Above the drama: the heart, fire, and truth of a Philly hip-hop original
Tone Trump is a Philadelphia rapper whose career stretches back more than a decade, marked by an outspoken style and a fearless, larger-than-life presence. Known for boastful lyrics and button-pushing charisma, he built his reputation with mixtapes and street anthems before collaborating with major names including Young Jeezy, CeeLo Green, Ghostface Killah, and Ty Dolla $ign. His music has produced underground hits such as Trump Life and Blood, Sweat & Prayers, and his viral cameo in Creed introduced him to a wider audience. Beyond music, Trump has also built businesses and brand partnerships.
Tone Trump is West Philly born, but he’s built much of his career outside the city’s usual hip hop circles.
What drew me in was a clip where he talked about not needing the traditional co-signs from Philly’s scene — no Cosmic Kev, no Gillie feature — and how, instead of waiting, he made his own lane. I know what it feels like to face local gatekeeping, and I respected how he turned that into motivation.
But what really stood out when I looked deeper was how much more there is to him than the music. He’s a businessman, an entrepreneur, a family man. And no matter how far he roams, he keeps a part of his heart here in Philly — giving back through groceries, sneakers, and clothing drives. Just like his mom taught him, just like his faith calls him to do.
That’s the side of Tone Trump I wanted to spotlight here: not just the artist, but the heart and the hustle behind it.
⭐ “The Biggest in the City” ⭐
ANDRE: Tone Trump is a name people in Philly talk about. You’re from West Philly, and you’ve had to make your own way in music without the usual connections. Even so, you’ve managed to build something big — from collaborations with major artists to multiple businesses and community projects.
TONE TRUMP: Put me on the cover! If it’s not the most downloaded issue you ever had, I’ll buy the whole staff dinner. I’m the biggest in the city. The biggest in the world.
Where does that confidence come from?
From surviving. I didn’t get the usual Philly co-signs. I had to make my own lane.
I respect that. You took what others might see as being shut out and turned it into opportunity. And now people everywhere know you from Creed.
I was able to do it, brother, because I was blackballed. It forced me to go outside of Philadelphia to do shows. One of the places I went to a lot was Oakland, California. One of the people that was in the crowd that came to be a big fan was Ryan Coogler, who ended up being the biggest director of my generation. I thought I was auditioning for a role in Creed but actually he wrote me in as me! Credits say “Tony Brice as Tone Trump.” My government name and my brand name.
None of that happens if I’m not blackballed. None of that happens if I don’t believe in myself. So thank God, thank Allah, and thank Ryan Coogler.
And I’ve leveraged that — I just got ownership in other companies. They know me because I’m Tone Trump, the rapper. They don’t know Tony Brice, the drug dealer from 54th Street. They know the artist from Creed, the artist that works with CeeLo Green.
🔑 Opening New Doors
I can appreciate that — not just the moment itself, but how you flip it into something bigger. That’s the hustler’s mindset. That leads me to my next question. Being that there are people who didn’t show you love early on to help your career, I notice now that you do show a lot of love to upcoming artists. I saw you shouting out Toure and others. Why is that important for you?
Tone Trump: Toure told me in Miami I was the first person with a name to show him love. He was from 59th Street and now he got a global record deal. Shooting six-figure videos in Miami. And we’re down there in the studio with Ne-Yo.
Think about that, bro. He’s from 59th Street. I’m from 54th Street. We couldn’t get them big artists to deal with us in the city, but we fly to Miami, and now in the studio with Ne-Yo, with Hitmaka, and all these different people who get our style and hustle.
So it’s a blessing. Even though they didn’t help, I’m grateful to them. I appreciate them, as I have been so blessed to go my own way.
🔄 Viral for the Wrong Reasons
So let’s get into this, and how people don’t seem to recognize the good you do. Because you actually are big on community, and we don’t really hear about that when people talk about you.
Exactly. I had a 30-second argument with State Representative Sharif Street, and the whole city was talking about it, posting about it. Look, I’ll be the first to praise that brother, he and his family has done so much good in this city for many years. I’m a big supporter. We got together the day after, no one talks about that.
Bro, my mom called me, the Imam of the masjid called me, everybody wanted to tell me they saw our little clash. But not one person has ever called me and said, “Hey, Tone, I just want to say, I love what you and Amen Brown are doing in West Philly.” And we’re literally feeding and clothing people!
That’s why I’m here! Just because something’s viral doesn’t mean it’s important. I’m not into that. I’m trying to build, I’m trying to grow, I’m trying to elevate. I see what you’re doing.
