T.I. says Pharrell, who is executive producing his upcoming Paperworkalbum, is making a strong impact with his contributions to the album.
“Aside from DJ Toomp, it’s the first time I’ve allowed a producer to come in and kind of shape my sound as he saw fit,” T.I. says in an interview with AllHipHop. “You must find ways to reinvent yourself in order to remain relevant. And who better to help me than someone as passionate and talented as Pharrell? He found a way to bring a colorful, left-field approach to my blue-collar celebrity. Between his wings and my anchor, we balance each other out. That duality is what makes this project unique.”
Pharrell’s advice has helped T.I. realize what he could do with his new album.
“When I first sat down with Pharrell, he told me to think ‘out of the stratosphere,’” T.I. explains. “What solidifies the resulting Paperwork is a unique blend of refreshing yet timeless material. As Pharrell would put it, we’re trying to rewrite history.”
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T.I. has spoken about his work with Pharrell in the past.
“Me and Pharrell have a plethora [of songs],” T.I. said during a January interview with XXL. “We probably done recorded 14 records. Pharrell and I alone. Words couldn’t even begin to describe how cutting-edge, left-field and just how broad these records are. But they still have that texture that I speak of. They still have that Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Womack, a ridin’ dirty kind of … but a new way to present it to the world because it has that thing that Pharrell does to music that sets it apart from any and everything else that’s being played. And of course I had to give it the pulse of what I know. It’s incredible work. I did incredible work with Keno. I did incredible work with Sham [‘Sak Pase’ Joseph]. I have [a record] B.o.B [did] for me. It’s awesome.”
RELATED: T.I. Details Pharrell’s Work On “Paperwork: The Motion Picture” Album
