Starlito And Don Trip Are Not “Chasing Trends” On ‘Step Brothers 4 & A Half’
A gloomy Los Angeles day shifted to sunshine and a cool breeze when Starlito and Don Trip entered VIBE’s west coast office. The Tennessee-bred rap duo sat down to discuss the motivations behind their latest drop, Step Brothers 4 Life, as well as the extended version, and candidly explained what separates their motivational metaphors from others.
“A big theme of the album was nostalgia, as we’re 40-year-old rappers, and what I guess [it’s seen] as a young person’s game, we’re still able to survive, not chasing the ghost of our former selves or chasing the trends,” explained Starlito as the intimate listening session began.
Both Starlito and Don Trip agreed that their method of bouncing off one another when recording results in their best work with tracks that share messages for the youth, explore relatable stories, and take listeners down a partially autobiographical storyline.
Their latest drop, Step Brothers 4 Life, was followed by Step Brother Four & A Half, a deluxe edition, bringing the track total to 24. Features include Robin Raynelle, JudahThaLion, 8Ball & MJG, Blvck Wizzle, and Charlie Couvillion.
Along with the music, the rappers released the Step Brothers Four & A Half documentary, which chronicles their coinciding journeys in the industry and beyond, a story also explored on the track “Origins.” As noted by Starlito, the aforementioned song was the only one featured on the project that was recorded in the past, yet the narrative holds strong.
Together, both Starlito and Don Trip recognized the importance of being lyrically honest with listeners, exposing vulnerable feelings, telling cautionary tales in their work, along with the bops and machismo swagger.
“It’s more valid,” explained Starlito as Don Trip nodded in agreement. “We’re more like our audience. We’re intentional about what we’re doing….In our own way, we probably make people feel seen.”
Take a listen to Step Brothers Four & A Half below and watch the documentary above.