5 Trap Albums That Shaped Me

Music does more than sound good—it shapes you. Some albums hit so hard they become part of your identity. They mold how you think, how you move, how you handle pressure, loyalty, pain, and ambition. For me, these five trap albums didn’t just have fire production or memorable hooks. They played a big role in the way I carry myself, the way I handle business, and how I view success and struggle.

This isn’t just a top 5 list. These are the tapes that stuck with me. They stayed in rotation not because they were the hottest out at the time, but because they gave me perspective. They gave me game. They reminded me I wasn’t alone in what I was going through.

Here’s a look at the five trap projects that truly shaped my mentality.

Gucci Mane – Writing on the Wall

This tape was more than just a classic—it was a warning shot. Writing on the Wall was Gucci Mane in rare form, fully in his bag, showing the world that he wasn’t just another rapper out of Atlanta. He was a force. Songs like “First Day Out” and “Worst Enemy” still hit to this day because they’re so raw, so real, and so full of character.

What stood out about this mixtape was how Gucci leaned into being himself. He didn’t chase validation, he made the industry come to him. And in doing that, he paved the way for a whole generation. Young Thug once called Gucci “the founder of everything I’m doing,” and you can feel that energy all over this tape. (The FADER, 2014)

Gucci taught me the value of embracing your role, your sound, and your city. He showed me that being different isn’t something to hide—it’s something to lean into.

Young Jeezy – Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101

This album was gospel where I’m from. Jeezy gave us motivation over 808s. He didn’t rap like a hustler—he rapped like a general. Every bar felt like a blueprint. Whether it was “Trap or Die,” “Soul Survivor,” or “Standing Ovation,” Jeezy had this way of making you want to get up and chase something bigger than your situation.

This wasn’t just trap music. This was motivational music. He once said in an interview, “I’m not a rapper. I’m a motivational speaker who just happens to rap,” and that’s exactly what TM101 felt like. (MTV, 2005)

That album made me realize that real hustlers don’t just survive—they build. They plan. They elevate. And they inspire the people around them while doing it.

Plies – The Real Testament

When Plies dropped this, he brought a different type of emotion to the game. This was pain music wrapped in Southern slang. “100 Years” still gives me chills. It wasn’t about being flashy—it was about telling the truth. He painted a picture of what it looked like when the streets took everything from you, but you kept standing anyway.

What I respect most about The Real Testament is that Plies was honest. He wasn’t trying to be perfect or play tough every second. He was emotional, he was vulnerable, and he still held it down. He once said in an interview, “This album wasn’t just music to me—it was my truth.” (XXL, 2007)

Hearing that truth helped me tap into mine. It taught me that strength isn’t always about looking unbreakable—it’s about staying real even when it hurts.

Young Thug – Slime Season 2

This was the tape that turned Thug from an interesting artist to a certified genius in my eyes. Slime Season 2 felt like the rules didn’t matter anymore. It was chaotic, weird, melodic, aggressive, and beautiful all at the same time. Songs like “Thief in the Night” and “Big Racks” showed just how far you could stretch the boundaries of rap without losing the message.

Pitchfork called this project “a chaotic, beautiful mess of creative genius,” and I couldn’t agree more. (Pitchfork, 2015) What Thug did on this tape reminded me that creativity doesn’t have to be boxed in. There’s power in not making sense to everyone—as long as you’re making sense to yourself.

Thug helped me lean into my individuality. He taught me that there’s value in sounding different, dressing different, and moving on your own terms.

Webbie – Savage Life 2

There’s something about this album that feels like home. Savage Life 2 is hood poetry, plain and simple. It gave us “Independent” and “I Miss You,” and both songs hit completely different. One was an anthem. The other was therapy. Webbie was unapologetically himself—flawed, confident, emotional, and raw.

He once said, “I rap how I live. I’m not tryna be perfect. I’m just tryna keep it real.” (VIBE, 2008) That’s what this album gave me. It didn’t try too hard. It just gave the truth from the bottom, and it still resonates today.

Webbie reminded me that your voice matters even if it ain’t polished. As long as it’s real, it’s powerful.

Final Thoughts

These five projects did more than entertain me—they gave me structure. They gave me something to relate to when I felt misunderstood. They gave me mindset, motivation, and most of all, authenticity.

Whether it was Gucci’s unfiltered confidence, Jeezy’s business acumen, Plies’ emotional honesty, Thug’s fearless creativity, or Webbie’s unapologetic realness—each of these tapes helped shape the man I’m becoming.

This ain’t just about music. It’s about what you learn from it. And I learned a lot.