With resilience and personal growth that have fallen under much public scrutiny, T.I.’s transition from the streets to stardom has been rough to say the least. A series of jail sentences coincided with his career’s peak, impeding the progress of his Grand Hustle imprint and its artists looking to their leader for guidance and an assured financial backing. With only the acquisition of B.o.B. proving fruitful, the success of his recent release Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head and a popular reality show suggest he’s on an upswing again, as T.I. aims to bring his clique back towards the forefront with the renamed Hustle Gang’s G.D.O.D (Get Dough Or Die).
Throwing his hat in the ring to compete with compilations from well received rosters such as G.O.O.D. Music and Rick Ross’ MMG brand, T.I.’s Hustle Gang sets themselves apart from the run of the mill mixape mob with G.D.O.D. The squad proves to be generally captivating, making fully developed songs despite predictable mentions of the fashionable drug molly and the project’s countless boasts of materialistic wealth. Responding to the urgency of their motto’s acronym, most of the heavy lifting is handled by T.I., B.o.B. who cuts loose as a tough spitter outside of his pop lane, and the still razor sharp one hit wonder Young Dro.
Posse cuts such as “Err-Body” and “2 Fucks” give a platform to Hustle Gang’s lesser heard signees and affiliates including UK grime emcee Chip, Shad Da God, Yung Booke, and Doe B. Where Iggy Azalea practically ruins “Chasin Me” with rhyme schemes such as, “Nowadays I’m feeling like fuck a hater’s feelings / ‘Cause they got me fucked up like sex on the ceiling,” the tape’s title track [though borrowing from Lex Luger’s production blueprint] and the trunk rattling “Kemosabe” impressively pick up the slack. Guests include French Montana & Meek Mill on the turned up “Blocka,” Young Jeezy on the summer anthem “Only N Atlanta” and Southern veteran Mystikal on a remake of his classic “Here I Go,” all adding to the tape without taking focus from T.I. and his cronies.
With G.D.O.D., T.I. has ushered in his label’s new regime while setting the stage for his already established acts to continue flourishing. The effort’s weaknesses stem from overkill, as “Problems” runs nearly eight minutes long and “Real Niggas” is full of second string backups who are largely uninteresting. Also, Trae Tha Truth’s numerous smooth appearances are an ill fit given Hustle Gang’s aggressive tone. T.I.’s persistent tough talk rings unbelievable considering his role as a family man on VH1’s “The Family Hustle.” But regardless, he wields a strong command over Hip Hop, shouldering the burden for a team who would otherwise be left to their own devices.
DX Consensus: “Free Album” (the highest possible praise for a mixtape)
Agreed. One of the year’s best tapes so far, not that it says a lot.
Ehhh this wasn’t all that. It’s decent, if it wasn’t for B.O.B. it wouldn’t be anything special. Which was surprising to me.
I agree. This tape should have been way better to match the hype.
MONEY OVER BITCHES HUSTLE GANG OVER ERRYBODY
ERRBODY?????ERRBODY!!!!!!!
well, i guess a lot of mediocre albums get released, so I can go with free album. Ill give it 3 stars and for some reason i feel thats even generous. i was certainly disappointed.
I was just happy to hear some new Young Dro. Glad he’s still spittin some really nice bars. Decent mixtape, had me noddin my head in a few places.
Guci Mane realest rapper outthere:
– this nigga throws bitches out his car
– shoot niggas dead
– beat niggas up.
Gucci aint no fantasy nigga like:
– mobb deep,
– nas escobar lol nigga only had a ticket for parking his car wrong
– 2pac never gangbanged
– rick ross
you cray son of a bitch. you do not know shit about Hiphop at all. nigga thinks gucci is better than tip pac and nas??? you a dumb ass piece of trash nas and pac were 2 of the realest and greatest and always will be. yous like 10 if you think gucci is better. and pac gang banged so did has you trash ass nigga
There are some really good songs, but mostly it’s just mediocre. Any song featuring Meek Mill is a (loud) disaster.
The tape is worth of 2,5 stars.
bam
the only thing i got from listening to this was that dro needs to leave grand hustle and put out his 2nd album
word!! cuz i dont like him in the background like hes been over the years
tip shows us why he the king of da south over and over! love ya tip!
yo tip droped it! leggoooo
Great Mixtape!!!
iggy azalea song is weak, production $$ throughout, tip and bob killin it, that uk fool chip is good
I really like this mixtape here! Its strong in beats as well as lyrics. Im proud of hustle gang for dropping this one. Keep doing ya thing!!!!(ROBBIE COLEMAN—–AMERICUS GA)
I thought this was an official release.
Weak! So overrated and if it wasn’t for B.O.B. the whole mixtape would have been garbage.
T.I. “The King of Rap”……Hustle Gang partner….”!!!
THIS SHIT IS DOPE
nothing big though but still lo0ve t.i.p
great music from hustle gang…get dough or die
This Shit Dope!
Rick Slick : THE NEXT TO BLOW MUSIC ON SOUND CLOUD !!!!!!!!!!
This Shit Goes Hard Get Money Or Die
been bumping this mixtape since it came out..crazy ass mixtape
jam sauce
I like it.
NP: 16 – Away – feat – Spodee Trae Tha Truth – TI (Prod by Nard & B) (DatPiff Exclusive)
this is dope