TRAP AWARDS 2025 | 85 SOUTH SHOW PODCAST
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The 85 South Show celebrated its 10-year anniversary, reflecting on its journey from small beginnings to major platforms.
- ❖Hosts Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly, and Clayton English, along with their crew, emphasized brotherhood and mutual support as foundational to their success.
- ❖Jason Weaver, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, highlighted the significance of recognition from one's own community over mainstream industry accolades.
- ❖The podcast serves as a platform for the hosts and their team to pursue diverse creative dreams, including sketch comedy and movies.
- ❖The 'Trap Awards' were created to acknowledge the collective effort and individual talents within their independent ecosystem.
- ❖The hosts stressed the importance of execution, taking 'crazy ideas' and actively pursuing them, which has led to unexpected growth and opportunities.
Insights
1The Power of Independent Recognition and Community Building
The 85 South Show created its own 'Trap Awards' to celebrate its 10-year anniversary and acknowledge the contributions of its team, guests, and community. This internal recognition system fosters loyalty and highlights achievements that might be overlooked by traditional industry awards. The hosts emphasize that their success is built on brotherhood, mutual support, and a shared vision, rather than individual egos.
DC Young Fly noted winning an NAACP award but stressed the greater feeling of achieving success with brothers, stating, 'It's a whole another feeling cuz it ain't no egos in this... it's just like coming up, bro. When you look, it's just a hand. You don't know who hand it.' Karlous Miller added, 'This ain't nothing without the family that we got in this room, bro.'
2From 'Ghetto Trap' to Mainstream Influence: A Decade of Growth
The 85 South Show has evolved significantly, transitioning from a grassroots podcast recorded in a 'trap' to a major media entity. They have hosted the BET Awards twice, achieved a #1 spot on Netflix, and performed in numerous clubs, theaters, and arenas. This growth is attributed to their consistent effort, willingness to 'do it,' and their ability to leverage their authentic brand.
Karlous Miller recounted, 'We went from doing some ghetto in a trap that we was running to hosting the BET Awards and they said, 'Bro, bring the trap to BET as black entertainers.'... Then we took that to Netflix. Then we went number one.' He also noted they recorded for two years before booking a live show.
3Jason Weaver's Philosophy: Community Validation Over Industry Awards
Veteran actor Jason Weaver, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, delivered a profound speech emphasizing that recognition from one's own community and peers holds more weight than traditional industry accolades like Emmys or Grammys. He views 85 South as trailblazers creating a new path for black creators and sees their acknowledgment as a confirmation that his work has inspired the next generation.
Jason Weaver stated, 'This means a lot to me because that that lets me know and that confirms for me that the work that I've been blessed to do throughout the years has been respected and it has helped to inspire the next generation.' He concluded, 'If God willing I do win an Oscar one day or an Emmy, this trophy will be on the same pedestal as that one because this kind of recognition is what honestly matters to me.'
4Leveraging a Platform to Pursue Diverse Creative Ventures
The 85 South Show is not just a podcast; it's a platform for its creators to chase other dreams and develop new talents within their crew. They actively encourage team members to explore different creative avenues, from sketch comedy to movies, and provide the infrastructure and audience to support these new ventures.
Karlous Miller articulated this vision: '85 South Show... is a platform we created to chase our other dreams. Of course, we can tell jokes, but what can we create, though? What can we produce? What can we use this platform for? Who else in the crew got some talent?' He announced, 'Movies is next.'
Bottom Line
The explicit creation of internal awards (Trap Awards) by a successful independent media company demonstrates a strategic pivot away from relying solely on external industry validation, fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem of recognition and motivation.
This approach builds stronger team cohesion, reinforces brand identity, and empowers creators by validating their work within their own terms, potentially leading to more authentic and less compromised content.
Independent creators and organizations can implement similar internal award systems to celebrate achievements, boost morale, and reinforce cultural values, thereby strengthening their community and reducing dependence on external gatekeepers.
The hosts' casual, almost dismissive, attitude towards traditional awards (e.g., 'awards don't mean nothing' from Clayton English) while simultaneously celebrating their own 'Trap Awards' highlights a shift in perceived value from institutional recognition to community-driven acknowledgment.
This perspective suggests that for a new generation of creators, especially those from marginalized communities, the 'establishment's' approval is less critical than the genuine support and respect from their direct audience and peers.
Brands and platforms targeting independent creators should focus on facilitating community engagement and peer-to-peer recognition mechanisms, as these may resonate more deeply than traditional, top-down validation structures.
The song 'On The Way' by Tren and Gray, performed at the awards, candidly discusses the financial precarity of a rapper's life (lack of pension, 401k, health insurance) despite fame, contrasting with the show's overall success narrative.
