T.I. - Paper Trail (Lunatic's Grand Major Paper Trail Thread)

[Old English]

yo this might be the best LP of 2008...all u Wayne Stans shld really check it out b4 u get mad...

For the record I hated T.I vs TIP and really wasnt too excited about this one but man smash after smash on this album got me a T.I fan again!!

[Lunatic]

yo this might be the best LP of 2008...all u Wayne Stans shld really check it out b4 u get mad...

For the record I hated T.I vs TIP and really wasnt too excited about this one but man smash after smash on this album got me a T.I fan again!!

let the truth be told!

[penenstamp]

Like a review? lol
The one problem with that would be that it's written by an extremely biased person.
Can you hook up that Top Back RMX by the way?

my bad, forgot to put the word "review" in there, lol
you'll see it and form your own opinion
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1928399704b22dd8/

k, thanks

Now I can work on that T.I. free edit for Though Death Is Callin, I'ma Keep Ballin

[Lunatic]

Like a review? lol
The one problem with that would be that it's written by an extremely biased person.
Can you hook up that Top Back RMX by the way?

my bad, forgot to put the word "review" in there, lol
you'll see it and form your own opinion
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1928399704b22dd8/

k, thanks
Now I can work on that T.I. free edit for Though Death Is Callin, I'ma Keep Ballin

no problem!

[R1ZE]

T.I.-Paper_Trail-(Proper)-2008-C4

[Lunatic]

T.I.-Paper_Trail-(Proper)-2008-C4

u hear it? actual group rip?

[R1ZE]

C4 always is...

too bad I already wasted a cd on the aie rip. the bass just wasnt hitting right

[Lunatic]

^true
w.e, fuck it
not gonna' spend time downloadin' this 1, deletin' old 1 off cpu, removin' from ipod/itunes and addin' new 1
will just wait for the 30th to cop it

[Black Excellence]

C4 always is...

too bad I already wasted a cd on the aie rip. the bass just wasnt hitting right

where is the group rip ?

[R1ZE]

it is on the internets

[Black Excellence]

it is on the internets

i seen one on vibe.net.

[TRG]

just downloaded the C4 rip, sounds a lot better on my system now.

will cop when it drops

[Lunatic]

When T.I.P. ran his initial campaign in 2003 to be anointed “King of the South,” he made a compelling case with his dismantling of then commercially viable Lil Flip, and his breakout third LP Urban Legend. Met with little resistance, T.I. went on to further build his legacy and become a mainstream star with KING, T.I. vs. T.I.P., and the 2006 film ATL.

 

With the success came challengers, as rivals began questioning T.I.’s credibility as an artist and his claim of being the South’s premier MC. Now learning that defending the crown is harder than chasing it, T.I. seeks to continue his reign and quiet critics with his sixth studio album Paper Trail (Grand Hustle/Atlantic).

 

The album begins appropriately with the lyrical dexterity of “56 Bars (Intro).” With regal authority, TIP dissects then dismisses his less talented naysayers without ever having to call out a name. Reunited with the producer that’s crafted his biggest hits, DJ Toomp’s pulsing bass lines fit perfectly with the Bankhead star’s cocksure demeanor; setting a good start for the disc.

 

That focus continues on their second album collaboration “I’m Illy.” Again in battle mode, T.I. juxtaposes his achievements with a thinly veiled, local Atlanta rapper who aspires to the king’s throne in mind.

 

For the first time, TIP addresses in detail the events that lead to his gun prosecution on “Ready For Whatever.” Over Drumma Boy’s urgent but sprawling synths, T.I. makes a compelling argument for his need for weapons, explaining the murder of his best friend before his eyes despite the six figures he already pays for security. What makes the track work so well is that TIP is brave enough to leave his Rap persona at the door and reveal the fear that fueled his rash decisions.

 

The middle half of the album is dominated by a long string of commercial and pop tracks which contribute a mixed bag to the LP. “On Top of the World” features T.I.’s first partnership with former heated rival Ludacris and rising ATL newcomer B.O.B. Instead of a confrontational song, the Atlanta headliners produced a joyous track detailing their many accomplishments. While it works, the collaboration will likely do little to deter the talk of those still wishing for both men to pick up where “Stomp” left off.

 

The back to back syrupy singles “Live Your Life” and “Whatever You Like” follow next. Smart fans will recognize that these songs are necessary to appeal to the king’s pop constituency, but that doesn’t cancel out that they are commercial fluff that does nothing for the LP.

