Photo: Al Pereira (Getty Images)
One of the most popular Texas rappers, Bun B recently discussed the origin of the famous rap phrase that appeared in a 2005 song by Paul Wall and took over the rap world – trill. Bun B was a guest on the record along with B.G. so if anyone knows exactly what the phrase means, it’s him. In an interview led by one of the slickest rappers today, Asap Rocky, Bun B looked back at his early life in Texas and started reminiscing about the time when he first heard the word. It appears that the phrase originated in prison, which is somewhat appropriate for rappers.
Paul Wall’s Trill
So, let us first turn to the song that popularized the term and made everyone wonder what trill is. The song was released in 2005 on Paul Wall’s album called “The Peoples Champ.” Besides Paul Wall, the track also features Bun B and B. G., two other famous Texas rappers. The main hook of the song seems to define the term trill in numerous ways. Interestingly, from the first moment, Paul offers contradictory statements regarding the word’s meaning. To Paul, trill is when you have to hustle and grind on the streets for money, but it’s also when you go to work daily and work overtime. Basically, it means being real, dedicated and hard-working and, perhaps most important of all, helping out your friends while you’re all trying to make a living any way you can.
Origin of Trill
But how was the word trill created? Of course, there are some conflicting sources on that. Most people agree that it’s a combination of the words “true” and “real” and, therefore, includes both of its meaning. So, trill means being true to oneself and keeping it real at the same time. Some other people believe it actually means too real, but that is a less likely option. Also, trill could simply be an abbreviation of the phrase “keep it real,” that appears when you say the phrase too fast, as most rappers do.
Bun B on Meaning of Trill
Now that we know how trill came to be, who came up with it and why? Well, in a recent interview (we say recent and it happened in 2013, but whatever) Bun B spoke about the term in an interview with a fellow rapper Asap Rocky. Apparently, the term actually originated in Texas and, of all places, in a prison. Bun B remembers hearing it from a friend of his called Spoon who started using it after he got out of state penitentiary. It soon became a thing in his home town of Port Arthur. High-school students like Bun-B started using it to express rivalry with the nearby town of Beaumont. They later spread the term to Houston and the rest is history
Popularity of Trill
Very soon, other rappers also started using the term trill and popularized it. Among those rappers is the famous A$AP Rocky who made an entire mixtape called Trill. This is interesting because Rocky is from Harlem. Apparently, the word reached them as well and they adopted it as one of their own phrases. According to Bun B., not everyone deserves to use the term. People need to understand the whole concept of the screw genre that Bun B. popularized along with his late fellow rapper Chad “Pimp C” Butler. The two of them made up UKG, one of Texas’ most famous rap duos. So, trill is, in a way, the very essence of this screw rap and doesn’t depend on the geography.
Now that you know about the origin of the term trill, feel free to use it but only if you think you deserve it.
