From: officialflagrant
That Mexican OT’s upbringing in Texas, particularly areas like Bay City and Palacios, profoundly shaped his outlook, music, and personal development. His childhood was marked by a unique blend of rural Texas culture, exposure to violence and substance use, and strong, albeit complex, family dynamics.
Texas Roots and Lifestyle
That Mexican OT grew up steeped in Texas culture. As a child, he recalls having a trampoline and a pool at home [00:01:31]. He often tells stories that reflect his unique environment, such as freezing paintballs with his “Kinfolk” to shoot at people in New York projects [00:06:48].
Gun culture was a significant part of his life from an early age. He describes always carrying a gun, sometimes two ARs in the car, and even having one in church [00:02:54]. For him, a gun is as essential as a wallet [00:02:30]. This deep integration of firearms stems from a perceived need for self-protection, influenced by stories from his community, such as a funeral where the opposition stole the casket with the body in it [00:03:04]. He recounts instances where he had to display a weapon to de-escalate situations, particularly at “land parties” where people on drugs might become confrontational [00:07:41].
He also participated in hog hunting, a common activity in Texas due to hogs being a nuisance to land and crops [00:22:17]. This activity involved using trucks and sometimes helicopters to hunt, cook, or simply leave the hogs for other animals to devour [00:22:00]. He mentions the prevalence of alligators in Texas, particularly around the Gulf of Mexico where rivers flow [00:22:50].
Family and Social Environment
His family and relationships played a crucial role in his upbringing.
- Father: His father, Chuck, was a significant influence. He describes his dad as having incredible energy, earning respect without being gang-affiliated in prison, and being a “political ass” [00:10:48]. Despite his father’s time in prison, they maintained a close relationship, with OT visiting him and even trying to take prison coins home because he missed his dad [01:24:34]. His father also trained him physically, emphasizing bodyweight control, and would wake him up before school to rap battle grown men [01:26:55]. His father was a strong believer in his musical talent from a very young age [01:37:48].
- Mother: His mother was involved in dealing crack and cocaine in Bay City [00:44:07]. She was described as “savage” and fearless, even smacking someone in the head with a brick of cocaine when irritated [00:43:51]. She had him at a young age and was still “being a kid” herself [00:43:40]. He was often taken care of by his uncle, who was younger than his parents [00:43:34].
- Grandparents: His paternal grandfather, Chico, was a “black cowboy of the century” who passed away at 99. He was known for breaking horses and ranch maintenance [00:53:03].
- Cousins and Friends: He grew up with cousins and friends who engaged in wild behaviors, including a “legally lunatic” homeboy who tried to wrestle an alligator [00:00:25].
Exposure to Substance Use
Experiences with substance use were present from a young age, starting around 14 in high school [00:19:56]. He admits to doing cocaine in class, passing around a “20 sack” under the desk [00:20:04]. He describes one instance of getting high while fishing and being intensely focused [00:21:08]. He also recalls a particularly bad experience with cocaine where he blacked out and woke up on the floor [02:26:20].
He was introduced to shrooms by an older girl who “slutted him out” [02:27:27]. He also experimented with ecstasy, specifically “blue dolphin ones” [02:25:09]. Despite past substance use, he states he doesn’t drink alcohol because he becomes “mean” and “confrontational” [02:27:07], whereas drugs like shrooms make him “happy” and “friendly” [02:27:18].
Early Musicality and Personal Growth
That Mexican OT began rapping at a very young age, around three or four years old, a fact frequently brought up by his parents [01:18:18]. He would rap battle grown men, encouraged by his father [01:18:14]. His uncles on his mother’s side were also rappers, and he started recording with them when he was a kid [01:18:11]. He still uses lyrics he wrote in eighth grade in his current songs [01:48:54]. He attributes his “musical fluency” to this early exposure, comparing it to learning a language [01:46:00].
His childhood experiences, including a chip on his shoulder from feeling “robbed from everything” due to his mother’s death at a young age and perceived challenges, led to bottling up anger [02:22:45]. He later realized this anger was unhealthy and worked to overcome it, reaching a point of self-belief around 20-21 years old [02:36:47]. His decision to embrace his authentic “cowboy” image, rather than trying to fit a conventional rapper aesthetic, coincided with his rise to success [01:34:22].