Club anthems, gripping street stories, and introspective cuts

Southern rapper T.I. (aka Tip Harris) debuted with a 2001 full-length that earned moderate attention for its single I'm Serious, featuring additional vocals from Beenie Man and production from the Neptunes. A Georgia native, he signed to Arista and delivered I'm Serious in October 2001. Though the album charted, the single failed to generate any action. Through 2003's Trap Muzik and the following year’s Urban Legend, the MC became a real force and scored a handful of major hits. This year Tip Harris returns with King, his fourth release, and third through his joint venture deal with Atlantic Records. T.I., the self-proclaimed King of the South, had to make his fourth studio album twice. The first version leaked months ago, prompting the unofficial mix-tape release of DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz: The Leak. Now we have the real thing, which shares only a couple of songs with the original but stays true to the crackling sound of his 2004 platinum disc, Urban Legend. With cameos from Common, Pharrell Williams and Young Jeezy as well as Travis Barker and Jamie Foxx, the disc is made up of equal parts club anthems, gripping street stories, and introspective cuts, sure to rep the ATL at the highest level once again.

With King, T.I. comes out firing at anyone in his way

With King, Tip comes out firing at anyone in his way. The dramatic Coliseum-like intro to King Back jumps off a Just Blaze banger (the first of two on the record), complete with bells and super-funky horns. The other Just Blaze scorcher is I'm Talkin to You. Front Back featuring U.G.K hosts guest lyrics from the newly freed Pimp C, who chose this track to make his first vocal appearance since his release from prison. What You Know shows T.I. at his best. Over a dope signature South beat, T.I. spits some slick verses about his life. Over the breezy Live in the Sky featuring R&B powerhouse, Jamie Foxx, T.I. displays a more introspective side and still manages to come off straight gangsta, once again proving his versatility. Ride Wit Me provides the perfect backdrop for explaining the entire Atlanta mentality. Undertaker is a street track with a different perspective, as Young Buck manages to steal the show with his gritty verse. The true gem of this record is Stand Up Guy. This is a serious party starter with a rolling bass that can easily be played with dancehall beats. The Neptunes produced Goodlife oddly works too. It's softer piano laced beat with plenty of handclaps acts as a welcomed change of pace. Common stops by also to continue his run of phenomenal guest spots.

King was timed to coincide with the release of T.I.’s feature film debut

Picking up where his previous effort left off, King builds on the sound and the success of 2004’s Urban Legend, a blockbuster project that spawned the hit singles Bring Em Out & U Don’t Know Me. After a year of Grammy, American Music, Vibe and several other award nominations, T.I. is set to rise to the next level. At 25 years old, he may still be playing the role of prince in Ludacris’ court. But unlike England's Prince Charles, who may never inherit the throne, T.I., equipped with razor-sharp lyrics and surrounded by a stellar cast of producers and MCs, is poised to take the keys to the kingdom with his new album. King was timed to coincide with the release of T.I.’s feature film debut, ATL. T.I. plays a lead character Rashad. The film tells the story of a group of four friends who have just graduated from high school in Atlanta. ATL spotlights the city’s famed Jellybeans skating rink, a popular hangout not only for the teens in the film, but for T.I. himself as real-life teen growing up in Atlanta. Songs from King, including What You Know, Front Back, and Ride Wit Me, which is the featured song in the film’s trailer, appear in ATL.

03.04.2006