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October 1, 2025 12 mins

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The line between storytelling and evidence gets tested when prosecutors treat rap like sworn testimony. In this episode, Elliott Carterr sits down with Trag, calling in from a federal facility in Philly, to unpack the slow grind of pre-sentencing, the PSI process, and why the Rap Act could mean the difference between a fair trial and a narrative stacked against an artist.

This isn’t spectacle — it’s a close look at how daily life on the unit, staffing shortages, and bureaucratic delays shape a person’s outlook while the system decides their future.

Trag breaks down the facts: no recovered weapons, no DNA, no gunshot residue on his clothing — just lyrics used as evidence. We dive into how prosecutors frame bars as confessions, how jurors can misread persona as fact, and why reforms to protect artistic expression matter for anyone who values free speech.

There’s more here than law and headlines. Trag speaks on loyalty that shows up with deeds, not posts. He talks about supporting his daughter, honoring lost loved ones, and holding peace even when rumors fly. We keep it honest about who checks in during the hardest stretches and why clout isn’t a plan.

By the end, you’ll understand the PSI, the stakes of the Rap Act, and the human cost of turning art into evidence. Listen, share with a friend, and if this moved you — tap subscribe, drop a review, and pass the petition link along so the people who shape the rules hear from you.

✍🏾 Sign the Rap Act petition here

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Not for clicks — for clarity.
Good morning and Godspeed.
— Elliott Carterr

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_02 (00:00):
Reporting live from the gutter.
It's your boy Elliot Carter onthe phone with my brother Trad,
man.
What's the word?
Talk to me.

SPEAKER_01 (00:08):
Elliot, what's the word, bro?
It's the vibes, man.

SPEAKER_02 (00:11):
Man, life is life.
How's everything with you?
How you holding your head?

SPEAKER_01 (00:16):
No me, I'm cooling, bro.
Another day, another situation,man.
They got me, they got me outhere in Philly right now, man.

SPEAKER_02 (00:23):
Yeah, man.
How how is Philly treating you?

SPEAKER_01 (00:27):
I'm I'm cool.
You know, I'm cool wherever myfeet land at, bro.
I'm I'm easy though.
Waiting to get this sentence andshit situated.

SPEAKER_02 (00:34):
Yeah, what's what's going on with your sentence and
why is it taking so long?

SPEAKER_01 (00:39):
Um my my PSI, my PSI got done, man.
My PSI got done for those whodon't know what a PSI is.
That's a uh pre-sentence uhprobation report, whatever the
case may be.
Anytime you get sentenced or youcop out or you blow child before
you proceed the sentence, aprobation reporter gotta come do
a probation report.

(01:00):
Basically detailing in-depthshit, like I mean, from juvenile
on up, mental health records,education records, all that
shit.
So I'm waiting on that to comeback uh to to proceed with the
sentencing.

SPEAKER_02 (01:15):
Okay.
So with cases of your magnitude,is it is it normal for it to be
delayed like this?

SPEAKER_01 (01:21):
Um, you know, this is my first time in the Feds,
bro.
I've been down like four forsome change right now.
But from what my lawyer told mehere, like, I mean, um certain
certain individuals that heseen, like uh world from from
out in Brooklyn and shit.
Uh he was he he was waiting.

SPEAKER_00 (01:42):
This call is from a federal prison.

SPEAKER_01 (01:44):
He was waiting for his PSI for a little while
before he got sent.
A lot of a lot of people shit,but like I said, man, huh?
Here, bro.
I mean, no mystery stint ain'tain't no funny money over here.

SPEAKER_02 (01:58):
Yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
So what's your uh what's yourday-to-day looking like?
Like, are you on like fulllockdown?
Do you get to move on?

SPEAKER_01 (02:07):
Nah, nah, it depends, because this fed shit,
like a lot of the time they beshort staffed and stuff like
that, like especially with thegovernment shutdowns and stuff
that they be talking about, likeall that shit affects us because
we in a federal jail, so theydepend on the government to pay
them.
So if the government was to shutdown, we'll be locked down nine
times out of ten because of ashortage of staff and shit like

(02:28):
that.
But for the most part, shit beregular.
I mean, it'd be it'd be regulardays over here.
Uh regular day over here, we popout 6.30, 7 in the morning.
We out to like 3.30, lock backin at 3.30, pop back out 5.30,
lock back in like 9.15, 9.30,somewhere around there.
We on a unit all day though.

(02:49):
Like we don't lead a we don'tlead a we don't lead a unit and
shit like that.
That's shit whack.

SPEAKER_02 (02:54):
Okay.

SPEAKER_01 (02:54):
It's a pre-trial, it's a pre-trial jail.
Like, and and and when you hitthe spots and shit, then you
could go different, I meandifferent units and all that and
shit like that.
Like the yard is on a unit, likeit's it's it's a rec deck, like
a half a gym.

