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Tray Chaney - Reality Rap
Interview By: Michael Ivey
 The last crisis moment for Tray Chaney’s “Poot,” from HBO’s The Wire, found him pealing off a corner at top speed as D-Boy cohort “Bodie” lay fading into the concrete near the close of Season 4. Tray’s role as a ghetto girl lusting, utility hustler, hasn’t shown a huge arc, however, he remains important to the show’s plot.
Maybe it’s fortuitous that “Poot” hasn’t met a dramatic end, and Tray himself hasn’t jumped shipped for other ventures, be they Hollywood or music related; his own personal life has involved enough violence and strife for ravenous media types to have a field day. No need to pry though, anyone can obtain Tray’s complex story (The Truth You Can’t beTray) at Amazon.com, Borders or Target.
Pre-HBO, a youthful looking Tray started out dancing at New York’s Apollo Theater. He has worked major films with Mos Def and Chris Rock and appeared in music vids alongside pop stars Nelly and Lil Bow Wow. For five years Tray has used skillful thespian subtitles to breath life into his mid-level character in the Peabody Award winning drama The Wire; now new film and video roles are on the horizon. Major stars (Wood Harris, Idris Elba) from the show are doing their George Jefferson stroll down red carpets, east and west- it’s time for The Wire’s corner boys and body snatchers to shine.
 Nobodysmiling.com : “So how you gonna just let “Bodie” get popped and bounce man?” That was my first thought when I got this assignment; then I thought, ‘This guy is a regular guy who acts, not his character;’ so when I checked traychaney.com I wasn’t expecting the content that’s in the book excerpt.
Tray Chaney : I sit back and watch that scene over and over again and laugh at myself how I ran when Boady got popped, my little sister make fun of that scene all the time. This is only acting, I would have stuck right by my man in real life, believe that 100%. Don’t get it twisted people that was how the script read.
Nobodysmiling.com : Felicia Pearson (“Snoop”) has a book out too. Between the two of you, whose real life mirrors their ‘Wire’ role more?
Tray Chaney : I would have to say Felicia’s role mirrors the Wire more because the character I portray on the show is not me at all, and some of the roles that I play, I have never been in this situation in life, Snoop is Baltimore and she represents the struggle and how you can overcome it. That’s my girl; she is as close to a real individual as you can get in this industry. We are suppose to be touring together in the spring with our books. “The Truth You Can’t BeTray” is the book about my life story. It has no profanity what so ever, you can get your copy by going to Amazon.com it’s $13.99 when you go on line by just typing in the name of the book or just type in my name Tray Chaney and it will come up.
Nobodysmiling.com : What’s ‘Hood Related’ about? Who wrote it? As you look to capitalize on your role w/’The Wire’ are you conscious of type casting?
Tray Chaney : Hood Related is a film that stars me, Anwon Glover who plays Slim Charles on “The Wire” and also Felicia “Snoop” Pearson, she will make a couple appearances in the movie. Also it’s one of those urban/drama stories about what could happen to individuals if they base there life on the street. Anwon Glover has something to do with the writing part of the script expect it out in the spring of 2008.
Nobodysmiling.com : Why come out w/a book so early in your career?
Tray Chaney : Because most people I come in contact with want to know where did I come from and how did I get to this point of my life, so I thought it would be good to write about it so they would know and I wanted to help other young ones that have a dream like myself to follow their dreams and never give up no matter what.
Nobodysmiling.com : Make any good discoveries or breakthroughs while digging through your past?
Tray Chaney : It was a struggle to get to this point, my past wasn’t too bad, I definitely was not perfect, but hey I am still climbing. I try not to dwell on the past; I discovered that I love acting and music more than anything at this point in my career.
Nobodysmiling.com : What attracted you to Yolanda Coleman? Did you begin the book knowing that you needed a co-writer?
Tray Chaney : Yoland Coleman is one of the sweetest women walking the earth, I met her thru a mutual friend and I had no idea we would hook up to do my book together, I had begun writing and had the book almost completed when we actually got together. I truly enjoyed working with her and completing the project.
Nobodysmiling.com : How was it working w/Mos Def on ‘Something The Lord Made?’
Tray Chaney : Working with Mos Def was truly an experience; he is a cool dude real down to earth and very friendly. This was actually one of my first cameo appearances that I made in a film.
Nobodysmiling.com : You’ve only been in urban pop music videos so far; are you looking to land in more straight gutter hip hop vids like “What We Do?” (Freeway, 2002)
Tray Chaney : I am looking to land in video’s that paint a picture that people can relate to. And “What We Do” was not a gutter video, it was a wonderful piece of art work formatted and edited into a video and the song truly fits perfect with “The Wire”. Whoever thought of that is a true genius, Shout out to Freeway and Beanie Siegel. Their albums are hot!
Nobodysmiling.com : Are you a big music buff like Big G, Wood Harris, Idris Elba and other cast mates?
Tray Chaney : I truly love music, I started out dancing at the legendary Apollo Theater at the young age of eight and to this very day, I can still bust a jam. I am also in the studio working on a little something right now. I am going to take hip hop back to the funky days when MC’s were really putting on a show with dancers, bands, etc.
Nobodysmiling.com : How much is writing similar for you, if at all, to acting techniques you use?
Tray Chaney : It’s pretty much the same for me because with either one, I concentrate and put my all into the job, there is never any slacking. I enjoy writing just as much as acting. Yo, also check for me in a new film called “Soulful” starring myself, Snoop, and Omillio Sparks from State Property. The film was directed by Shurwill Langston of Toughstruggle Entertainment, and it hits Blockbuster stores February 5th. Make sure you hit me up on myspace.com/traychaney and check out my website at www.traychaney.com . Peace!
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