In the inaugural episode of Switching Stages, a fresh series co-produced by Billboard and The Players’ Tribune, Atlanta’s own Quavo invites Hawks superstar Trae Young into his world, swapping out the hardwood for the recording studio in an unexpected cultural crossover.

In the recording booth, Quavo—ever the maestro of trap—welcomes Trae with the warmth of a seasoned collaborator. “Welcome to my world, brother,” he says, setting the tone before pressing play on a freshly made track. Trae, sporting headphones instead of a jersey, admits some anxiety: “Sh–, I don’t want to mess this up.” Quavo reassures him: “You gonna do nothing but add some more sauce to it… All you gotta do is just put it through the hoop.” The NBA star steps to the mic, giving his own spin on ad‑libs and flow, guided by Quavo’s coaching deep into hip-hop’s fast-rhythm pulse.

The energy between the two is palpable. Quavo, with an infectious grin, compares their dynamic to a basketball play—action-packed and instinctive: “Like the shooting machine… when Trae jumps in the gym… All you gotta do is… put it through the hoop.” Trae dives in, nods of approval and supportive laughter filling the room as he begins to find his rhythm in this new environment .

Trae’s curiosity as he navigates Quavo’s creative space shines through. In a follow-up moment captured in the episode, he attempts to match Quavo’s flow, testing his own limits in a genre not his own. It’s raw, it’s new, and it’s powerful—all springing from their long-standing friendship and mutual respect born in Atlanta’s rich tapestry of music and sport .