SPEAKER_02 (03:09):
Okay, okay, got you.
I mean, yeah.
Do you have like a a job oranything?

SPEAKER_01 (03:17):
Nah, unfortunately not over here.
But you know, I ain't trying tobe over here sweeping up with
cupcakes anyway.
I'm regular.
I'm coolin'.

SPEAKER_02 (03:25):
Yeah, I feel you.
I feel you.

SPEAKER_01 (03:27):
What's up with this rap act shit though?
I see that you made that postabout that rap accent, man.
You got you got you gotta letthe people know what's going on
with that rap act shit, man.
Free track.
Free track hope, man.

SPEAKER_02 (03:36):
Like shit.

SPEAKER_01 (03:38):
We need we need them petitions for that, man.

SPEAKER_02 (03:40):
Yeah, and you know, I'm gonna put the I'm gonna put
the link in this uh in this inthis interview, and uh right now
they had 97,000 signatures, soyou know everybody, if you agree
with the petition, you couldclick the link below and uh, you
know, sign and and and helpsomebody help somebody that uh

(04:02):
is incarcerated for forsomething that they shouldn't
be, you know.

SPEAKER_01 (04:07):
You're telling people you're telling people
shit that they're gonna have todouble back and go to the site,
which is your trickery becauseyou trying to get more
motherfuckers to come visit thesite.
But basically, uh for those forthose that don't know, I mean,
the the rap act is restoringartistic protections.
It's an act that's uh basicallysupposed to help artists that's

(04:29):
dealing with the judicialsystem, utilizing our words,
weaponizing our words, as Elliotsaid, against us in courts and
stuff like that.
Like, Elliot, um, you just youjust you just wrote an article
about me on the website, right?

SPEAKER_02 (04:43):
Yeah, absolutely.
You want me to read the rap act?

SPEAKER_01 (04:45):
No, no, no, no.
You could you could you could dothat on your own time, or I
mean, what you know, my time islimited, I mean.
Absolutely.
But um, more so, I'm just tryingto give people a first hand
understanding of what it is.
I mean, it's basically we gotour First Amendment rights to
freedom of speech and stuff likethat.
So what they did with me wasthey didn't have no physical

(05:06):
evidence, no weapons was everrecovered, no DNA from any
witnesses, um witnesses from anyvictims was ever recovered.
Uh no gunshot residue on myclothing.
Mind you, they had my allegedclothing that I wore on both
situations, no gunshot residueon anything.

(05:27):
Uh no, it was really no physicalevidence, bro.
Like they they they they reliedon shaky eyewitness accounts
that the 1-2-0 precinct hadconvoluted uh information and
just pushed the narrative of mebeing this, you know, menace and

(05:48):
all this other shit.
And at the end of the day, whatthey did was use rap lyrics that
I wrote or allegedly wrote whileI was in prison against me to
say that I made self-admittedconfessions.
Um which I never did.
If you go over certain lyrics,like I never sat here and said
anything, but that's part of ourartistry, you know.

(06:08):
Even when you drill rabbing,whatever the case may be, a lot
of artists we creativity, youknow, people embellish certain
things, like, you know, andunfortunately that should just
really derive from me beingimmature and feeding into the
drill culture and shit likethat, you know, like
motherfuckers dissing, so I'mdissing back.

(06:30):
But all in all, I ain't have noanimosity towards nobody to be
even saying certain shit thatwas read in them in in them rap
lyrics.
I mean, I'm on some peacefulshit, man.
I'm pushing the peace, I ain'tin tour with nobody.
We gonna clear that shit rightnow, you heard?
I ain't got no beef with nobody.

SPEAKER_02 (06:46):
I mean, yeah, definitely clear the air.
But uh just to elaborate on whathe's saying, you know, rap
artists are storytellers, anduh, you know, rap is
entertainment, and you know,their words are being weaponized
against them.

SPEAKER_01 (07:03):
Yeah, you could you could you you you could do a
separate joint and elaborate onthat shit.
Um another thing I wanted totell you too, right?

SPEAKER_02 (07:09):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (07:10):
I fucking coming from my people's, man.
I like I I be getting all theseweird ass emails and people
texting my wife and shit likethat, like like, yo, what's up
with your man Elliot?
Uh uh.
Like, bro, respectfully, you mybrother.
I call you a brother.
I understand what I'm saying.
Like you know how I'm rocking,bro.
But the people I hold dear, youknow what I mean, and they know
who they are.

(07:30):
I mean, like, I don't play aboutor play with the same way I
won't sit here and entertainconversations about you.
Like, you know where I standwith Iron Mike, aside from y'all
personal issues, like that manhelped me maintain employment
while I was on parole and gaveme my first legit job outside of
doing construction work and shitlike that, and put me in a

(07:52):
position where I can actuallymake a difference in my
community.
I mean, I told you personally inour own private conversations,
like I salute that man.

