After the triumphant returns of the Clipse, Mobb Deep and De La Soul last year, T.I. is the latest rap veteran looking to make a comeback.
Having spent the last few years focusing on his comedy career and expediTIously podcast, as well as fighting a few legal battles, the Grand Hustle general announced over the weekend: “T.I. is back.”
Tip kickstarted his comeback campaign by releasing a new single called “Let Em Know,” produced by longtime collaborator and Producer of the Year candidate (thanks to his work on the Clipse’s Grammy-nominated Let God Sort Em Out) Pharrell.
Backed by a bouncy, speaker-rattling beat from Skateboard P, who is responsible for past T.I. hits like “Blurred Lines,” “I’m Serious” and “Get Back Up” as well as the bulk of his 2014 album Paperwork, the Bankhead bully gets right back in his bag with a braggadocious anthem.
“All they do is fight for number two ’cause I’m the one / Still make ’em play with the one / All we know is success, hit her with some rich sex / Good luck gettin’ your bitch back, she forever mine ’til I let her go,” he spits.
Adding to the resurgence, T.I. has also cut off his dreads and returned to his familiar low fade — the clean-cut hairstyle that he rocked throughout his 2000s prime.
Listen to “Let Em Know” below.
“Let Em Know” is the first preview of T.I.’s long-awaited new album Kill the King, which will mark his final full-length release and first since 2020’s The L.I.B.R.A..
In a 2023 appearance on the We In Miami podcast, the Atlanta native revealed that the project will be a double album, with side A titled Kill the King and side B labeled Kiss the King.
He also said NBA YoungBoy would be featured on one of the first singles — a track he said will subvert fans’ expectations — although it’s unclear if that’s still the plan.
Speaking with TMZ last year, Tip explained that the title Kill the King represents him “killing the ego” and relinquishing his King of the South crown.
“I feel like the ‘King of the South’ moniker, it’s very egotistical and self-gratuitous. It’s a persona that kinda enters the room before I do, physically,” he admitted.
“When I was coming onto the scene, I went to all of the Southern legends that I respected and I asked [for their blessing to call myself King of the South] … All of them gave me their support … [but Big Boi] said, ‘That shit sounds cool but just understand, if you the king you’re gonna put a big bullseye on your back. The name of the game in chess is to kill the king.'”
“Standing here 20 years later, looking back on my career, I can kinda see what he meant,” he added.
T.I. back? Please. He’s just a washed-up clown with a new haircut and a beat from Skateboard P. “Let Em Know”? More like “Let Em Know I’m Still Trying to Stay Relevant.” Kill the King? Nah, you should’ve killed the ego years ago. NBA YoungBoy on a track? Bro, you’re not even the king of your own damn playlist. This ain’t a comeback, it’s a cry for attention.