Former Snoop Dogg affiliate Tray Deee currently resides in the California
Men’s Colony State Prison in San Luis Obispo, CA. In 2005, the West Coast artist was hit with an “up to” 12-year sentence for attemped murder. Presently, his earliest possible release his in 2013, although he could be freed sooner due to jail overcrowding and budget
problems. His career didn’t start in Colony State Prison and, if he has his way, it won’t end there either. The Long Beach rapper, better
known to his family as Tracy Davis, brought his unique sound, style and
flow of hard-core gangster rap to the Hip-Hop world in the middle of the 90’s.
Introduced by Snoop Dogg on the song “21 Jump Street” off of the
Murder Was The Case soundtrack, Tray parlayed that in to further
guest features on the Death Row albums label such as Dogg Food,
The Dogg Father, Glidlock’d Soundtrack, and Gang Related
Soundtrack. Tray Deee was also previously a member of The LBC Crew
which had a successful single off of the Thin Line Between Love And
Hate soundtrack called “Beware of my Crew.”
In 2000, Tray teamed up with Snoop Dogg and Goldie Loc to form Tha
Eastsidaz which was in honor of the area they hailed from, the Eastside
of Long Beach. Through Snoop Dogg’s label Doggystyle Records and with
the distribution help from TVT Records, Tha Eastsidaz released their
platinum selling debut, Snoop Dogg Presents Tha Eastsidaz, propelled
by the DJ Battlecat produced single “G’d Up.” Tha Eastsidaz
appeared on Snoop Dogg’s The Last Meal LP and then went on
to release their sophomore album, Duces N Trayz: The Old Fashioned
Way. Not long after that release trouble ensued for the group
as money disputes arose between the members.
Tray Deee claimed
that he and Goldie Loc were not receiving their legal share of the group’s
money and the group was then disbanded despite an unofficial street
release of a project the group recorded called Khaki’s N Chucks.
Before the troubles between the group members could be resolved, Tray
Deee was convicted of the aforementioned attempted murder charge.AllHipHop.com reached out to the West
Coast veteran to update the Hip-Hop
world on his well being, thoughts and current status. Much has changed with the O.G.
AllHipHop.com: First off, can you please
let us and your fans know how you are currently doing?
Tray Deee: All praise be to Allah,
I’m solid. My health is firm, my stamina is formidable, my focus is
sharp, and my spirit is serene.
AllHipHop.com: What are you doing
to maintain yourself during your incarceration?
Tray Deee: My program is laid back
but disciplined. I keep my circle small and circumnavigate all stagnative,
non-productive issues. I go to work at the canteen warehouse at 7:45
a.m. and miss the yard until I get off 3:45 p.m. – which is yard recall
for count time. I squeeze in some physical fitness, shower, and play
chess or write a letter until it’s time to call it a night. I collaborate
with various individuals on diverse projects to maintain an influx of
capital, and a small number of homies and friends chunk me a bone every
now and again to make sure I ain’t scufflin’ and wanting for nothing. Good lookin’ out y’all!
AllHipHop.com: Word has it that you
no longer associate yourself with your former Eastsidaz group-mates
Snoop Dogg and Goldie Loc. Is that true?
Tray Deee: Essentially, although about
5 or 6 weeks ago, I finally enjoyed a warm conversation with Snoop Dogg
after over 5 years of no communication whatsoever. We agreed to let
the past go like water under the proverbial bridge and we even shared
a few genuine laughs. We still have some existing financial discrepancies
left to resolve and from our roughly 10 minute conversation, I could
not gauge whether or not he is yet prepared to face that reality. Honestly,
I once cared for the dude like the little brother that I never had.
So, while I detest the circumstances which led to our dissolution and
resulting enmity, I can’t proclaim any lingering hatred for Snoop
because my love for him was authentic. Insha-Allah which means “God-willing”,
everything will work out for the best in due time.
Now Goldie Loc, he has never exhibited
any degree of loyalty toward me. When our contractual abuse was uncovered
by our then manager, I instructed Goldie that the only chance we had
at rectifying the situation is if we stood unified, but he continued
to run behind Snoop which caused me to appear as the trouble-maker/bad
guy. The few times I’ve managed to speak with him since my incarceration,
he’s been evasive or outright lied to me.
