You can’t expect me to think like you ‘cause my life ain’t like yours…

Fresh off a year of significant highs and lows, the self-proclaimed King of the South releases Paper Trail, his 6^th studio album and a full testimony that his spirit and his swagger remain untouched. As on the previous album (T.I. vs. T.I.P, 2007), we see a balanced display of his dual personalities, each making noteworthy contributions. While I wouldn’t call Paper Trail T.I.’s all time best release, it’s definitely near the top of the list and brings the listener another step closer to the heart of the King.

56 Bars and I’m Illy reintroduce T.I. as one of the greatest lyricists and trendsetters in the game. I’d like to know what blogger pissed in T.I.’s cornflakes, cause he let’s loose on What Up, What’s Happenin’, (“How bout we stay up all night, on the blog sites, spread vicious lies and nasty rumors, we can all write! But that’s alright, let the nerds hate…”) which also allegedly addresses his beef with Shawty Lo (“I ain’t mention yo name, that’s what all this bout?”). Usher chimes in on My Life Your Entertainment, which offers a perspective on life from the other side of the lens, and while the rapper shines here, the hook is a bit dry and the singer leaves much to be desired. T.I. still knows who to call when he needs a club banger – that’s right, Swizz Beatz: Swing Ya Rag is the ultimate baller’s anthem for a night out partyin’ in the club. Oh, and the Rubber Band Man hasn’t lost his touch for satisfying the ladies. Porn Star is a nice dedication to the naughty side of life (and one of my favorite tracks), and your reward: Whatever You Like. One of the downsides to the album is Ain’t Missin Nothin’ which just doesn’t seem to fit. He attempts to bring hope to the incarcerated, but the content on the rest of the album completely disproves the title and theme of this track – they really are missing something: life.

This album sees quite a few powerhouse collaborations. He teams up with B.O.B. and fellow ATL rapper Ludacris for a monstrous hit with the tragedy-to-triumph inspired On Top Of The World, where Luda totally blazes his verse (Theater of the Mind – 11.11.08). Rihanna unites with T.I. on the empowering Livin My Life, a song that uplifts the principle of doing you, regardless of haters. The album mellows out just a bit with a cameo from R&B crooner John Legend on the introspective Slide Show. The most momentous of collaborative efforts is undoubtedly Swagga Like Us. The masters of the hip-hop universe (Jay-Z, Kanye, Lil Wayne and T.I.) come together for a grand slam of epic proportions. Justin Timberlake revives his musical chemistry with T.I. on the closing number, Dead and Gone. It’s one of the album’s shining moments, as T.I. kicks some real knowledge about maturity, taking responsibility as a man, and leaving childish things behind.

With this album, T.I. sets out to give a more realistic view of his life and along the way he dispels some of the misconceptions portrayed by the media and the blogosphere. His ability to showcase his vulnerability through his music (an uncommon characteristic among rappers) is what sets him levels above his competition. Listeners can relate to emotion and T.I.’s music is heartfelt, born out of his life experiences. Webster defines a king as one that holds a preeminent position, especially a chief among competitors. Hip-hop defines a king as T.I. – and he’s still serious!

Related Posts:
Swagga Like Us
Mack’s New Anthem
T.I. – Whatever You Like
Your Prescription is In: Hip-Hop Edition

-Mack-

Artist: LL Cool J
Album: Exit 13
Release Date: 9.9.08

Hip-hop heads everywhere have been calling for the retirement of LL Cool J for some time now. Critics have said he’s lost it, fans say he’s not the same, and it appears that even record labels have lost hope for the man greatly responsible for building the Def Jam Dynasty — including Def Jam (“I built an empire, they tried to kick me out in the rain”). After listening to LL’s latest album, Exit 13 (his final project in his Def Jam contract), I’ve concluded that it’s not for lack of talent that this CD isn’t going to be a hit. It’s that other thing, the thing that really keeps you going after 20+ years; the thing that keeps loyal fans buying your music for all those years. It’s the thing that LL Cool J shares with aspiring artists, and the same reason those artists aspire after his success. Exit 13 has a surplus of hot beats, variety, and some pretty nice lyrical flow, but it’s his passion for the music that’s in short supply.

