T.I. – Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head

    During T.I.’s reign during the first decade of the aughts, Pharrell’s proclamation of him as “The Jay-Z of the South” rang true. With one of the best singles discographies of his Rap contemporaries and LPs that filled in the blanks, Tip was developing an argument for being the best emcee to ever emerge from his region. But a pair of prison bids threw a wrench into his momentum: No Mercy felt like a rushed commissary deposit, and a pair of mixtapes dissipated as quickly as they hit DatPiff servers. Fortunately, Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head sees T.I. reclaiming his spot as a force to be reckoned with.

    From the first bar of album opener “No Introduction,” Trouble Man showcases an unapologetic T.I. “I’m just a hood nigga, I ain’t ever had shit. Just a bad attitude, and a bad bitch. Just bag full of tools, and a half brick,” he spews. Such lyrics probably cause a headache for his parole officer, but they’re a relief for fans who were turned off by the faux remorse from his recent retail efforts. With his vitriolic, multisyllabic snarl still intact and soundbeds from longtime collaborator DJ Toomp backing him, he sounds just as comfortable spitting the Trap Rap that earned him his reputation on records like I’m Serious and Trap Muzik.

    Trouble Man’s title references the hook on Muzik’s fan favorite “Rubberband Man,” and he convincingly returns to those hungry bars on highlights here. The defiance continues with “G Season,” “Trap Back Jumpin,’” and “Wildside,” as the veteran nimbly keeping up with youngsters like former protégé Meek Mill and A$AP Rocky. Tip wisely chooses to address (and ignore) the past few years’ negative headlines through skits or individual lyrics instead of forced songs.

    When he isn’t talking about his previous transgressions, T.I. uses Trouble Man to resume the tradition he’s built in years past: making strong, full-bodied records, allowing the new producers du jour to earn additional notches under their belts. T-Minus successfully duplicates Tip’s hard-nosed, block-posted sound with “Addresses” and gets more inventive with the more poppy “Guns and Roses,” which sees him and P!nk tackling a dwindling relationship. Hit-Boy continues his winning streak of bangers with “The Way We Ride,” a trunk-knocking dedication to whips in the South. On “Wonderful Life,” T.I. rhymes as slain bodyguard Philant Johnson and his father before using a final verse to address their impacts on his life.

    The low points of Trouble Man surface when he takes hit-making formulaic approaches to songs that he would have uniquely bodied during his peak points. The club-ready, Lil Wayne-assisted “Ball” fails to stand out like his previous bangers, and “Cruisin” embarrassingly showcases a sing-songy flow that isn’t Tip’s forte. Still, this is a strong return to form for the self-proclaimed King of the South. Heavy Is The Head that wears the crown, but T.I. seems to be up to the challenge.

    340 thoughts on “T.I. – Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head

      1. I’m the first Anonymous. I really like his albums (just listened “I’m Serious” again – and some of his songs are my all-time favorites that I play weekly in my car or at home.

        There’s just something wrong with this album. I also think his mixtapes (F*ck A Mixtape & F*ck Da City Up) are really good tapes.
        I honestly expected a MUCH better album.

      1. He set the bar high. I haven’t even heard it yet and I can guarantee it’s the best product in the last 2 years out the South that will actually sell.

    1. Kudos to T.I., he’s the man, but… lol @ the cover; your problems in these past 4 years started off with being caught with mad guns, and now this, just as the country is reeling regarding thee Connecticut shootings. God bless his freedom of art and expression, but….

      1. american’s are fucked up in the head, on what planet should the citizens have guns?? THAT IS WHAT THE POLICE IS FOR… SMH

        THE RIGHT TO BARE ARMS… MY ASS

        TOO MANY WIERD FUCKED UP AMERICAN’S KILLING INNOCENT MEN WOMEN AND KIDS

        what clown goes into a school and starts shooting?? what clown walks into a cinema theater and starts shooting??

        Americans are fucked in the head

      2. Because it’s our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. It was intended to protect us from harsh government control. We weren’t meant to shoot anything up at anytime.

    2. decent album, not his best imo. there is like 5 or 6 dope tracks outta 16 rest are kinda boring/average

      id rate the album 6.5/10

    3. Bad timing for that album cover.

      Ok, album. Lacking in the anthems that T.I is known for.

      For example his features on “Big Beast” on Killer Mike’s album and “In the A” on Big Boi’s album are better songs than most of what’s on Trouble Man. At this point, he’s big enough that I think he can also take more risks musically. Musically “Swagga Like Us” was a step in the right direction.

      1. Just fucking stop with Life Is Good please… It’s dumbass dickriders like you that make me hate hip hop fans. The album is a 4 at best, it’s not a classic, it’s not better than any of Nas latest albums, it has horrible songs in it (Summer On Smash or the track with Mary J. Blige), just stop overrating it ! This is arguably T.I.’s best album, his other mostly got a 3.5 by HHDX, it’s fair that this one got a 4, it deserves it.