AllHipHop.com: Is it possible to ever
reunite with Snoop Dogg or Goldie Loc once you are released from Prison?
Tray Deee: I would hope that Snoop
Dogg and I could recapture that vibe that we once shared, and salvage
the wonderful history that we created. It’s his call at this point.
Barring some extraordinary events transpiring between now and my release,
I have no interest of f***in’ with Goldie Loc ever again – except
to be compensated by him for prominently featured on his C.D. “My personal pedigree and
the environment that I come from is the foundation of gangsterism.
Pushin’ a G-Line for me was as natural as a Norwegian becoming a fisherman,
or someone born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah being a Mormon.”-Tray Deee
AllHipHop.com: Are there any other
artists that you still associate yourself with?
Tray Deee: Coniyac, formerly of Doggy’s
Angels, is my fiancée’ and she has been my backbone through this
whole ordeal. 40 Glocc has been loyal and dependable from day one as
well. Fredwreck, West Coast producer and current host of MTV Arabia,
stays in touch as does another bomb West Coast producer by the name
of Scratch. The Lady of Rage used to write me and so did Ms. Toi. I’ve
received one kite from Bad Azz and a postcard from Xzibit while he was
in Tokyo. Those are all that come to mind at this time.
AllHipHop.com: Do you have any unreleased
music that you plan on releasing while you’re locked up? And do you
plan on continuing with your rap career upon your release?
Tray Deee: Truthfully, I don’t have
many unreleased tracks. As for me recording any new material once I
touch down, I’m going to first consult with a few reputable and knowledgeable
industry executives to figure it out from there. Metaphorically, all
of the stars have to be aligned for me to re-enter the game as an artist.
AllHipHop.com: Now that you are older,
what is your view on the gangster lifestyle? Has it changed any since
your incarceration?
Tray Deee: My personal pedigree and
the environment that I come from is the foundation of gangsterism.
Pushin’ a G-Line for me was as natural as a Norwegian becoming a fisherman,
or someone born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah being a Mormon. Los
Angeles and its surrounding county of urban warzones; Long Beach, Compton,
Watts, Lynwood and Gardena is the birthplace of the Crips, Bloods and
Surenos (Mexican-American street gangs). Gang-bangin’ is prevalent
on almost every block in these communities: Hangin’ out, slangin’
dope, shoot-outs, assaults, and all else that this particular lifestyle
entails. So my view on anything gangster is this: Either you breathe,
think, act, sleep and dream gangsta s### or else you’re simply perpetrating
– period, point blank. Much has changed now that I am older. I’m
a totally committed Muslim now, so I understand the significance of
life now, and therefore I approach people and situations differently.
Change is essential to growth and I have perceptually expanded considerably.
AllHipHop.com: Aside from music, do
you have any other plans for yourself once you are released?
Tray Deee: I have many plans to execute
once I shake this joint. My initial goal is to reunite with my children
and redevelop the special bond that a father shares with his seeds.
Business-wise, I intend to have my semi-autobiography published and
accomplish short-term objectives until I settle into what best suits
my interest at that time.
AllHipHop.com: Are you able to keep
up with any new music that is coming out? If so, what are your thoughts
on what you are hearing?
Tray Deee: Yes. I have an AM/FM radio
with a cassette and CD player, so I do lend an ear to what’s supposed
to be the new hotness – and for the most part what crosses my ear
is crossover pop, pseudo-techno and vocoder trash. Then again, I don’t
have access to any underground radio shows, so I can’t speak on the
full spectrum of rap. I hear Glasses Malone is tight. I like Game and
I feel that he’s improved with each release. Crooked I is one of my
favorite artists, and I dig Plies style as well as Young Jeezy. Oh,
and I am waiting to hear Bishop Lamont’s project.
AllHipHop.com: Tray Deee, thank you
taking the time to answer these questions. Do you have anything that
you would like to tell your fans and the rest of the audience out there?
Tray Deee: Much love to all of the
real Big Tray Deee/Eastsidaz fans. Y’all weather the storm out there,
have faith in the Creator and trust that it gets greater later. Peace!
