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| T.I. - T.I. vs. T.I.P. | T.I. - T.I. vs. T.I.P.
Atlantic/Wea
July 3, 2007
In 2006 T.I. dropped King, a masterful hip-hop album that sold over 500,000 copies in its first week and over one million in less than a month. Yet those in charge of selecting the winners of the Grammy Awards still felt it in order to name Ludacris’s sub par Release Therapy Best Rap Album honors. Now in ’07, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. aims to set the record straight by taking home said award with his follow-up, T.I. vs. T.I.P.
Here Harris contends that T.I., the glamorized rapping celebrity, coexists only in body with T.I.P., the rugged hustler. For this reason, Clifford splits his album according to personality. Listeners soon learn to appreciate the music created by T.I.P. much more than that crafted by alter ego, T.I.
The first slew of leaked tracks seemed promising. First came lead single, “Big Shit Poppin’ (Do It).” Assisted by the guitar riff from “Top Gun Anthem,” T.I.P. aggressively charges to attack fake counterparts over a tight-knit Mannie Fresh backing. Though the jam held no ground against epic hits “What You Know” and “Top Back,” it at least showed that Harris still possessed the immeasurable confidence necessary to swagger to the top of the charts. Little changes on “You Know What It Is,” a tune on which T.I.P. drawls as infectiously and naturally as ever. However, a guest appearance by Wyclef Jean nearly shatters the effectiveness of the tune. Though his production on the simple yet intriguing beat satisfies the needs of Clifford’s adaptable vocals, Wyclef’s obnoxious cries render the song relatively unattractive. His outbursts ensure that “You Know What It Is” never reaches the same success level as the aforementioned smashes from the previous album.
“Hurt” tells the same story. Prodigious producer Danja crafts a thrilling set of instrumentals and T.I. slaughters them, but Busta Rhymes fails to capitalize. This intrusion of halfhearted guest slots irritates to say the very least. Even in street-savvy T.I.P. mode, Harris sometimes falters. “Da Dopeman” in particular sounds entirely uninspired. He spits dully, as if he only included the track since he felt obligated to release a tune stressing his dealer-mentality. But often the conviction of T.I.P. impresses. On “Raw,” Harris cockily snarls and sneers his way through a repetitive, even trite, Lil’ C backing. Though unfit for heavy radio spins, the track proves that Harris still possesses the rough elements he brought to the table on earlier releases.
When the Hollywood-style T.I. takes over, surprises ensue. Songs fans expect to be hot flop. Most notably, the monumental combination of rap superstars T.I. and Eminem result only in an uninspired song with a beat that fails horribly in its efforts to produce an epic sound. Mathers never puts his all into his lines, and it shows. He sounds flat, and the song resultantly lacks the expected sizzle. Shockingly, those jams featuring less-respected artists entertain. Though many harbor less than endearing sentiments with respect to St. Louis pop star Nelly, he churns out a somewhat compelling verse on “Show it to Me.” T.I. spits with an odd rhythm, and for this reason his vocals intrigue. The funky beat, which sports a host of horns and old-school noises, yields a much-needed variation.
But as expected, the tunes featuring T.I. vs. T.I.P. make the most lasting impressions. After "Act III: T.I. vs. T.I.P. The Confrontation," the skit during which the split personalities confront each other, comes “Tell ‘Em I Said That.” Here Danja throws down a gorgeously synth-washed beat that the two pieces to the Harris personality malleably flow over. Other than irritating breathy background cries, Clifford and Floyd Nathanial Hills mold a masterpiece. The two team up again to slam out another slick jam on the ensuing “Respect This Hustle.” Usually Clifford energizes lollygagging beats, but here the opposite proves true; he relaxes while the windy beat perks up the song.
A definite disappointment following King, T.I. vs. T.I.P. still possesses a great number of viable singles. However, the album flows poorly due to its overwhelming dichotomy. Fans see that Harris truly excels when T.I. and T.I.P. square off within a song, not within a divided album. |
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Displaying posts 1 - 15 of 52. |
04:42 PM on 08/03/07 | great review, i agree, although it's a decent album, it's no King. still got a few decent beats, though. | | |
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04:55 PM on 08/03/07 | I don't think T.I will ever come out with another King, still an amazing rapper though | | |
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05:08 PM on 08/03/07 | She never smiled like that This album is alright, it may grow on my a little more down the road but I agree that T.I. will never come out with another album like King. | | |
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05:31 PM on 08/03/07 | i'll go ahead and say it. t.i. = overrated. | | |
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05:46 PM on 08/03/07 | like everyone else has said, King is at the top, and will remain there for t.i. | | |
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06:14 PM on 08/03/07 | Ludacris >>>>>> TI in so many aspects
and Eminem (at his absolute worst) >>>>>>>>>>>>> TI
Em doesnt put his "all" into his rhymes when he's not trying to make a song more than it should be. He did the beat, he did the verse, but he wasn't intending to go all 'renegade' on his ass. he was trying something new as he always does, and just having fun (which is more than acceptable considering the loss of his best friend, a divorce, and the fact that he's already proven his genius) | | |
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06:45 PM on 08/03/07 | Eminem is almost as overrated as Jay-Z | | |
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06:49 PM on 08/03/07 | Ludacris >>>>>> TI in so many aspects
and Eminem (at his absolute worst) >>>>>>>>>>>>> TI
Em doesnt put his "all" into his rhymes when he's not trying to make a song more than it should be. He did the beat, he did the verse, but he wasn't intending to go all 'renegade' on his ass. he was trying something new as he always does, and just having fun (which is more than acceptable considering the loss of his best friend, a divorce, and the fact that he's already proven his genius) |
it's obvious you dont venture outside of "hip-pop" much. listen to talib kweli, or matisyahu, dead prez or the roots and educate yourself on whats phenomenal in the hip hop world.
