Hotly tipped as a "one to watch" in New York's rap climate, Queens-born
Trav built his career steadily through the 2010s, working with a variety of artists including
Meek Mill,
Young Thug, and
Travis Scott. After a strong mixtape run including the
Whoo Kid-hosted Follow Me, the rapper released his debut album, QRAK, in 2017.
Born and raised in Jamaica, Queens,
Trav made his mark on the mic at just 16, quickly attracting the attention of local radio hosts including
DJ Green Lantern and
DJ Whoo Kid. Following a quick run of singles including "O.M.G.," the rapper dropped his debut mixtape, The Way I See, in 2009. After finding significant success with the "Finding a Way" remix (featuring
Lloyd Banks and
Juelz Santana), he soon issued a second tape, Follow Me, hosted by
Whoo Kid. With bold vocals and a collection of street narratives,
Trav's early music shifted between
Diplomats-influenced hip-hop and the emerging sounds of the trap scene.
Through the mid-2010s,
Trav continued to release sporadically, issuing his Datpiff-exclusive third tape Push in 2012, fourth tape Push 2 in 2014, and third installment Push 3 in 2016. Each tape continued to build the rapper's profile, attracting features including
Meek Mill,
Travis Scott, and
Juelz Santana. During this period,
Trav also developed a strong working relationship with
Sean Kingston, eventually joining the vocalist for a supporting spot on
Justin Bieber's My World tour.
After years of developing his sound on the mixtape circuit,
Trav moved into 2017 with his debut album, QRAK, an acronym of "Queens Raised a King." With guest spots from
Tory Lanez,
Meek Mill, and
Lil Durk, the rapper's debut showcased a variety of moods and sonics, typically falling under the mid-2010s style of Atlanta-driven trap. Building on the success of the project,
Trav increased his work rate over the second half of the decade, issuing a variety of singles alongside artists like
French Montana,
NAV, and
Young Thug. Many of these landed on his sixth mixtape,
Nothing Happens Overnight (2020), which spawned some of the rapper's biggest hits to date in "Geed U," "Pradaaa Shoes," and "You Choose." ~ David Crone