Issue #80 – Patiently Waiting: Travis Porter
By Ms Rivercity • Nov 11th, 2009 • Category: Issue #80, Patiently Waiting 1,033 views
Aside from having a name that sparks confusion (the 3-man group Travis Porter is often mistaken for one person), several other things make this trio “different-er.” Since the introduction of their first song “Baddest Bitch,” it was clear that Quez, Ali, and Strap were deviating from the norm. Their sing-songy choruses and playful antics struck a chord with fans, and since then things have escalated quickly for the Atlanta-based teens.
After “Baddest Bitch” took off, Travis Porter’s second major single, “Black Boy White Boy,” caught the attention of their ATL rap predecessors, some of whom felt a certain a way about their style. “I was still in school [when Young Dro released the YouTube video],” Strap recalls. “People were like, ‘You heard Young Dro talkin’ ‘bout y’all?’ I was like, ‘Man, that means we doin’ somethin’ good.’”
Though they were highly effective at creating their own buzz, having a recognizable name like Young Dro publicly acknowledge them took things a few steps further. They capitalized on the moment by dropping the Who is Travis Porter? mixtape and I’m a Differenter with DJ Teknikz.
What started out as two step-brothers (Ali and Quez) just having fun rapping with their friend Strap, soon became a collective of consistent hit makers. During their mixtape promotion and local showcases, Travis Porter had several other songs catch on, including “Uhh Huhh” featuring J. Futuristic (formerly J. Money), “Boom Boom Clap,” and the most recent favorite, “Turnt Up.”
“We’re a creative team,” Quez describes their chemistry. “I’ll come in with a crazy chorus, I’ll do the rough draft, then Ali will come in with the edits, and Strap does the final draft. Our music makes you wanna dance. It’s like we’re at Six Flags or something.”
“We just have fun,” Ali adds.
Now that the second edition of I’m a Differenter is heavily circulating, along with the Streets R Us collaboration with Waka Flocka Flame, it’s apparent that Travis Porter’s formula is here to stay. Turning up the buzz, TP’s feature on Roscoe Dash’s “All the Way Turnt Up” has put them several steps closer to their goal, and although they’ve yet to ink major label papers, the groundwork has definitely been laid.
“We want to make sure our album is top priority when we sign to a label,” their manager/CEO Charlie explains. “We still have some development to do, but we’ll be ready soon.”
At the heels of breaking the mainstream barrier, Travis Porter is steadily working. They have projects in the works with DJ Smallz, DJ Spinz, and several others, all in an effort to increase their awareness.
“I want to sell albums and make history,” Ali states. Strap continues, “We want those ride or die fans, not fans that just love that one song. We’re history in the making – Travis Porter.”
Words by Ms. Rivercity
Photo by Michael Schmelling
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