Written by: Trill Chris

For those who have been paying attention to Trae Tha Truth, he’s been spending a lot of time in Atlanta lately. Now, the reason behind those visits have been made clear.

Trae went on MTV’s Rap Fix Live today to announce signing a joint venture for his ABN label with T.I.’s Grand Hustle Records. The two sat side by side while talking to MTV’s Sway Calloway when they revealed the partnership, which will put out Trae’s next album and other future projects.

“We’re gonna work alongside each other for a common goal and release this Trae tha Truth project…When cats [who are] cut from a certain cloth give their word and shake their hand, that’s what makes it a done deal — the ink is just a formality” explained T.I.

According to Trae, the deal came from T.I. approaching him in a respectable fashion.

“The thing that kinda made me way more comfortable is he reached out more on a partner note to where it wasn’t about money, it wasn’t about none of that. It was about, ‘Look, we can team up or even if you doin’ your own thing, I’m just supporting what you got goin’, I want to see you make it.’”

Trae has been one of the hottest artists bubbling on the underground over the past few years – after being banned from national radio play by Radio One, owner of Houston’s 97.9 The Box station. In the three years since the ban, Trae has been working feverishly with many of the hottest artists in the industry, including Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Yo Gotti, Jadakiss, Lupe Fiasco, Wale and Big Boi – who all appeared on his 2011 release of Street King.

“Grand Hustle is an established brand, ABN is already an established brand, it’s about seeing what we can do to parlay what we’ve already done for ourselves to make it benefit the other and it’s a two-way street,” said T.I.

Trae has also been preparing for another album, Welcome 2 The Streets, which will come as a release from his group the ABN Renegadez. The project is expected to hit streets March 27th.

Congrats to Trae! #Salute to the entire ABN Gang.

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