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T.I. - Paper Trail
- T.I. is one of the smoothest rappers in the business. He can actually pull off rapping “dude” with “dude,” and does so with noteworthy southern suaveness. It’s his cutting ATL drawl that has made him so successful in the past. His most recent effort, however, “Paper Trail,” has a more anxious tone. Likely, this has to do with the rapper facing a year in prison for federal weapons charges. And while T.I. may not be proceeding with business as usual, “Paper Trail” is a solid album, although somewhat surprising with how pop in tone it is at times.
If you have a radio, then you’ve heard the most noteworthy single off the album, “Live Your Life.” It’s a good song, with an unlikely but successful sampling of O-Zone. This song is a good standard to hold the album to. If you like this song, chances are, “Paper Trail” is going to suit you well. If you aren’t a fan of the Rihanna singing on the hook or T.I. flowing on how he’ll “grab a n**** by the collar quick” over a sample of a strikingly bubblegum pop song by O-Zone, give it a pass.
“Swing Ya Rag” and “Swagga Like Us” are both the CD’s premiere bangers and the best songs on the album. “Swagga Like Us” comes across as unsure and unsettling initially, but one almost is obliged to respect the borderline epic nature of it: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, AND T.I. on the same track?!? “Swing Ya Rag” is good ol’ meaningless club rap, but with a driving, insistent drum that focuses your attention.
“My Life, Your Entertainment” is fun to listen to, but is almost comedic in how radio friendly it is.
It’s hard to truly dislike this album, T.I. steps it up with a solid effort. Some tracks just don’t successfully mesh the pop/rap that T.I. strives for with the album (“Dead and Gone,” “Porn Star” being the prime examples). The man has proven his street cred though; he did have an arsenal of large weapons after all.
Reviewer: Matthew Doyle
new
Reviewer's Rating: 7
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 6-Jul-2009
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