 

Danja’s bluesy, organ-tinged musicianship on “No Matter What” gets things back in order with T.I.’s assertions of triumph over his many personal struggles. “Swing Ya Rag” has him in lyrically weaving Swizz Beatz’s signature rhythms into another guaranteed infectious hit in the vein of “Bring ‘Em Out.”

 

On the all-star collaboration “Swagger Like Us,” Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne all make convincing cases why their swagger supersedes all others. While some will undoubtedly find the continued auto-tune effects from Kanye and Wayne clichéd, both men deliver good set up verses for T.I., who in the coveted last spot slightly edges out a clever Jay-Z verse by dismantling the M.I.A. sampling track with a rapid closing succession of consonance-heavy lyrics.

 

Even with distractions ranging from legal woes to petty and childish territorial “beef,” T.I. has managed to craft an album that gives listeners the standout moments they expect from the Bankhead star. Paper Trail’s achievements are enough to remind fans why they fell in love with T.I. back in 2003, and keep his tenuous title as “King of the South” in place for the immediate future.

let the positive reviews begin

[Black Excellence]

When T.I.P. ran his initial campaign in 2003 to be anointed “King of the South,” he made a compelling case with his dismantling of then commercially viable Lil Flip, and his breakout third LP Urban Legend. Met with little resistance, T.I. went on to further build his legacy and become a mainstream star with KING, T.I. vs. T.I.P., and the 2006 film ATL.

 

With the success came challengers, as rivals began questioning T.I.’s credibility as an artist and his claim of being the South’s premier MC. Now learning that defending the crown is harder than chasing it, T.I. seeks to continue his reign and quiet critics with his sixth studio album Paper Trail (Grand Hustle/Atlantic).

 

The album begins appropriately with the lyrical dexterity of “56 Bars (Intro).” With regal authority, TIP dissects then dismisses his less talented naysayers without ever having to call out a name. Reunited with the producer that’s crafted his biggest hits, DJ Toomp’s pulsing bass lines fit perfectly with the Bankhead star’s cocksure demeanor; setting a good start for the disc.

 

That focus continues on their second album collaboration “I’m Illy.” Again in battle mode, T.I. juxtaposes his achievements with a thinly veiled, local Atlanta rapper who aspires to the king’s throne in mind.

 

For the first time, TIP addresses in detail the events that lead to his gun prosecution on “Ready For Whatever.” Over Drumma Boy’s urgent but sprawling synths, T.I. makes a compelling argument for his need for weapons, explaining the murder of his best friend before his eyes despite the six figures he already pays for security. What makes the track work so well is that TIP is brave enough to leave his Rap persona at the door and reveal the fear that fueled his rash decisions.

 

The middle half of the album is dominated by a long string of commercial and pop tracks which contribute a mixed bag to the LP. “On Top of the World” features T.I.’s first partnership with former heated rival Ludacris and rising ATL newcomer B.O.B. Instead of a confrontational song, the Atlanta headliners produced a joyous track detailing their many accomplishments. While it works, the collaboration will likely do little to deter the talk of those still wishing for both men to pick up where “Stomp” left off.

 

The back to back syrupy singles “Live Your Life” and “Whatever You Like” follow next. Smart fans will recognize that these songs are necessary to appeal to the king’s pop constituency, but that doesn’t cancel out that they are commercial fluff that does nothing for the LP.

 

Danja’s bluesy, organ-tinged musicianship on “No Matter What” gets things back in order with T.I.’s assertions of triumph over his many personal struggles. “Swing Ya Rag” has him in lyrically weaving Swizz Beatz’s signature rhythms into another guaranteed infectious hit in the vein of “Bring ‘Em Out.”

 

On the all-star collaboration “Swagger Like Us,” Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne all make convincing cases why their swagger supersedes all others. While some will undoubtedly find the continued auto-tune effects from Kanye and Wayne clichéd, both men deliver good set up verses for T.I., who in the coveted last spot slightly edges out a clever Jay-Z verse by dismantling the M.I.A. sampling track with a rapid closing succession of consonance-heavy lyrics.

 

Even with distractions ranging from legal woes to petty and childish territorial “beef,” T.I. has managed to craft an album that gives listeners the standout moments they expect from the Bankhead star. Paper Trail’s achievements are enough to remind fans why they fell in love with T.I. back in 2003, and keep his tenuous title as “King of the South” in place for the immediate future.

let the positive reviews begin

the review was tight although i like both 'live your life' and 'whatever you like'.

[Chamillitary Click]

Live Your Life is like the best song on the album...syrupy?