Thank you! Me and Amen been giving out groceries, sneakers, clothes. Five hundred pairs of sneakers. Not one article. But I argue with somebody for half a minute? Viral. That’s backwards. This is why I’m here too — to push the love.
That really resonated with me. Because the roots of that generosity go back to your family.
My mom set that tone. She’d pack me an extra sandwich and say, “If somebody don’t got no lunch, you give it to them.” Our house was the house giving out food, handing down my sneakers and stuff. Now I can do that on a bigger scale — not just in the neighborhood, but across Philly, even overseas.
I’ve been going to Africa since 2019 with Muslims of the World, raising millions of dollars. We’ve built water wells in places people were dying from malnutrition, now they can grow food. I’m watching a little kid perform wudu – a certain washing before prayer – and it’s 109 degrees out and he’s got fresh, clean water now.
That’s the ultimate joy, for me. Bigger than any Oscar or Grammy or check I could ever receive.
🤝 Bridges Behind Bars: With Faith and Dignity
I’ve also seen how you’re proud of your working relationship with the Philadelphia department of prisons. Tell me about that?
I’ve always been anti-government, anti-police — I was raised by very militant, beautiful Black people. And I want to say that I was almost, like, racist maybe in a way. Not knowingly, you know, but I had a lot of anger in me. I resented the government for how they did Malcolm X and Martin Luther King and Marcus Garvey.
I saw these men as heroes, as family members, as ancestors. And then at some point I realized I was in a position to help brothers inside, by building relationships with different people in our prison system. I will never work with the police department, but my work with state and city prisons has been a blessing.
I’m the only artist allowed to bring halal food into Philly’s prisons during Ramadan. I’ve supplied socks, underwear — basics most people overlook. And it doesn’t stop at the gate. With my staffing company, I hire ex-cons fresh out. Monday they come home, Tuesday they’re in the office. If they’re working, they’re not in the streets. That makes the community safer.
🏠 Family First, Built to Last
You often call yourself a hustler, not just a rapper. Where does that come from?
I grew up at 49th & Hoopes, 54th & Arch, during the crack era. The hustlers I saw were like CEOs. Multiple hustles, teams, structure. I learned from that.
So now I’ve got a restaurant. My wife’s candle business, Golden Dream Essentials. Enterprises in Ethiopia! In Wajir, Kenya. If music don’t pay one month, my other businesses will. That’s how you protect your family.
What keeps you centered through all of that? Do you have a favorite verse from the Quran?
Al Fatiha, because it’s the first one we all learn. It was so hard for me to learn – man, I struggled but now it brings me such joy to remember how happy I was when I finally got it. Now it means everything. If I feel off, I can call my son and hear him recite it, and it brings me back. That’s my anchor.
What’s next for you?
Be on the lookout for my new project, it’s called The Biggest Ever, entirely produced by Ali the Greatest. I’m excited to let people hear. I got Ghostface Killah from Wu Tang on there. Five time Grammy winner, CeeLo Green. Ty Dolla $ign. Freeway. And a bunch of new artists from all over. My son Aalim‘s even got a credit!
Shout out to all y’all readers, support what I’m doing. And if you want to donate, I work with Savage Sisters, we do wound care in Kensington. We always need supplies.
🌟 Legacy in Motion
I didn’t know Tone Trump personally before this. But I came away seeing him as not just the confident voice from Creed, but he’s a man investing in his family, his businesses, his faith — and most of all, his community.
That’s what these conversations are for: to show love where it’s due, and to remind people that the biggest wins come when you share them.
What do you think? Hit the links for more info, and leave your comments below.
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🙏 DONATE TO SAVAGE SISTERS 🫶
Spotlight Sessions is a series conceived of and developed by artist-educator Andre Saunders to highlight inspirational local people with personal, community-focused interviews.Read Andre’s previous Spotlight Session on Philly educator and futurist TJ Dean.
Congratulations to Andre on the continued success of his latest book, Honest Becoming Me, where he shares his artistic journey in an interactive format that encourages young readers to find their voice. Read all about it in Philly ArtBlog’s insightful interview showcasing Andre as a dedicated and multi-talented Philly creative.
SAT OCT 11 | 1PM Andre will be the Spotlighted artist at Barnes and Noble bookstore in Plymouth Meeting. , where he’ll delve into what makes us artists and how our art makes us more of who we are. A must for hip-hop and poetry fans, perfect for anyone seeking to better express themselves through creativity.
And be sure to check out Andre’s latest music project “Better Late Than Never”, a deft, layered introspective with unforgettable rhymes and hooks. 
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