Tray Gee, a 16-year-old Milwaukee rapper Tray Gee officially releases his CD, "Youngest in Charge," Saturday, Nov, 3 at a 5 p.m. all-ages gig at Nostalgia's, 7155 N. 43rd St.
Releasing a "clean" disc is Tray Gee's effort to promote non-violence. He will perform a half-dozen songs at the release party, including his local hit, "Braggadocios," with local rapper Genesis. Also on the bill are Rasho, Tae Gutta, Key and BreeDawg, Mella G. and Hollyhood.
"Tray Gee's new album shows his growth as an artist and a young man," said Tony Reese, president of Urban Visions Worldwide and Tray Gee's manager. "While he's only been in the industry for two years, he is very knowledgeable about giving the people what they want. He covers an array of topics important to young adults and does it in an intriguing, lyrical way."
"Youngest in Charge" also features appearances by Milwaukee artists like Ladi, Lil Stan and Mella G. and Atlanta-based latin singer Tina Q.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
