name. The record, Assholes By Nature (The Soundtrack), was a double-album from BCD Music Group. The second disc was a S.L.A.B.ed version of the first. The Regulator himself, Warren G, made a cameo.
ABN's MySpace lists 24 members in the group's crew, ABN Gang. The Gang is also behind ABN Films, who made the underground movie Against Everything. Trae hosted its compilation mixtape soundtrack.
The duo's latest album, It Is What It Is, was released on July 15th, 2008, on Rap-A-Lot Records. It was produced by Z-Ro and Trae, along with the late Pimp C, Nitti, Mr. Lee, and others. It features guest appearances by Big Hawk, Bulletproof, Jayton, and Lil Boss. Though it's enjoyed mainstream success, fans know ABN will always keep it real for the streets.
