Paper Trail

T.I.

Since 2001, T.I. has grown to become one of the most revered and successful artists in his genre, racking up millions in album sales and a myriad of awards, among them two Grammys. Paper Trail is his latest album.

Lyrically, Paper Trail  is T.I. coming full circle and revisiting his older, more traditional methods of writing – the album’s title is a direct reference to T.I.’s return to literally writing his lyrics down (as opposed to free styling in the studio booth) -  a practice he hasn’t engaged in since his debut, I’m Serious, in 2001. Ironically, he found that going back to the basics has helped him evolve into a better MC - “I’ve had phenomenal success on my previous albums by just going into the booth, letting the music flow through me, and being spontaneous with it.  This time I wanted to try something different.  My writing is a little more structured and thought out, but it’s still art at the end of the day.  It’s still free-flowing.”

A sizzling taster of the album’s calibre, buzz track ‘Swagger Like Us’ signals a historic moment for hip-hop as rap’s “Olympic Dream Team” join forces: T.I., Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne. Each MC not only displays his distinctive cool, but each ferociously attacks the M.I.A. sample with brash wordplay showing why they all tower over rap's most elite. The No.1 US single, ‘Whatever You Like’ is the definitive declaration of T.I.’s stance as a man undeterred and an artist unrivaled.  It is also a testament to how his faith in a higher power helped him get through a very public period of turbulence in his life. UK single – ‘Live Your Life’ pairs T.I.'s distinguished smooth-as- silk delivery with the bold, attitude-full, but sweet harmonies of fellow Grammy Award winner Rihanna.  It is official – T.I. has delivered a killer album once again.

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