This reveals a deeper, often unaddressed, economic reality for many artists in the entertainment industry, even those associated with successful platforms, underscoring the gap between creative output and financial stability.
There's an opportunity to develop financial literacy programs, alternative income streams, or collective bargaining initiatives specifically tailored for independent artists and content creators to address the lack of traditional employment benefits.
Opportunities
Independent Creator Streaming Service (Channel 85 Model)
Launch and scale a dedicated streaming platform (like Channel 85) for a collective of independent creators, offering exclusive content, early access, merchandise discounts, and a direct revenue share model. This bypasses traditional media gatekeepers and fosters a direct relationship with the audience.
Community-Driven 'Black Market' for Business Promotion
Create a 'Black Market' segment or platform where independent businesses and entrepreneurs can be featured, interviewed, and promoted to a large, engaged audience. This leverages the platform's reach to support and scale community-owned businesses.
Sketch Comedy and Film Production Studio
Establish an in-house production arm to develop and produce sketch comedy shows, movies, and other long-form content, utilizing existing talent within the creative collective. This expands the brand's content offerings and creates new revenue streams.
Lessons
- Prioritize execution over extensive planning: Take your 'crazy ideas' and start 'doing it' to see how far they can go, as demonstrated by the 85 South Show's decade of growth.
- Cultivate a strong internal community: Foster an environment of brotherhood and mutual support, where team members are encouraged to pursue diverse talents and are recognized for their contributions, reducing reliance on external validation.
- Leverage your platform for diversification: Use your primary platform (e.g., podcast, YouTube channel) as a launchpad for new ventures like streaming services, sketch shows, movies, and even promoting other community businesses, thereby building a diversified media empire.
Building an Independent Media Empire: The 85 South Show Model
**Start with Authenticity & Consistency:** Begin with raw, unfiltered content that resonates with a specific audience, consistently producing it over an extended period (e.g., 2 years before live shows).
**Foster a Strong Internal Community:** Build a team based on brotherhood and mutual support, where individual egos are minimized, and collective growth is prioritized. Actively seek out and develop diverse talents within the crew.
**Create Your Own Recognition System:** Establish internal awards or acknowledgment mechanisms to celebrate team members, guests, and community achievements, reinforcing cultural values and reducing reliance on external industry validation.
**Leverage Your Core Platform for Diversification:** Use the established audience and brand of your primary content (e.g., podcast) as a launchpad for new ventures like streaming services, sketch comedy, movies, and merchandise.
**Embrace 'Doing It' Over Planning:** Take 'crazy ideas' and execute them, even without a 'formal plan of execution,' allowing organic growth and unexpected opportunities to emerge.
**Maintain Brand Integrity on Larger Stages:** When collaborating with major networks (e.g., BET, Netflix), ensure your unique brand and 'trap' essence are preserved, rather than conforming to external expectations.
Notable Moments
The hosts' comedic reactions to the 'budget cut' awards, which were presented as spray-painted nutcrackers and Christmas ornaments on coasters.
This running gag highlighted the show's self-aware, irreverent humor and its ability to find comedy in its own production constraints, reinforcing its authentic 'trap' aesthetic.
DC Young Fly winning the 'Hometown Hero Award' and delivering a passionate speech about representing Atlanta and giving back to his community.
This moment underscored the deep connection the hosts have with their roots and their commitment to using their platform to uplift their city and inspire positive change.
Jason Weaver's acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award, where he acknowledged 85 South as trailblazers and emphasized the importance of community recognition.
This was a powerful validation of 85 South's impact from an industry veteran, highlighting the growing significance of independent platforms in shaping the future of entertainment and cultural discourse.
The performance by Tren and Gray, particularly the song 'On The Way,' which touched on the financial realities and aspirations of independent artists.
This performance added a layer of raw, relatable insight into the economic challenges faced by many in the entertainment industry, even while pursuing their dreams.
Quotes
"Don't never let nobody tell you what you can't do. Cuz they can't do it. People project fears and insecurity into other people who have the heart and the courage to at least try to pursue their dreams."
"It's a whole another feeling cuz it ain't no egos in this... Nobody acting like better than name, bro. It's just like coming up, bro. When you look, it's just a hand. You don't know who hand it."
"Awards don't mean nothing cuz you got to win every goddamn day. Win your day, day after day, continuously. And that's how you win at life."
"85 South is the new generation of trailblazing and creating a new path for the new generation of black creators that are coming out in this industry."
"If God willing I do win an Oscar one day or an Emmy, this trophy will be on the same pedestal as that one because this kind of recognition is what honestly matters to me."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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