T.I. Album: “King”

"King" is T.I.'s (real name Clifford Harris) fourth album. His 1st album, I'm Serious, was released in 2001. This album included his 1st hit "Dope Boyz". Another song that got T.I. even more recognition was "Never Scared" by Bonecrusher, which also featured Killer Mike. Two years later, he released his sophomore album "Trap Muzik". This remains one of my favorite rap albums. T.I. officially blew up with his hits "24's" and "Rubberband Man". After this release, T.I. got into some legal troubles, and had to be locked up for awhile. Then he came out and dropped "Urban Legend", which featured the hits "U Don't Know Me" and "Bring Em Out". He also starred in the new movie called ATL, with Big Boi (who is one-half of the duo Outkast). Now, T.I. is back with "King". I personally think this album is better than Urban Legend, but Trap Muzik and I'm Serious are still T.I.'s best albums. However, King is still a great album. The production is on-point, as is T.I.'s flow and lyrics. This album is also selling well, as it appeared at number one on the Billboard 200 chart after selling over 520,000 copies it's first week.

The album starts off with the Just Blaze produced "King Back", which is a very good album opener. He runs you threw his whole discography and spits about how he's back. The next track, "Front Back", features UGK, and has a sample of their track "Front Back & Side to Side". "What You Know" is a track I'm sure everyone has heard by now. I love his laid back delivery and the beat is great. (This is also the main song on ATL). "I'm Talkin to You" is another Just Blaze produced track, where T.I. is apparently dissing someone unknown, as he talks about the people he's cool with to let them know he's not talking about them. I love this track for T.I.'s aggressiveness and his ability to switch up his flow in the song. Just Blaze's production is great as well. "Live in the Sky" is another one of those introspective type tracks. I think T.I. does a really good job on these types of cuts ("I Still Luv You", anyone?). He talks about tragedy and how he hopes all his fallen friends live in the sky. Jamie Foxx gives a nice hook (I never really jumped on Jamie's bandwagon though). I think this song is going to be his third single for the album. "Ride Wit Me" has a nice beat by Keith Mack. This is one of those chilled out, catchy bump-in-your-ride type tracks. "Top Back" is a banger produced by Mannie Fresh. I don't really like Mannie that much but I love this track. I love the intro to it and the chorus. If nothing on the album has grabbed your attention so far, then this song should do it. "I'm Straight" with B.G. and Young Jeezy is another good cut. It's about how if they lost their fame and fortune they'd still be alright on the streets because they've been there before. B.G. and T.I. drop good verses, and I don't really like Jeezy that much but his verse is listenable. "The Undertaker" is another posse cut with Young Buck and Young Dro. All three come correct and the chorus is catchy. "Goodlife" is a surprising mellow collaboration with Pharrell and Common. "Hello" is another laid-back track to the ladies. "Bankhead" is a really good way to end the album. I love the chorus and the guestspots by Young Dro and T.I.'s posse PSC (Pimp Squad Clique).

The album isn't without fault, however. "Why You Wanna" is the first track that really made me wanna hit the skip button. It's not really that the song is bad, but this type of song just doesn't appeal to me. It is the second single though. "Get It" follows it and this track isn't much better. "You Know Who" has an annoying chorus and it's pretty much skip material for me. "I Told You So" is alright and it tells the truth; that most people doubted the south and now they're on top, but I find myself skipping this track as well. There's only one actual skit on the album, even though there's about 3 more that appear through the album. "The Breakup" is actually a hilarious skit with Mike Epps, and his skit later in the album is funny also. Pimp C drops by to explain what T.I. means when he claims that he is "the king of the south". Pimp says that Tip only means that he's doing king s*it and taking care of his own so that makes him a king, not that he's better than all other southern rappers (because hey, we all know T.I. is a good rapper but he's not better than Scarface). The fact that T.I. has came from nothing to something over the years, and proof is his popularity, (how he went from barely selling units to being a platinum artist) does make him a king. So I can't really argue with his claim.

