CEO Trayle shares “Nightmares & Dreams,” a sinister new video for a highlight from HH5. Produced by Go Grizz, “Nightmares and Dreams” mixes speaker-knocking ATL percussion with modal guitar melodies and ominous piano chords that would not be out of place in the soundtrack of a Universal monster movie. Trayle slithers through the instrumental with his heightened, conversational flow, alternating boasts about his luxurious lifestyle with glimpses of the horror movie-esque reality that he escaped: “Filthy, and if you don’t die you’ll be saying ‘shoulda killed me’/Shot me seven times, rebuilt me/Baby your boyfriend pipsqueak.” The song features a guest verse from Chicago’s Fastmoney Ant, whose motormouthed, high-pitched delivery posits the rising rapper as the Mr. Hyde to Trayle’s Dr. Jekyll. In the video, the two rappers creep around an abandoned building, ignoring caution tape and warning all comers not to step.
“Nightmares & Dreams” is the second video off of HH5, the crowning achievement in a busy year for CEO Trayle. It arrived weeks after Vier, a four-track EP released in July alongside a Q&A with The FADER. The title of the EP translates into the number four in German, a number with mythical and historical significance in Trayle’s life–beyond being the source for his explosive nickname C4. Nine years ago, on July 4th, Trayle suffered seven gunshot wounds as he successfully fought off an attempted home invasion. Trayle survived, but he suffered emotional scars that he still processes every day. The rapper explored his trauma and expressed gratitude for the little things on his recent single “July The Fourth,” the EP’s closing track. Vier followed in the wake of Trayle’s 8-song mixtape The Collection, home to highlights like “Of Course,” the tape’s closing track. Trayle recently made a splash with his From The Block freestyle, where he performed his song “Song Cry,” which racked up over 250k views in less than one week.
CEO Trayle is following in the footsteps of his hero Gucci Mane, crafting street raps that are at once down-and-dirty and refined. The 28-year-old artist’s music found an audience, and earned praise among publications like Pitchfork, Audiomack, and many more, for his gritty bars and sinister steez. Trayle’s trajectory skyrocketed after he released “Ok Cool,” a viral hit that generated over 60 million streams and earned a remix from Gunna.
With HH5 in the books and much more music to come, CEO Trayle is primed to take over the rap game.
© 2022, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
