ABN (hip hop duo)

ABN
Also known asAssholes by Nature
OriginHouston, Texas, United States
Genres Hip hop, southern hip hop
Years active2003 (2003)–2008
Labels
MembersTrae tha Truth
Z-Ro
Lil Boss
Jay'ton

ABN or Assholes by Nature is an American hip hop duo, composed of Houston, Texas-based rappers Trae tha Truth and Z-Ro. They have so far released two studio albums Assholes by Nature (2003) and It Is What It Is (2008).

History

[edit]

The duo is a collaboration between Z-Ro and Trae, both of whom are well established solo recording artists within Texas' underground hip hop scene.[1] Their first collaboration was on Z-Ro's debut album Look What You Did to Me (1998), with them regularly appearing on each other's albums thereafter.[2] Z-Ro and Trae grew apart in subsequent years and parted ways altogether after their last (and so far final) album in 2008 due to personal and creative differences.

In 2022, in a statement to XXL, Z-Ro claimed Trae Tha Truth asked to talk to him outside a Houston Restaurant before he allegedly sucker punched him, following which several men jumped in and continued to assault him.[3] On September 2, 2022, a viral video obtained by TMZ,[4] shows Trae attacking Z-Ro with the rest of his crew, during 50 Cent’s TYCOON weekend.[5] This comes after Trae denied on his Instagram page following the altercation and previous footage that went viral, that Z-Ro was not outnumbered in the fight. In December, Trae was charged with a misdemeanor for assault causing bodily injury. Video surfaced of him turning himself in to authorities; he was reportedly released on bond shortly after.[6][7]

Discography

[edit]

ABN's first release was a double CD titled Assholes by Nature. It was released in 2003 by the independent label G-Maab Records and was produced by P.K. Johnson.[8]

In 2008 the duo released It Is What It Is which turned out to be the biggest commercial success for both artists. The album was released on Rap-A-Lot Records and produced by Brandon Crear.[9] The album reached number 62 on the Billboard 200, 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and 7 on the Top Rap Albums charts. Previously the artists had 13 appearances on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart between them; this was the first in the top 10.

Studio albums

[edit]
Year Album Peak chart positions
U.S.[10] U.S. R&B[11] U.S. Rap[12]
2003 Assholes by Nature
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Guerilla Maab Entertainment
2008 It Is What It Is 62 10 7

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Biography-ABN". Allmusic. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  2. ^ Nova Lomax, John (June 22, 2006). "An underground legend teams up with Rap-A-Lot in a bid to break nationwide". Houston Press. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  3. ^ Fitzgerald, Trent (30 August 2022). "Z-Ro Claims Trae Tha Truth Asked to Talk and Then Sucker Punched Him". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  4. ^ "Trae Tha Truth Jumped Z-Ro During 50 Cent Tycoon Weekend, New Footage Shows". TMZ. 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-09-07. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  5. ^ "New Fight Footage Shows Trae Tha Truth Assisted in Z-Ro's Attack". parlemag.com. September 3, 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-09-07. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  6. ^ "Z-Ro Fan Confronts 'Bitch-Ass' Trae Tha Truth Over August Beatdown". HipHopDX. 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  7. ^ Sharma, Ahmed (30 December 2022). "Houston rapper Trae tha Truth charged with assault against Z-Ro". FOX 26 Houston. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  8. ^ "A.B.N. - A.W.N. Films Presents: "A.B.N." Assholes By Nature, Starring The Soundtrack". Discogs. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  9. ^ "Credits It Is What It Is". Allmusic. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  10. ^ "ABN Chart History". Billboard 200. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  11. ^ "ABN Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  12. ^ "ABN Chart History". Top Rap Albums. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
[edit]