Trumaine Lamar

Check out this hot new album from Florida bread vocalist/songwriter/producer Trumaine Lamar. What he does with some of the samples he used is beyond words. Vocally, he holds it down as well. I'll definitely be checking for more projects from this artist. You should too. Check out Trumaine Lamar today. - This Is Real Music.com

I have never heard of Trumaine Lamar before in my LIFE, but from now on I will be checking for him. This is something I needed to get through the day and his smokey vocals just takes me away. This joint “Relax” uses the heavily sampled Ronnie Foster “Mystic Brew” which was also sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for “Electric Relaxation“. So you know you got to come with it when you messing with those two classic joints. Trumaine, I assume is from Florida, but you can get more information at his site and get the album at Bandcamp . Support dope music! - Bama Love Soul.com

Do not be turned off by Trumaine Lamar's familial connection to MC Hammer.

He owns no genie pants. Does not rock a high-top fade. Is unlikely to cover Addams Groove anytime soon.

But Hammer — a cousin on Lamar's father's side — is still an influence on the family.

"I've known him ever since the days when he was huge," says Lamar. "Me and him are not personally close, because I was really little. But him and my brother know each other extremely well, and my dad knows him, so we do contact him when he does come to town, and when he comes to Orlando, too."

Smart thinking. With Lamar's own musical career taking off, it couldn't hurt to have a connection in the biz.

At age 27, Lamar is set to become Tampa Bay's coolest new R&B crooner, with a jazzy, neo-soul flow reminiscent of John Legend, Musiq Soulchild or his idol, Stevie Wonder. Blending silky vocals with ambitious, innovative orchestration and samples (J Dilla, Flying Lotus, Bilal), he's earned slots opening for Chrisette Michele and Joe. Later this month, he and his band will fly to Pittsburgh to perform alongside Brian McKnight.

On July 1, Lamar dropped his debut mixtape, Things I Should've Told Her, which is available as a free download on his website.

Born in Nebraska, Trumaine Lamar Burrell moved to Tampa as a toddler and grew up surrounded by music. Two older brothers are rappers and producers, and he studied voice at Blake High School, performing in musicals like The Wiz (he played the Cowardly Lion). He still sings with several choirs in his church. But he'd been experimenting with more commercial production since his early teens.

At Florida A&M University, he met a Tallahassee musician and producer named Brandon Crumbley, who goes by the name Brandon*. Lamar and Brandon* bonded over their interest in production and similar musical tastes, and both eventually moved back to the Tampa Bay area. When it came time for Lamar to record Things I Should've Told Her, he turned to Brandon* for the beats.

"It was just a matter of sitting back and going through different racks, whichever ones spoke to me first, and really just hit me," he said. "I like a little bit of everything. I can definitely go from Stevie Wonder, who is probably my absolute favorite artist ever, and I can jump right into a Flying Lotus instrumental album and play them back to back. I'm very broad when it comes to music."

He says he's been fortunate to score gigs with the likes of Michele and Joe, as well as at a Super Bowl party in 2009 — especially since it can be tough for R&B singers to gain exposure in the bay area. "It's a little frustrating, because you want to have more places to go, even beyond perfecting your craft — just to enjoy music," he said. "I'm a music fan first."

Lamar has been pushing Things I Should've Told her largely through social media and music blogs, and is receiving positive reviews. He and Brandon* are already writing songs for his debut album; he hopes giving away his mixtape for free will help build buzz among fans.

"I wanted something that would grab people's attention," he said. "If you get into it and you like what you hear, hopefully when I'm coming with something for purchase, you'll want to buy it."


Listen up
Download his new mixtape, Things I Should've Told Her, for free at trumainelamar.com. At 8 p.m. Aug. 6, he'll perform at Boomerang Martini Bar, 2016 Town Center Blvd., Brandon.

[Last modified: Jul 20, 2011 04:57 PM]

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Copyright 2011 St. Petersburg Times
- St. Petersburg Times

If you hadn’t guessed form the title of the artist’s latest LP, Booth newcomer Trumaine Lamar‘s got a few regrets in his past—foremost among them screwing things up with a certain female. On standout cut Still, the Florida resident pours out his feelings regarding the ex-girl in question, exercising his vocal chops over Brandon Crumbly‘s jazzy sample work. Digging this cathartic cut? More soulful reflections on love and loss await on Lamar’s Things I Should’ve Told Her, released in July and available now online. - DJ Booth

Under the radar but not missing a beat, breakout artist to watch, Trumaine Lamar aka Tru, delivers cunning lyrics, smooth melodies, and impressive percussion with his latest mix tape, “Things I Should’ve Told Her”, released July 1, 2011.
No stranger to the mic, this Nebraska born-Florida bred artist has been amongst musicians since the age of 5; able to pick up baselines to songs by ear and teach parts to others in his choir. A chance encounter with his brother’s friend would lead Tru to produce his first track by the age of 13.
Since then, he has been brewing up musical masterpieces as a producer, writer, and vocal artist. With relatable lyrics and supreme production to match, Tru captures the audience with his signature style. This has led him to share the stage with such artists as Chrisette Michele, Lalah Hathaway, Eric Darius, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond and most recently opening for Joe.
Lamar describes his latest project as “a concept record, speaking on different situations in which a guy has the opportunity to express things he kept to himself”, appropriate to the title, Things I Should’ve Told Her. - Rolling Out Magazine

Vocalist, songwriter, and producer, and Floridian artist Trumaine Lamar.
This gentleman’s voice is amazing, soulful and instrumental. Heard about this artist through another blogger’s post and had to check him out. “Stare” off of his mixtape, “Things I Should’ve Told Her” really moved me…lyrics over Flying Lotus‘ “Do the Astral Plane” produced beat creates a nostalgic feeling. - Beautiful Brown Girls