Trife, born Tavache Kizer in Chicago, Illinois, was an American rapper tragically entangled in the violence he condemned through his music. Unlike many rappers from Chicago, such as Chief Keef, who are known for their affiliation with the drill music scene, Trife's lyrics stood in stark contrast. He passionately called for an end to the violence, urging his community to seek peace. Despite his deep love for hip-hop, his primary devotion was to his family, as a husband and father of four.

Trife worked at a transportation company founded by his older brother. Beyond his professional responsibilities, he was committed to reshaping the image of his neighborhood. Together with his brother Larry “Shaciaren” Kizer, he established a nonprofit organization called “Royalt2y.” This initiative aimed to engage with young people, steering them away from the detrimental paths prevalent in their community. Trife believed in the profound influence of hip-hop, asserting that the words rappers choose to convey can wield the power of life and death. Unlike many in the industry, he sought to leverage this influence positively, steering away from self-preservation to uplift others.

Trife's Untimely Death

On October 7, 2013, Trife was finalizing the edits for his music video "Respect the Youth." Tragically, before the video could be completed, he fell victim to the very violence he decried in his work. While visiting a mechanic in his neighborhood on the 7300 block of South Dorchester, he was fatally shot in a hail of bullets around 2 PM. Authorities suspect he was not the intended target, but the assailants remain at large. At the time of his death, Trife was only 38 years old.

Trife's untimely demise occurred less than a month after fellow Chicago rapper Leonard “L'A Capone” Anderson was murdered. These incidents serve as grim reminders of the perilous streets of Chicago, where even those unaffiliated with the prevailing violence become victims. As Chicago's homicide rate surpassed that of New York, Trife had aspired to enact change through his music. Although his life was cut short, his dream remains alive in his legacy.