T.I. has shown with his 4th album that he's here to stay. Out of eighteen tracks, only about four are mediocre, which means that no track is really bad, but some just aren't as good as others. Still, that's fourteen tracks worth listening to. That's an amazing statistic, due to the fact that most mainstream artists have one catchy single, and when their album drops all of the other cuts are terrible. This isn't the case here. What makes me love this album even more is that it's so much better than all of these other southern albums dropped by the likes of The Ying Yang Twins and Dem Franchize Boyz and the extremely annoying and terrible group that like to call themselves "D4L". (Sidenote: Laffy Taffy makes me wanna puke). So I'd pick up this album if you want something different from all of those groups. T.I. has stayed consistent with his work and it doesn't look like he's going to fade any time soon.

Another sidenote: Why is this limited edition CD priced over 20 dollars? I bought the limited edition for $11.99 at my FYE....

This is a good cd. Its not better than Urban Legend but neither was Lights Out

Let me start off by saying that this is a killer alblum. It is quite well produced and deserves lots of recognition. Unfortunatly, it seems to not be as well rounded as urban legend was.(can't say that about the other ones i haven't heard anything but they singles) urban legend was rap perfection with the perfect blend of song types. unfortunately some of the songs just miss the mark. just blaze is a great producer but he just does not fit ti. also i don't get what the big deal about i'm straight is. i'm just not feeling it i guess...also where are the HUGE tracks like u don't know me and 24s? those were killer songs but i can't find any drop dead amazing songs like those on this alblum. sure this cd has some awesone songs (what you know is just amazing but it's a bit slow to party and dance to and the more faster paced club bangers just aren't as great as previous efforts) i mean sure stand up guy, front back and top back are quite good (and embarrasingly better than most othe rappers these days lol) but they lack the appeal of his previous songs. also where is jazze pha? i might be blind or something but he's not featured on any songs and he didn't produce any of the songs. but please don't get me wrong this is a great alblum. you have gotta go get it. for people new to ti this is a great start. and if you've known ti for an alblum or 2 it'll fit great in you're collection.

my favorite tracks are:

1. what you know

2. hello

3. goodlife

4. get it

5. ride wit me

now on to the dvd. first of all the music video is nice and obviously the heart of the dvd but why is it edited? everything else on the dvd and the cd aren't. why the exception? also why isn't the what you know music video on here? that track is awesome and it makes no sense to have only one music video when you can have several. the music tour is great too a nice addition. and finally the drive slow remix surprised me. i didn't expect a kanye west remix to be on a ti bonus dvd. nontheless it's a great track and i like it a little more that the original. the different voices blend amazingly on the track. pity they didn't put this as track #19 on the cd. oh well.

1. King Back 4:38 -- 8/10

2. Front Back (Featuring UGK) 3:43 -- 9/10

3. What You Know 4:08 -- 10/10

4. I'm Talkin' To You 5:06 -- 6/10

5. Live In The Sky (Featuring Jamie Foxx) 5:46 -- 8/10

6. Ride Wit Me 4:05 -- 8/10

7. The Breakup 1:57

8. Why You Wanna 3:50 -- 7/10

9. Get It -- 7.5/10

10. Top Back 4:42 -- 10/10

11. I'm Straight (Featuring BG and Young Jeezy) 6:36 -- 9/10

12. Undertaker (Featuring Young Buck and Young Dro) 4:13 -- 7.5/10

13. Stand Up Guy 3:02 -- 9/10

14. You Know Who 2:54 -- 8/10

15. Goodlife (Featuring Pharrell and Common) 4:28 -- 7/10

16. Hello (Featuring Governor) 3:35 -- 9/10

17. Told You So 4:23 -- 8/10

18. Bankhead (Featuring P$C and Young Dro) 4:26 -- 10/10

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I LOVE THIS CD. t.i. is one of my favs, && this is definetly up there. i reccomend it for all rap lovers. my favs are :: what youu know, top back, and bankhead. PICK IT UP !

This album, in my opinion, is more for the masses. Not saying he didn't keep it through - its more so about production. Can you blame any artist for creating a piece that will appeal to more CONSUMERS. Dude knows how to make an album. I think that it is safe and daring all at the same time. He has some sure winners on there and the rest you'll warm up to. I would have gave it a 5 if he said his name - know what i'm talkin' bout.