Trae Tha Truth and Z-Ro have become two independent Rap stars out of Houston, Texas throughout the last 20-plus years. These two artists, who are also cousins, emerged from the Screwed Up Click collective to found Guerilla Maab and ABN (Assh*oles By Nature), where they released numerous collaborative albums. In the years that followed, these two artists eventually joined the Rap-A-Lot Records roster, and ascended from underground voices to artists who frequently appeared on the pop music charts. Trae also took a vice president position at T.I.’s Grand Hustle Records, where he also was an artist for a time.

Last weekend (August 27), Trae and Z-Ro were involved in an altercation in their hometown. Video at the time showed Z-Ro after an alleged attack. He said in a video: “I was at 50 [Cent’s] charity dinner on Saturday and some supporters asked for a pic…then I saw Trae [Tha Truth] approaching,” Z-Ro said. “He asked if he could holla at me… I turned around to see who he was talking to and he asked if I could follow him to the side of a Sprinter bus.” The artist alluded to the two people seeing each other around but not having a conversation. He says he double-checked with Trae to make sure the request for a discussion was directed towards him. “I’m thinking we [were about] to talk like two grown men, but I was sucker-punched. When that happened… several other dudes jumped in.” Z-Ro added that the other individuals were unknown to him. “The only thing I saw after I walked over there was this,” he said, creating a punch with his fist. “Then you feel multiple fists, and feet. So when the video comes on, it’s making sure I’m not gonna go home lookin’ like I just fought a football team.”

Z-Ro, Trae Tha Truth & Killa Kyleon Discuss Houston’s State Of Crisis After Harvey (Audio)

Z-Ro says he was surprised to learn the identity of his attacker. “After I get up off the ground, now I see who it is.” He then describes being prevented from retaliation by law enforcement. Z-Ro alludes to the conversation needing to be had for over a decade. In 2012, he and Trae seemed to stop collaborating. “When I go over there to have a conversation, it was just a sneak attack.” Moments later, he adds, “People just grow apart. It was no beef, we just stopped [working together] around 2012,” reportedly at Ro’s insistence following a concert. “I ain’t said nothing to him since, and this was like 10 years ago. [It] wasn’t no beef, it wasn’t no misunderstanding, it was just two people who grew apart. We just separated; it wasn’t an argument. It was just—I noticed some sh*t; the energy was off.” Z-Ro added that after the incident, he was not upset—but others in the streets felt differently.

On Instagram, Trae disputed his cousin’s claims. “It wasn’t no seven-on-one situation,” the artist declared Tuesday (August 30). “It wasn’t no blindside ambush; that’s not what this is. This is family business, internal stuff that’s been going on for 10, 15 years that’s probably been building up and just spilled over into sh*t.” Trae did not elaborate, but insisted there was a bond in place. “It ain’t no hate for that man. I’m never going to let nobody hurt or harm him.”

T.I. Appoints Trae Tha Truth To Vice President Of Grand Hustle Records (Video)

Now, days later, a longer video has been obtained by TMZ and embedded below. It appears to show Trae, in an orange ABN t-shirt, throwing punches at Z-Ro, who is on the ground in a black shirt. It also shows at least other three other individuals kicking and punching Ro. The self-proclaimed Mo City Don eventually gets up and confronts his attackers, before there is intervention with law enforcement. The cousins exchange words, though they are separated. Z-Ro appears to accuse his cousin of misdoings. “He got me locked up in the penitentiary,” shouts Z-Ro, while being restrained. The artist alludes to being separated from his daughter. “F*ck that ni**a,” yells the rapper who has previously worked with Beyoncé and Big K.R.I.T.

50 Cent’s G-Unit reportedly partnered with University of Houston’s Student Government Association for the H-Town event dubbed TYCOON Weekend. Notably, Z-Ro had dissed 50 Cent early in his career, including on the 2003 Scarface collaboration “B*tch Ni**a.” Years later, Z-Ro dismissed the verbal attack as something orchestrated by Rap-A-Lot founder J. Prince. The rapper later offered peace.

Beyonce featuring Bun B, Z-Ro, Scarface, Willie D, Slim Thug & Lil Keke – “I Been On (Remix)” (Audio)

As Trae suggested, these artists have had an on-again, off-again relationship for some time. A decade ago, they linked with The Game, Kanye West, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug for “Rollin’.” The Houston Press reported, in a Trae interview, that ahead of 2008’s It Is What It Is collaboration double album, the two relatives had static. In 2008, Trae made headlines after allegedly attacking Mike Jones during that year’s Ozone Awards. That altercation was caught on video as well. Trae later released a public apology to witnesses of the event. That same year, Trae was given a day in Houston that became a citywide event. In 2022, Trae Day resumed.

This May, Z-Ro released his latest album, Pressure. The 1 Deep Entertainment/EMPIRE release features his protege, Lolita Monreaux—who Z-Ro says he was looking to promote during TYCOON Weekend, where the altercation happened. Trae last released Life n Pain on ABN/EMPIRE this year.