Meet TYGTrance, a Guam-born rapper/singer who’s on our artists to watch list. He, along with his main producer Emanndamann, are part of a collective known as Troubled Youth. While they’ve been making some waves on the island, they also have much larger aspirations for the future. We took some time to catch up with Trance and hear his perspective on making a name in a place that we don’t typically think of when it comes to Hip Hop.
What was life like growing up on the island?
Growing up on Guam was great. Wherever I’m at on the island I’m always at least 10 minutes away from a beach. I think the Chamorro culture taught me how to be respectful but also how to stand up for what I believe in. There’s a lot of pride here, which I always found to be the reason why I go so hard with music. I think with myself and many other locals we see ourselves as a representation of our island and our culture whenever we put ourselves out there into media. Guam has this interesting dynamic where we’re in our own world because we’re in the middle of the ocean and far from anyone else, but we’re so modernized because of the U.S.‘s influence in our society.
What were your influences and when did you begin making music?
I started making music at 16. Before that I would write poems or small verses here and there but never use it for anything. Around that time Emann and I started making music together and the rest is history.
I’ve been influenced by so many artists, movies, and just creators in general. My earliest memory of Rap was listening to Eminem’s “Till I Collapse” and just being inspired by that type of lyricism. Fast forward to today and guys like J Cole and Tyler, The Creator are artists who I aspire to be like. Just in the way they can build worlds into their albums and songs stuck out to me.
Given it’s size and limited audience, do you think success can be sustained on Guam? Or is it necessary to branch out to new places?
I wouldn’t say it’s “necessary” to move off-island for success. While it will be definitely beneficial, it’s not the end all be all. I can see a lane where as an artist I can thrive on my island and achieve my goals and still be known on a larger scale. I see Guam potentially being a hub for music, media, and culture in the Pacific. We just have to come together as a community and elevate.
What’s been your favorite part of the journey so far?
Definitely performing live. It’s hard to explain that type of natural high I feel on stage. No matter how big or small the crowd is, I always try to put on the best show possible. Because at the end of the day that’s the where the real impact is. No amount of streams on a song or followers comes close to that adrenaline of a crowd singing your song.
What are your goals for 2022 and beyond?
My goals for this year are the same as last year. To keep growing as an artist and as a person. I’m not concerned with the numbers or anything like that, as long as I can look at this year and feel like I’ve expanded my knowledge then I’ll be content. I also want to learn more about the marketing and logistics side of music. Someone once told me that if I’m the smartest person in the room, then I’m in the wrong room. I plan to live by that mantra this year and beyond.
Do you have any advice for kids who wanna rap, but maybe feel like they don’t fit a specific image?
I genuinely think there’s an audience for everybody. Guys like Zack Fox and Marc Rebillet do all this weird and unique content but people love it. Hell, I’m one of them. So if you want to make music, just do it. I used to feel that way about myself. I was this scrawny kid with no game whatsoever trying to do rap music and be all hard and shit. Eventually, I realized that I should just be myself because there’s people like me who can relate to my message. Most personas in music are fabricated anyway, so why do that when you can be authentic to yourself?
Trance and the rest of the TYG crew have been hard at work. They, along with the Guam-based visual team BLKLST, have spent the last year creating new opportunities for local artists including weekly live shows, cyphers, competitions, etc. As trance said himself, it’s top priority to bring everyone together and elevate. Be sure to check out Trance’s latest single “Paradise” which can be found on all major platforms and keep plugged in with jukebox culture for all the latest.
