Do you most often actively seek inspiration or does it find you? Or is it a combination of the two?
Trudo: It’s a combination.
FrontStreet: More like a combination of the two.
What led you to art in general and to your art form in particular?
Trudo: I didn’t want to express myself through fighting, so I did it with words and music.
FrontStreet: Trying to get out of the streets and finding a way to provide for my family. It was always in my heart.
In addition to mastering their art, what other skill sets do you recommend that artists develop if they want to be successful?
Trudo: Being able to know and learn the business side of the industry and going in the booth and just expressing yourself.
Frontstreet: Stay focused, stay positive, have faith in God and have family support.
How do you stay at the leading edge of your craft?
Trudo: The more I stay in the studio the better my craft gets. “Practice makes perfect”, that’s exactly how I feel.
FrontStreet: Self-checking, making sure that I’m the best me at all times because when I do that, the best comes out.
How do you map out your goals? How do you measure your success?
Trudo: I take it one obstacle at a time. I knock down one thing at a time.
FrontStreet: I write my goals down, as far as who I’m trying to be and what I’m trying to succeed and I make sure those goals line up with where I want to be.
Who do you consider to be your peers in your field? Who do you see or use as examples for you to emulate?
Trudo: Juicy J, I can relate to him because he is from Memphis and he is making huge moves in the music industry. Not only that, but he is a businessman as well.
FrontStreet: T.I., he’s a businessman, CEO, movie star. He’s everywhere that I’m going. He goes hard at everything and that’s where I’m headed.
Name three books, works, performances or exhibits that changed how you view life and/or yourself.
FrontStreet: The Art of War, 48 Laws of Power and performance by KRS-1, when he said to the crowd, “There’s 30 something boxes on the calendar try to fill in the blanks every day.” That stuck with me.
Why do you consider continued learning important?
Trudo: You have to keep learning, especially if you want to be great at something.
FrontStreet: You can never know enough, there’s always more to learn. “Learning is fundamental,” that’s really how I look at life. I’m always interested in learning more.
What affirmations do you repeat to yourself that contribute to your success?
Trudo: Stay humbled and focused and the rest will handle itself.
FrontStreet: Having faith. My faith brings me through a lot, without it I could have given up a long time ago.
What role does technology play in your day-to-day life? How do you utilize it?
Trudo: It plays a huge role in my life. I can’t go without my phone, social media plays an important role. Its the bridge between me and my fans.
FrontStreet: Technology is everything right now in my life. From my phone to my computer. Its so important in the industry that we are in today. It keeps us relevant.
What software, app or other technological innovation has made the biggest difference in your life and/or career?
Trudo: For my career, social media is very important. I would have to say that Twitter and Instagram are ones I use everyday.
FrontStreet: Any of the social networks are vey important for my career. From Facebook, to Twitter and Iinstagram those are very important with building that fan base and making sure my fans know what I am doing.
Please define your personal brand.
Trudo: When people look at me, I want them to see the truth. I speak realness and the truth. “Real Rap”.
FrontStreet: A positive man, focused on the right things, going in the right direction. When you see me you see, Good Life, positivity, success, love and happiness.
What is your favorite vacation destination and why?
Trudo: Miami beach, because it’s 10 hours away from home. Where I grew up there wasn’t a coast, no sand or water. Me being able to experience that now means a lot because I wasn’t able to do that when I was coming up.
FrontStreet: Bahamas, because the water is so blue, its peaceful there. It’s just a different world to me, the people and the culture is just different.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Trudo: Everyone would have free healthcare.
FrontStreet: There would be no war, starvation, no sickness. At the end of the day everyone would be happy.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Trudo: I’m good with myself, this is the way God made me and I accept me as I am.
FrontStreet: I would change my stubbornness, I can be stubborn sometimes.
What does it take to be iconic? In your estimation, who has achieved that status?
Trudo: Hard work, dedication , determination, sacrifice, you have to go hard and everything has to fall into place. Michael Jackson has that stamp.
FrontStreet: Being outstanding, head strong, about your business, being sharp. T.I. has achieved that status in my opinion
Trudo FrontStreet
Tweet: @iamtrudo Tweet: @frontstree
Instagram: @iamtrudo Intagram: @frontstree
w: www.goodlifemg.com
