The War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. is opening up about the rough journey that led him to where he is today. The duo is the latest guest on Bunnie XO ‘s Dumb Blonde podcast, where Trotter shared his experience with gangs and family trauma.
See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Cleveland is not something I talk about often,” Trotter explained. “Growing up in Cleveland, I grew up in a strict Christian household, it was very cultish to me. Friday night sundown to Saturday night sundown.
It’s nothing but God. You can’t do anything. You can’t watch TV, I couldn’t go play with friends, none of that stuff.
It was just church, church. It really altered my life for a minute there.” He continued, “It was a big contrast to what real life was.
Friday to Sunday it was like, ‘Hallelujah, Jesus, Jesus’ and the rest of the week, we were living like s—.” The singer noted that in his faith, everyone was “putting on this faith and saying that they’re happy,” but divorce and drugs were prominent throughout the community. He started “rebelling” early in life, after dealing with abuse at the hands of his father, who was struggling with addiction.
“I turned to the streets in Cleveland, had a strong gang life. The gang association is called Folks, and I had a cousin who was very high up in gang life in Cleveland. I had my little initiation and I started selling.
” Trotter shared that his gang activity started at age 11..