10.22.2021

Video: T-Rell – “Fake Smiles”

The Masterful Melodist Contemplates A Turbulent Relationship in the Latest Video from His 2 Big 2 Ignore Album

Critical Praise:

“[T-Rell]’s got some straight Anthony Hamilton pipes” – HotNewHipHop

The Video:

Hailing from Topeka, Kansas, T-Rell has built a faithful fanbase and racked up millions of views with emotional storytelling and soul-baring honesty. Diving into the painful subject of infidelity, T-Rell shares “Fake Smiles,” his new video. T-Rell sings his heart out in his signature style, blending rhythmic rap with resonant R&B as he tries to smile through the pain of his deteriorating relationship: “I be givin’ fake smiles cause I don’t wanna lose you / I gotta hide my pain / Inside I’m breaking down cause this hurt is on my mind.”

In the video, Rell tells a story of a toxic relationship, filled with adultery and deceit, provoking him to mask his real feelings around his partner. After walking in on his partner cheating on him, T-Rell retreats to his car for a moment of privacy where he can let it all out. Vulnerable and compassionate, “Fake Smiles” is the seventh track off of 2 Big 2 Ignore, Rell’s latest album, which peaked at #1 on the iTunes sales chart upon release this past September.

Doing double duty as a treat for loyal listeners and a solid entry point for new listeners, 2 Big 2 Ignore supplements the emotional anthems for which he’s known with hard-nosed street tales and bangers for the club, like the recent single “Slide” ft. Fredo Bang. With his new album, T-Rell takes aim at those who doubted him, delivering a 16-track opus that loudly announces his status as a force to be reckoned with in the midwest and beyond. Though it doesn’t shy away from the pain music that T-Rell made his name on, as it pays tribute to Rell’s late friends like his manager 8-Ball and his close friend Mo3, the album leaves plenty of room for pleasure as well. Featuring appearances from Jackboy on the recent video “Fly Away,” Young Dro, Bigga Rankin, and more, 2 Big 2 Ignore is available everywhere via TRM / Winners Only / EMPIRE.

Determined to become a successful artist since he was a kid, T-Rell grew up loving rap and R&B, idolizing artists as disparate as Tyrese, Jamie Foxx, and Lil Boosie. His life changed forever after a catastrophic car accident that claimed the life of his brother and manager 8-Ball, an incident which inspired him to release “My Dawg,” a massive regional hit and trickled into the national consciousness, eventually spawning a remix with Boosie and becoming part of the standard repertoire at memorial services. Five years later, T-Rell hasn’t slowed down one bit. He released the album Rell Play earlier in 2021, and it quickly climbed to #1 on the iTunes R&B/Soul chart, #6 on the iTunes All Genres chart, and #69 on the Apple Music charts. T-Rell told his story his own way in “2 Big 2 Ignore,” a new mini-documentary that explores the artist’s unlikely rise and his history of altruism in his city and beyond.

Watch “Fake Smiles”: https://youtu.be/SB_T2B7IZXo

Buy/Stream 2 Big 2 Ignore: https://music.empi.re/2big2ignore

Watch the “2 Big 2 Ignore” Mini-Doc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXP4tvkeR6c&t=1s

2 Big 2 Ignore tracklist:
1. Medusa (feat. Bigga Rankin)
2. Fit In (feat. Big Boogie)
3. Lonely
4. Whole Thang
5. So in Love
6. Big Mad (feat. Young Dro)
7. Fake Smiles
8. Slide (feat. Fredo Bang)
9. Ghetto B*tch
10. No Lies (feat. DC Young Fly)
11. Tomorrow Not Promised
12. Fly Away (feat. Jackboy)
13. On The Gang
14. LL3
15. Judge Me (feat. Bigga Rankin)
16. Grateful

Please contact Michelle or Destiny for more info.

The Background:

A star in the making, T-Rell from Topeka, KS has all the right moves. His ability to sing, rap, dance, & even produce makes him a sure candidate for the “limelight”. His musical background comes from his family, mainly his mom who is a town legend. In 2014, on the way back from a show T-Rell was involved in a car accident in which he lost the life of his brother “8-Ball”. This life changing experience was the inspiration for the hit single “My Dawg”. The record was a instant classic and was made a verified hit when Boosie BadAzz was featured on the remix. T-Rell has other hit songs with artist such as K-stylis, Kevin Gates, Cassidy, Young Dolph, Mo3, Mike Jones & more.