SPEAKER_02 (07:59):
Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 (08:00):
Shout out to IM Mike.
Um, aside from that, all thisother shit you got going on with
the bros, I mean, like, I don'tknow if I don't be reaching out
because it don't be really toomuch to talk about.
I mean, with these other niggas,like, ain't too much to talk
about.

SPEAKER_00 (08:14):
Like I'd be saying, bro, like provide a this call is
from a federal prison.

SPEAKER_01 (08:19):
Provide a perform, man.
And I ain't saying perform as inpromoting any type of violence,
like perform, like do acts,deeds.
Take care of the dogs.
Like, I've been in jail four anda half years now, damn near.
Taking care of myself, mydaughter, I mean, all of my
loved ones, niggas coming freshhome from jail.
When I was situated, I made sureniggas was situated.

(08:40):
And I'm out in Philly right now,like I was in a box, five
months, no ticket, ain't nobodychecking in, you know what I
mean?
Like a lot going on, bro.
And ain't no tears from a king,though.
You know a nigga ain't gonna cryabout this shit.
I'ma wear this shit, you knowwhat I mean?
But it's just like it be theprinciple, man.
I definitely wanna shed lighton, I mean, the younger bros

(09:03):
that's out there like thinkingthis shit 'cause ain't nothing
cool about this shit, bro.
And all that fake loyalty shit,that fake gang loyalty shit.
Gang ain't gang for real, man.
That shit a facade.
I mean, don't go chasing thatshit and find yourself in a
fucked up situation thinkingthese niggas is gonna sit here
and take care of your daughterand make sure your wife's good
and all this other shit.
Cause nine times out of ten, anigga gonna be trying to fuck

(09:26):
your bitch.
I mean, walk past your kid andand do all types of weird shit,
bro.
Ain't no loyalty for real inthis shit, bro.

SPEAKER_02 (09:35):
And and I'm glad that you you you saying that,
you know what I'm saying?
I'm glad that you you spitting araw truth.
And just to clarify, I want yourfriends and family and your
people to know as well.
Like, tax don't be telling me todo nothing to nobody.
He he became a big thing.

SPEAKER_01 (09:52):
Let the ops know that well well the fake the let
my fans know that too.
I don't got no ops.
I call them niggas fans.

SPEAKER_02 (09:57):
He never tell people why.

SPEAKER_01 (09:59):
I don't be put that that that be a lot of people uh
perception, and that should becrazy.
Like, I mean, a lot ofmotherfuckers was on my dick
thinking I'm over here using youto sit here and post it.
I don't even be knowing what thefuck is going on.
I don't have a phone.
That's why they sent me all theway to Philly, so I don't have a
phone.

SPEAKER_02 (10:16):
It's crazy for y'all to even think that man is
telling me to do what I'm doing.
You know what I'm saying?
Like, I wake up, I do what I do,and that's it.
I don't report to nobody, youknow what I'm saying?
Like, that's just how that go.
And a lot of times I don't beknowing y'all are cool with
traje or whatever.

SPEAKER_01 (10:32):
Y'all heard not not to cut you off.
How how long we been on, E?

SPEAKER_02 (10:36):
We've been on 14 minutes.

SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
And this shit about the click.
I heard you just did an um uhinterview with my brother Tech
Money too, man.
Shout out to Tech Mula, man.
Shout out to the whole fuckingrace, I mean, shout out to Cash
Mula, I mean, shout out HellRevival.
Free franchise.
Free my brother, franchise, myAfrican brother.
Shout out to Big Edo, I mean, myonly true friend that sit here

(11:01):
and make sure I'm situated, Imean, Cartier, um, I mean, oh,
oh, oh, all the guys, I mean,love is love, I mean.
I ain't I ain't gonna say allthe names.
The people who feel like theydon't gotta pay me homage, who
was who they was beforehand.
I definitely don't sit here andkick no dirt on niggas' names,
you know what I mean?
I love y'all too, I mean.

(11:23):
At the end of the day, y'allniggas is stars in y'all own
right.
I don't never sit here and tryto clout chase a demon nigga
star, man.
Be great, you heard?
If if you gonna do anything, begreat at it.
That's my that's that's I mean,that's what I'm on like.
That's the words I leave niggaswith.
I mean, shout out to mydaughter, Savannah, feel me.
Everybody that lost somebody,shout out to my pops, long live
Chino, Chino Mafia.

(11:44):
Niggas know what's going on,man.
Long live Dobby Dah, my son'sbirthday coming up.
I mean, and this is one of manyinterviews, man.
We're gonna touch bases soon,man.
L you know the vibes, bro.
You heard tap in.

SPEAKER_02 (11:55):
Yes, sir, you know the vibes, bro, bro.

SPEAKER_01 (11:57):
Shout out to my wife too, for holding me down for the
past three and a half, fouryears.

SPEAKER_02 (12:02):
Absolutely shout out to the wife.

SPEAKER_01 (12:05):
I'm here though, track hole.
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