Trap History: Atlanta Culture and the Global Impact of Trap Music was an educational, imperative and entertaining read. Leaving no welcome mat un-flipped, A.R Shaw peels off the glitz and glamour of trap while honoring the music's pioneers and trailblazers. Shaw plucks past interviews from Trap music icons and grounds Trap by giving a voice to everyday people who look Trap in the face often. Shaw's approach allows the reader to understand Trap and its ground-breaking effect.  And, I mean all areas: What is commercialized, the reality, the aftermath and the honest narratives of those who reside in “The Trap.” 

I appreciate how Shaw intertwined popular and trailblazing singles with the overall storyline. I never heard of Kilo Ali and once I read his name, my fingertips clicked feverishly on Google and YouTube.

 I also wasn't aware that Trap Music was that aged!

Ali's personal story is grievous and potent. However, it's still consequential to the overall piece of Trap History. Unfortunately, I know a few people with similar tales.  Which, I am sure, A.R Shaw did this intentionally. We all know, once history hits home, we ingest the information with deliberation.

Once I read, Hitman Sammy Sam, I knew A.R Shaw was about to educate us readers and I was here for it. I still tootsie roll to Stepdaddy. Maybe that reveals my age. Oh well. 

I was a bit skeptical about the font initially because I found it boring. I felt as though a book over 150 pages with that kind of archaic font would eventually feel like a ho-hum read. Hot damn, I was wrong. It blended right in! I'm glad he added pictures in this book. With every new chapter was a picture of an artist or adjacent scenery. Trap History is educational and snapshots of an era/moment, are imperative in my opinion. I will admit that I was anxiously waiting for SOME snippet on Shawty Lo and he delivered! Ya' gots to have Shawty Lo, now.

 It was necessary for Shaw to mention, "Snow on tha Bluff" It brings the glamorized bando to a complete halt. It conveys the message that for some, it's not just music. Trap History: Atlanta Culture and the Global Impact of Trap Music deserves 4 stars and a biscuit. It's an essential read when it comes to Hip-Hop literature.

A.R Shaw E-Interview

1. What inspired you to write, Trap History initially? Was it an intentional choice or did you fall into it?

          I decided to write the book Trap History because it was a book that had not been written. This is the first book that firmly details the rise of Trap music and its global impact. “Trap” has been a slang term in Atlanta since the early 1990s. It was a word that Atlantans used to describe areas that were highly active in terms of the drug trade. It eventually became a genre of rap music that was indicative to a sound and style. I realized that Trap music had a larger impact around the world when I was in London in 2012 and discovered that they had their own version of Trap music. At that point, I knew that it was a bigger story that needed to be told. Being an Atlanta native, I wanted to be the person to provide a first-hand account of this genre.

2. It seems as though, you and Trap Music have grown up together. Where do you believe Trap Music will go in the next 5 years artistically?

          I definitely got a chance to witness the rise of Trap music firsthand. It’s amazing that it started out as a slang term in Atlanta and it’s now inspired music in places such as Africa, France, Asia, and Morocco. In the next five years, Trap music will become a global sound. Pop music will sound like Trap music. I’m not sure how long it will be dominate, but it’s going to have a major impact from a sound standpoint. 

3. Why did you decide to give everyday people who live in “The Trap” a voice in your book? Was it to bring awareness or was it simply apart of the umbrella of, Trap History ?

          My goal is to inform people on the origins of the genre. I wanted to give everyday people a voice because those are the voices that aren’t often heard. Some people will only think of the Trap in terms of rappers who hustled hard to escape. But what about the people who never escaped? There are people who were captured by drug addiction and never got the proper help. There are drug dealers who never became kingpins or earned enough money to lift themselves out of poverty. There are working people who had to deal with the negative aspects of raising kids in a community that became a drug Trap. All aspects of the Trap are explored in my book. 

4. I see you have a Trap History podcast. Can you tell me a little bit about it?

 I created a podcast on Trap music that provides another medium to tell the story. Some of the details in the book are also explored in the podcast which unfolds in a documentary-style manner.

A.R. Shaw is a journalist based in Atlanta with over 10 years of experience in the media industry. During his career, Shaw has covered Atlanta's vibrant music scene while also covering national stories in politics, sports and culture.

Check out A.R Shaw’s website to listen to his TrapHistory podcast, purchase dope merchandise and more. https://traphistory.com/

Follow A.R Shaw on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arshaw23/

Trap History, will be released in January 2020.