It’s Time For War opens the album quite appropriately with a history lesson that reintroduces the self-proclaimed G.O.A.T. and is one of the strongest tracks on the album. But on the next few tracks LL seems to succumb to industry trends, making some of the music very pop-infused. The lead single Baby featuring The Dream is an example of this – the lyrics seem overly simple and LL resorted to industry standards of “hotness” instead of his own ability on which he built his career. But then there are the classic heartfelt LL tracks like Cry, where he resurrects Lil’ Mo for the hook. Ryan Leslie adds some flavor to the hook and the beat on the metaphoric Like a Radio, which gives the ladies yet another reason to love Mr. Smith. Rockin with the G.O.A.T. (DJ Scratch) has some pretty nice lyrics and great production to it, as does Speedin On The Highway/Exit 13 (Suits & Ray Burghardt). The highlight of the album for me is the politically charged Mr. President featuring Wyclef Jean. It’s one of the best songs addressing the political state of affairs and speaking for the people. But then the album has it’s corny-as-hell tracks, like the marching-band inspired American Girl, complete with marching cadence and a sample of the national anthem (no, not the black national anthem).

Sure LL’s style isn’t the same as it was in his prime, but neither is the music industry (specifically the rap game). With this album, LL has shown his ability to conform, not necessarily adapt, and in the process he loses a bit of the passion he shared with his fans for the music – the passion to make good music, not just for the sake of making a song or a hit record. While this album does have flow and style, it lacks the heart and soul that built LL’s career for over 2 decades. So I agree that it may be time for him to retire from the studio to the silver screen, but it’s only for fear that conformity might have LL singing on the next album, and that would NOT be cool Mr. Smith…

-Mack-

1. Know what you want out of the situation in and be honest. No one demonstrates this better than Musiq Soulchild, but not just on one track, he gives you two. On his very first single, Just Friends, he takes the nice guy approach of just kickin it with a nice shawty and letting it flow from there. If that’s not the way you wanna go, check out one of his more recent joints B.U.D.D.Y. an anthem about the beauty of being friends with benefits.

2. Ladies this one’s for you: keep it real with your heart, and don’t play us with the rebound game. The #2 joint on this week’s countdown is Danity Kane with Damaged. Although the topic makes for a nice song, emotional baggage isn’t cool at all. If you need someone to fix it, maybe you need Jesus. And besides, keepin’ it real upfront causes less stress down the road.

3. A lot of fellas meet the nice lookin chick and think they’re willing to take on any challenge for her. That is, until her 15 year old son shows up and he’s taller than you. That’s why comin in at #3 is Lyfe Jennings with She Got Kids. On the real, kids are an important part to any person’s life, man or woman. If you can’t handle that you probably don’t wanna date someone with kids.

4. The #1 reason relationships dissolve is lack of communication. The #2 reason is too much communication – from outside forces. Up at #4 is Brandy and Kanye West with Talk About Our Love. A good way to keep your relationship in perspective is to keep everyone else OUT.

5. Fellas and ladies, if your significant other has an unusual amount of contact with the one before you, it might be a sign. The #5 joint is Mya with Case of the Ex. Mya was onto something here; if the ex is too close, you might need to move on to the next. Midnight phone calls, text messages and unexpected cameos from the ex could end up turning you into the next ex.

6. Fellas don’t fool yourself: if she left him for you, she’d leave you for the next man. #6 is an artist who needs a search party to dig him out of his retirement: Ginuwine with What’s So Different? Keep it in perspective and ask yourself, what’s really so different? The answers may shock you…

7. If this song hits home for you, it might be time to pick up and move. The #7 jam is from a woman who could write a book on keeping relationships in perspective – and that’s because she’s in one of the most successful celebrity marriages of our time. It’s none other than Tamia’s smash single Stranger In My House. This song highlights trust issues, which is yet another reason for the failure of relationships. When the trust is gone, you’re just slow dancing in a burning room.