| Trinidad James | |
| Birth Name: | Nicholaus Joseph Williams |
| Birth Place: | Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago[1] |
| Origin: | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Years Active: | 2011–present |
Nicholaus Joseph Williams (born September 24, 1987), better known by his stage name Trinidad James (often stylized as Trinidad Jame$), is a Trinidadian-American rapper and songwriter. In December 2012, he signed with Def Jam Recordings to release his debut single, "All Gold Everything".[2] The song peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and spawned a remix featuring fellow Georgia-based rappers T.I., Jeezy and 2 Chainz. He was dropped from the label in 2014 after failing to promptly record a debut album.[3]
In the late 2010s, he shifted from recording to songwriting. He has been credited as a co-writer for primarily female artists such as City Girls, Kehlani, Flo Milli, Queen Naija, and Lakeyah, among others. Trinidad James has co-written songs including Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk", Fifty Fifty's "Barbie Dreams", and Bhad Bhabie's "Hi Bich". He signed with Artist Publishing Group in 2018.[4]
Nicholaus Williams was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. His family moved to Canada and Florida before settling in the Bronx, New York City.[5] As a child, he went to Catholic school. He has stated he cannot remember any parts of his life before the age of seven because of a head injury. In the eighth grade, he moved to Atlanta, where he began playing basketball. He began rapping in November 2011.[6] He has listed Jay-Z, Cam'ron, T.I., and Young Jeezy as his influences.[7]
In December 2012, James released his debut single, "All Gold Everything", which charted in the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was taken from his debut mixtape, Don't Be S.A.F.E. (Sensitive As Fuck Everyday), which was released on July 31, 2012,[8] and re-released with a music video on October 16, 2012. On December 13, 2012, it was announced James had signed a record contract with Def Jam Recordings worth approximately US$2 million.[9] In January, Def Jam re-released Don't Be S.A.F.E to iTunes, which included the remix to "All Gold Everything" featuring 2 Chainz, T.I., and Young Jeezy.[10] In the same month as his record deal signing, he made guest appearances on Gucci Mane's single "GuWop Nigga" and Wale's eighth mixtape Folarin. In February 2013, he would also make a guest appearance on Def Jam labelmate August Alsina's debut single, "I Luv This Shit", which became a hit on Rhythmic Contemporary radio, reached number thirteen on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and number forty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100. This would later mark his final song to reach the latter chart to date. Later that year, he would perform alongside French Montana, ASAP Rocky, and Schoolboy Q for the remix of ASAP Ferg's single, "Work". Both features would receive platinum certification from the RIAA.[11]
In August 2013, he announced and subsequently released his second mixtape, titled 10 PC Mild, through Def Jam and Think It's A Game Entertainment. The mixtape garnered generally mixed reviews, although many of whom considered it an improvement from his previous effort and praised the slew of guest performers which included Childish Gambino, Travis Scott, Fabo, Cyhi the Prynce, and Gucci Mane.[12] [13] After months of not releasing any new music, James announced that he had been dropped from Def Jam on August 1, 2014. He also indicated that instead of releasing his album through the label, he would make it available for free, and that the producers and rappers who contributed to the project should not expect any compensation because he had "no money."[14] In April 2016, James released the single "Just a Lil' Thick (She Juicy)" featuring Mystikal and Lil Dicky.[15] On December 31, 2016, James released a mixtape "The Wake Up 2" to streaming services such as Spotify and to mixtape websites alike.
