Trae Tha Truth Is Charged With Assault Following Z-Ro Fight
On August 27 of this year, Trae Tha Truth was caught on video alongside associates apparently attacking fellow Houston, Texas rapper Z-Ro. What made the video and the news particularly interesting is that Trae and Z-Ro are cousins, as well as longtime collaborators who co-founded Guerilla Maab and ABN (Assh*les By Nature). Both former Rap-A-Lot Records artists built careers after roots in DJ Screw’s Screwed Up Click.
There are legal implications still stemming from that high-profile incident, which took place surrounding 50 Cent’s TYCOON Weekend event programming.
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Today (December 30), a video of the 42-year-old Trae Tha Truth (real name Frazier Othel Thompson) turning himself in to authorities circulated online. A local FOX affiliate reports that Trae has been charged with a misdemeanor for assault causing bodily injury. The popular H-Town figure was cheered by onlookers as he entered the Harris County Joint Processing Center in Houston. Worldstar posted video of Trae turning himself in.
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The Rap veteran was reportedly released on bond. Worldstar adds that Z-Ro alleges Trae stole jewelry from him during the attack.
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In August, Z-Ro released a video explaining his side of the situation. “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, before the public knew of the charges. “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.” At the time, 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 also described learning his attacker was a family member and former friend. “After I get up off the ground, now I see who it is.” He then described 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.
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At the time, Trae refuted aspects of Z-Ro’s account. “It wasn’t no seven-on-one situation,” the artist declared 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 connection in place. “It ain’t no hate for that man. I’m never going to let nobody hurt or harm him.”
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.
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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.