Wearing a fluorescent shirt ripped open to reveal a 'REAL' tattoo just above his belly button and a pair of tinted retro glasses that give his eyes a yellowish hue, Trinidad James stares at you with a weary gaze.
The photo art for his new single "Doin Me" is simple. The actual song is more so.
Dropped by Def Jam three days ago, the "All Gold Everything" rapper eases over a Raak beat -- mostly a basic piano riff with sparse rhythm hits in an atmospheric setting -- to spin the first chapter of his redemption tale.
"Got a deal and lost it," he raps in the intro. "I'm back to doin' me."
To James' credit, his approach is foolproof. There aren't any unnecessary cheap shots or angry call-outs that burn bridges in the long term. He sticks to a nice cadence that expands on his own path and future in the industry while tossing a couple harmless barbs at the dudes "who ain't got no love for me."
Late Friday night, the southern rapper announced on Twitter that Def Jam dropped him from the label after just 19 months.
I should tell yall. I got dropped by the Label. My Album is now free. If u hear ur beat or verse on it. I hope u want dap cuz i got no money - Trinidad Jame$ (@TrinidadJamesGG) August 2, 2014
Since the split, James apparently busted out the new track while catching up on some must-see television.
No word on whether the single will be part of his forthcoming full-length. But without Def Jam in his corner, James took his first independent step in almost two years.
"All I can do is be me," he raps. "And when you want that real, you gonna see me. I did it everybody else's way / I'm back to doin' me."
Listen here:
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