On June 9, 2018, James released a single titled "M.M.M. (Marilyn Maryland Marilyn)" to streaming services.[16] The music video, directed by Mike Marasco was uploaded to YouTube on the same day.[17]
On November 27, 2019, in an interview with popular rap talk show "No Jumper", James stated that his current favorite rappers were "Doja Cat and Lil Nas X, I love those guys, partly because their flows remind me of myself" and later in the interview when asked about what his hopes for his current favorite rappers James proclaimed "I would hate to see them quit. You know. The last thing I'd want to see is for them to fall off just like I have."[18]
As of 2018, James is a host on a YouTube talk show, Full Size Run.[19] and he appeared in the Safdie Brothers' film Uncut Gems.[20]
| Details | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [21] | US R&B/HH [22] | US Rap [23] | |||
| Don't Be S.A.F.E.[24] |
| 103 | 23 | 13 | |
| 10 PC Mild |
| — | — | — | |
| The Wake Up EP[25] |
| — | — | — | |
| No One Is Safe[26] |
| — | — | — | |
| Trips to Trinidad EP[27] |
| — | — | — | |
| Trappy Mother's Day EP[28] |
| — | — | — | |
| The Wake Up 2 |
| — | — | — | |
| Father FiGGa |
| — | — | — | |
| Daddy Issues |
| — | — | — | |
| Black Filter |
| — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||
| Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/HH | US Rap | |||||||||||
| "All Gold Everything" | 2012 | 36 | 9 | 6 |
| Don't Be S.A.F.E. | |||||||
| "Females Welcomed" | 2013 | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "Palm Trees" (featuring Cavie) | 2015 | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "Just a Lil' Thick (She Juicy)" (featuring Mystikal and Lil Dicky) | 2016 | — | — | — |
| ||||||||
| "M.M.M. (Marilyn Maryland Marilyn)" | 2018 | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "Get Up" | 2021 | — | — | — | Rainbow Child | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/HH | US Rap | |||||||||||
| "I Luv This Shit" (August Alsina featuring Trinidad James) | 2013 | 48 | 13 | — |
| Testimony | |||||||
| "Work (Remix)" (ASAP Ferg featuring ASAP Rocky, French Montana, Trinidad James and Schoolboy Q) | — | — | — |
| Trap Lord | ||||||||
| "Be Ok" (Earlly Mac featuring Trinidad James) | 2015 | — | — | — | Cousin Trap | ||||||||
| "Don't Stop" [33] | 2022 | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
| Year | Other artist(s) | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "GuWop Nigga"[34] | 2012 | Gucci Mane | ||
| "That Turn Up"[35] | Mike WiLL Made It | Est. In 1989 2.5 | ||
| "Flat Out"[36] | Wale | Folarin | ||
| "Fukk Off"[37] | Grip Plyaz, Go Dreamer | Purp, Wind & Fire | ||
| "Fugginhudumarra" | Grip Plyaz, Aleon Craft | |||
| "Jackie Joyner" | ||||
| "M.O.E." (Remix)[38] | 2013 | Cash Out | rowspan="3" | |
| "N.I.Y.S."[39] | Ducko McFli | |||
| "I Can't Wait"[40] | Young Scooter | |||
| "Who You Rollin' Wit"[41] | Mach Five | Art of Rap | ||
| "No Room"[42] | 8Ball | Premro 2 | ||
| "4 My Niggas"[43] | Travis Porter | Mr. Porter | ||
| "My Last Molly Song Ever I Promise"[44] | Problem, Gunplay | The Separation | ||
| "Purple Haze"[45] | Curren$y, Lloyd | New Jet City | ||
| "My Girl Pussy"[46] | Bangladesh | Ponzi Scheme | ||
| "Conversations On That Brown"[47] | Scotty | Faith | ||
| "Game"[48] | Scotty, Big K.R.I.T. | |||
| "My Trunk"[49] | Big K.R.I.T. | King Remembered In Time | ||
| "Pimp Scholar"[50] | Mach Five | We Ballin | ||
| "On the Low"[51] | Logic, Kid Ink | |||
| "Hoodrich Anthem" (HxV Remix)[52] | DJ Scream, 2 Chainz, Future, Waka Flocka Flame, Yo Gotti | The Ratchet Superior | ||
| "Killers"[53] | Curren$y | |||
| "Groupie"[54] | Young Dro, B.o.B | Day Two | ||
| "Make It Mine"[55] | Kirko Bangz | Progression III | ||
| "FDB" (Remix)[56] | Young Dro, DJ Drama, T.I., French Montana | |||
| "Pablo"[57] | Gucci Mane, E-40 | Diary of a Trap God | ||
| "Make Ya Scream"[58] | Chevy Woods | Gang Land 2 | ||
| "미친놈 (Success Crazed) Feat. Gray, Loco, Simon Dominic & Trinidad James" | 2014 | Jay Park | Evolution | |
| "Uptown Funk" (Remix) | 2015 | Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars | Uptown Special | |
| "The Gun" | 2016 | Cash Cash, Dev, Chrish | Blood, Sweat & 3 Years | |
| "Amy" | 2017 | David Banner | The God Box | |
| "Mission" | 2019 | Jaden | Erys |
| Year | Director(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Gold On My Macbook" | 2012 | Corey Davis[59] | |
| "All Gold Everything" | Motion Family[60] | ||
| "Southside" (featuring ForteBowie) | 2013 | Decatur Dan[61] | |
| "All Gold Everything" (Remix) (featuring T.I., Young Jeezy and 2 Chainz) | Motion Family[62] | ||
| "Females Welcomed" | Jonathan Mannion[63] | ||
| "Just A Lil' Thick (She Juicy)" (featuring Mystikal and Lil Dicky) | 2016 | Jon J | |
| "M.M.M. (Marilyn Maryland Marilyn)" | 2018 | Mike Marasco |