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T.I.

King

  • AMG Review of King

    Amg
    Andy Kellman
    All Music Guide

    Released the same week as ATL, his big-screen debut, T.I.'s fourth album isn't the leap forward he's been threatening to make, but it does carry the best set of productions he has been given to work with, and it guarantees that he won't be leaving the singles charts any time soon. On a steady basis since 2003, the MC has been responsible for some of the most memorable ap singles of the decade. "24's," "T.I. vs. T.I.P.," "Rubberband Man," "Bring Em Out," "U Don't Know Me," and the underappreciated "ASAP" amount to a run as impressive as anyone else's during the same years, and the streak continued with King's first official single. The slow victory lap that is "What You Know" is T.I.'s greatest track yet, a Toomp production with high and low synthesizer notes -- all of which sound like severely pitched-down synthetic horn lines -- drawn out to the point where they're practically bleeding into one another; T.I. similarly extends his syllables ("Just keep it very cooool, or we will bury yooou") for maximum looming effect. The track is emblematic of the album in that T.I. is basically saying the same things he has said many times before, but he's finding slightly different ways to say them, and as long as he doesn't get lackadaisical and his producers keep up, he'll be at the top of his game. The swarming all-out-assault "I'm Talking to You" and the Rick Rubin-worthy "You Know Who" play roles similar to that of Urban Legend's "Bring Em Out," and though neither one is quite as swift, they add further muscle to an MC who tends to be regarded as smooth. Some of the less energetic tracks weigh the 75-minute album down, but "Why You Wanna" works surprisingly well, given that T.I. tends to sound out of place when he's playing loverman and that the plangent keyboards from Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman" really have no business being anywhere near a ap track. It is frustrating that T.I. has only been refining his material since 2003's Trap Muzik, but that has been more than enough to gradually raise his profile. Maybe he needs a flop to spark some risk-taking. For better or worse, it doesn't look like that will be happening anytime soon.

T.I vs. T.I.P On The Way This Summer
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

T.I. vs T.I.P. will be here this july, the highly anticipated follow up from the Atlanta native will be filled to the brim with collaborations with hip hop's elite.T.I has confirmed he'll have songs with Eminem and Justin Timberlake, and that the theme of the album will deal with balancing his industry and business side, with the street minded guy of his past.*"Full Article Here":http://www.mtv...

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What do TI and Dance Music have in common?
over 3 years ago

The answer would be: Crystal Water's "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)". Since I copped KING earlier this year, I've been loving the Why you Wanna song, and have known there was some crazy sample in it...my carpool buddy is big into Dance and Electronica, and he was convinced it was a Terrence Parker song...me, being the music encyclopedia that I am, felt it was Crystal Waters, maybe that 100% Pure...

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T.I. Talks To Ludacris From Prison About Lil Wayne & Lil Boosie Legal Trouble
23 days ago

T.I. is still keeping an eye on things while serving his year-and-a-day prison sentence for felony weapons charges. On Wednesday, Ludacris tweeted that he spoke to his fellow Atlanta heavyweight.

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T.I. Sentenced To A Year And A Day In Prison
7 months ago

Hold your head T.I. What you been doing for the youth in the past few months is something that you should be happy about. Without this situation you may not have ever known the positivity that you could bring to so many young people. ‘T.I.’s Road To Redemption’ show on MTV has been the best [...]

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A Quick (expletive) Song of the Week before I clean, pack, sleep and BOUNCE
over 3 years ago

OK, so I won't have time to do a (fricking) Song of the Weel over the weekend, but because I have a free moment before I scour my house from top to bottom, I figured I'd give it to you early, like an accidental pregnancy. So this Week's Song is...*"What You Know" by T.I.*In my opinion, this is far and away T.I.'s best song. I mean, it doesn't do anything NEW, really, but everything T.I. did bef...

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Rap Phase
over 2 years ago

I don't know if it's because I listen to my music incessently or maybe I'm growing more diverse in taste...and I have a feeling it's been influenced by my pop-culture generation.But, I've been listening to/ downloading more Rap music lately than I ever have before. I've always liked rap, but considered the "rock" music I listen to regularly to be on a higher level of musical accomplishment. How...

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What do TI and Dance Music have in common?
over 3 years ago

The answer would be: Crystal Water's "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)". Since I copped KING earlier this year, I've been loving the Why you Wanna song, and have known there was some crazy sample in it...my carpool buddy is big into Dance and Electronica, and he was convinced it was a Terrence Parker song...me, being the music encyclopedia that I am, felt it was Crystal Waters, maybe that 100% Pure...

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Shit's Great
over 3 years ago

As the dude from Girl Talk said, T.I.'s "What You Know" was [something like] "pretty much the rap anthem of the summer." But, seriously, it was. This song threatens to supplant Ignition (remix) as the greatest song of all-time. Listen to it! I fucking dare you! There's the the melody synth line; the choir synth; the string section line; the buzz-saw synth line; the bass; and, of course, the r

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a note from about a month ago
over 3 years ago

This song moves me.

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T.I vs. T.I.P On The Way This Summer
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

T.I. vs T.I.P. will be here this july, the highly anticipated follow up from the Atlanta native will be filled to the brim with collaborations with hip hop's elite.T.I has confirmed he'll have songs with Eminem and Justin Timberlake, and that the theme of the album will deal with balancing his industry and business side, with the street minded guy of his past.*"Full Article Here":http://www.mtv...

More >

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