dont get me wrong, i do like eminem, but he hasn't made a solid record in many years, and still gets way too much recognition that he doesn't deserve. | | |
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06:58 PM on 08/03/07 |  it's obvious you dont venture outside of "hip-pop" much. listen to talib kweli, or matisyahu, dead prez or the roots and educate yourself on whats phenomenal in the hip hop world.
dont get me wrong, i do like eminem, but he hasn't made a solid record in many years, and still gets way too much recognition that he doesn't deserve. |
are you kidding??? are you suggesting that because i obviously don't praise TI that I don't know hip hop? don't get it twisted man, TI is not that good of a rapper. it may be cool to say he's good, but not to me. I listen to KRS, Em, 2Pac, Dre, Common, Immortal Technique, Tech Nine, Royce, etc. I listen to enough good rap music to know whats good and whats not to my own satisfaction. To say Em doesnt deserve his recognition....well then why does Rakim, Nas, Jay, LL, and a shitload of other poineers give him respect? stop acting like real hip hop means street lyrics and sampled beats. yeah Eminem has made a handful of goofy, sub-par lyrical singles. But when you factor in creativity, mass appeal, metaphors, production, amazing flow and unique concepts. if you do, you would respect and recognize Em as one of the best without question. | | |
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07:04 PM on 08/03/07 | pervasive sexism, even if done out of ignorance, really makes it hard to listen to rap like this. see dead prez | | |
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07:07 PM on 08/03/07 | I really disliked this album. I was very excited for it and then incredibly let down. | | |
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07:18 PM on 08/03/07 | are you kidding??? are you suggesting that because i obviously don't praise TI that I don't know hip hop? don't get it twisted man, TI is not that good of a rapper. it may be cool to say he's good, but not to me. I listen to KRS, Em, 2Pac, Dre, Common, Immortal Technique, Tech Nine, Royce, etc. I listen to enough good rap music to know whats good and whats not to my own satisfaction. To say Em doesnt deserve his recognition....well then why does Rakim, Nas, Jay, LL, and a shitload of other poineers give him respect? stop acting like real hip hop means street lyrics and sampled beats. yeah Eminem has made a handful of goofy, sub-par lyrical singles. But when you factor in creativity, mass appeal, metaphors, production, amazing flow and unique concepts. if you do, you would respect and recognize Em as one of the best without question. |
It has nothing to do with street lyrics, Eminem sucks. Deal. | | |
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07:31 PM on 08/03/07 |  are you kidding??? are you suggesting that because i obviously don't praise TI that I don't know hip hop? don't get it twisted man, TI is not that good of a rapper. it may be cool to say he's good, but not to me. I listen to KRS, Em, 2Pac, Dre, Common, Immortal Technique, Tech Nine, Royce, etc. I listen to enough good rap music to know whats good and whats not to my own satisfaction. To say Em doesnt deserve his recognition....well then why does Rakim, Nas, Jay, LL, and a shitload of other poineers give him respect? stop acting like real hip hop means street lyrics and sampled beats. yeah Eminem has made a handful of goofy, sub-par lyrical singles. But when you factor in creativity, mass appeal, metaphors, production, amazing flow and unique concepts. if you do, you would respect and recognize Em as one of the best without question. |
read my first post in this thread. i dislike ti.
im just saying the fact that you compare him to other large mainstream rappers, and say they're a million times better is a little outlandish. sure i agree that luda and eminem are better, especially lyrically, but i wouldn't go as far to say eminem's latest releases are better than ti. encore is shit. his first 2 cd's are nearly flawless and amazing, but it's been downhill from there. he hasn't produced a solid cd in about 5 years, and im just saying his record sales do not reflect that properly because mainstream music always sales, despite quality, or lack there of. eminem has lacked in the creative department lately, and has done little unique things (i love my daughter i hate my wife, and the gratuitous "hey im back and im gonna make fun of these people" song... thats on every album). overall, yes eminem leaves a good legacy, but to say at his worst hes way better than t.i. is far off in my opinion. slightly better, possibly. ">>>>>>>>>>>>>" better, not so much.
l.l. is lame. completely.
jay z and nas are not rap pioneers. both are excellent, and jay z is a business pioneer, not rap. nas does do street lyrics and sampled beats as well, just better than many people do. rakim is a pioneer, the one who influenced nas to be correct. none of these guys praise em like they used to, a couple of albums ago.
common is great.
tech n9ne is ok, just a fast rapper. talented, but not great.
all i was trying to say is you're picking the wrong guys to compare ti to. they're not even similar in styles at all. and usually when you compare, you do it with people who have at least some similarities (besides being famous), and you make a statement that is true. you failed at that. | | |
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07:31 PM on 08/03/07 | pervasive sexism, even if done out of ignorance, really makes it hard to listen to rap like this. see dead prez |
truth. | | |
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