Trouble

Earning his nickname from a hard-living lifestyle, Atlanta rapper Trouble signed a record contract just before landing in jail in the late 2000s. Transforming that turmoil into creative inspiration, he issued his debut mixtape, December 17th, in 2011. He released a fresh batch of trap every year until 2018, when he teamed up with producer Mike WiLL Made-It for his official studio debut, Edgewood. In 2008, Trouble (born Mariel Semonte Orr) had just signed a recording contract with Duct Tape Entertainment when he was caught in a home invasion that ended in kidnapping and armed robbery charges. He served his sentence and was released on December 17, 2010, the date he would use as the title of his debut mixtape, which arrived in 2011. December 17th featured appearances by Waka Flocka Flame and Future and was quickly followed by Green Light. That set included collaborations with Future, Yo Gotti, Gucci Mane, and many more. Without slowing down, he continued with yearly releases, issuing 431 Days in 2012 and The Return of December 17th in 2013. Continuing his prolific run, Trouble channeled his creative energy into a deluge of mixtapes including All on Me (2014), #ZayDidIt (2015), Skoob Fresh (2015), Skoobzilla (2016), and Year in 2016 (2017). On the side, his 2016 collaboration with fellow Atlanta rapper YFN Lucci, the single “Key to the Streets,” reached number 70 on Billboard’s Hot 100. In 2018, Trouble signed with Mike Will’s Eardruma label, issuing “Bring It Back” with Drake. That track was the first taste of his official studio debut, Edgewood. Exclusively produced by Mike WiLL, the high-profile set recruited additional guests the Weeknd, Quavo, Offset, Fetty Wap, and Boosie Badazz. Edgewood also became his first appearance on the Billboard 200. After a relatively quiet year, Trouble returned in 2020 with Thug Luv. Home to the hit Quavo collaboration “Popped,” the set also featured 2 Chainz, Boosie Badazz, Jeezy, City Girls, and more. Trouble was visiting a female friend at her apartment near Atlanta when a man broke into her home, and the rapper was shot during the altercation. Trouble died on June 5, 2022 at the age of 34. ~ David Jeffries & Neil Z. Yeung