      2. Slurp, slurp? Funny how you say it has horrible songs in it yet you only name two. But anyway, my pickle is with HHDX and its flawed rating system. HHDX either needs to be more consistent with the rating system or needs to change it.

      3. You Wouldn’t Understand is pretty terrible as well, Accident Murderers is average at best. The rest of the songs, for the most part, are good with some of them being excellent, songs such as The Don, Daughters, World Is An Addiction or Nasty (by the way, still don’t understand why he only put it on the Deluxe edition). I never said the albums wasn’t good, it’s a great album, but people overrate it too much. But, I do agree with the consistency of HHDX, there was better examples, such as Slaughterhouse getting a 4.5, that album didn’t deserve that at all.

      4. @BTMoney that songs is called “You wouldn’t understand” for a reason. And apparently you didn’t understand. Personally thats like my favorite song on that Album. He talks about real hood dealings and shit he been throw with Homies he know thats doing 80 years in prison. Also to say Accident Murders was average family you hating my nigga. The shit with Mary J Blige is my shit. If you under 25 don’t expect you to like that song or if you from down south and like those crunk bouncie beats. That beat was from his old Firm days and further then that Marly Marl and Mc Shan days. Takes me back to D.J Clue tapes.(im sure you know nothing about that)

        But like you said this why you hate Hip Hop fans. Well i hate hip hop fans like you cause you say something is wack like its a fact. Songs you say is wack is like niggas favorite songs. Fuck out of here.

      1. He’s been referred to as Jay Z of the south -T.I. took that as a big compliment- since Pharrell dubbed him that years ago -and it stuck- for his level of lyricism, because rappers from the south were not known for their lyricism at the time.. You are the lame for even posting that comment..

    4. no mention of “Sorry”? anyway, perfect review. the album is a solid 4.

      and yes it is better than jesus piece. and Life is good is not better than a 4 either. smh….. dickriders

    5. How are suckas still hatin? How are suckas still calling TIP snitch? How can suckas still not get that T.I. was the only nigga going to jail while alfamega and all of them fake ass snitching faggots probably laughed his ass off because he went to jail. I guess the hate will never stop. This album went in and showed them fake ass niggas wassup. T.I.P. KIND OF DA SOUTH STILL REAL IN THIS BITCH STILL ORIGINAL IN THIS BITCH AND STILL A FUCKING PROBLEM IN THE GAME!!! GDOD!!!

    6. Album cover is sick. I’m going to def check this album out, T.I. is one of a kind. And don’t compare this album cover to the CT shooting Friday please you lames. Don’t make that a political issue either.

    7. What every ethnicity say during butt sex:

      1. White: Oh yeah keep sticking your huge cock in my tight my tight little ass hole

      2. Blacks: Put that dick in my booty

      3. Asian: Ooooh you put it in meh bott

      4. Hispanic: Damn holmes you got your deek in ass

      5. Native American: You penis has entered my ass like snake crawling inside of a cave to escape the harsh weather. Enjoy this feeling my friend because this hole is a portal to pleasure.

      These are real sex facts feel free to add more

    8. uptil I saw the receipt ov $6892, I didnt believe that my cousin was like actualie taking home money parttime from their laptop.. there mums best friend started doing this for only 10 months and as of now repayed the debts on their house and got a new Saab 99 Turbo.

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    9. I’d say this is the Album of the Year, it has everything you can ask for, hits, soulful music, lyrics, production, it’s a perfect 5!

      1. Lmao!!! Cham is Wack as hell!! T.I. is more Prince Of The South to me, real hip hop heads know that Scarface is easily the true king of the South..

    10. Great album from one of the best of the last decade.!
      Name me one other rapper who brought us Trap muzik Urban legend King Papertrail an last not least this Trouble man shit.!
      Songs like Its unlucky for the Dope boys TIP got that women fanbase if that wasnt the case this Dude is SUPREME.!!

    11. I was wrong, there are now FIVE (not just four) top albums this year: K. Dot’s, Nas’, Slaughterhouse’s, Game’s, and now Tip’s.

      Oh, and the King of R&B brings that shit on track 7 that’s on some real righthere

    12. How all you niggaz listen to this and it ain’t come out yet. Then got the nerve to complain about album sales. SMDH. If you like it cop it for 10 dollars, broke ass niggaz get your money up

    13. Only a hater can say this album aint the best of the year Kendrick is nice but yall know this album is tight and the worse song is ball what does that say? Dont say its gone flop buy it terrible fans thats why Taylor Swift is the only person selling albums now cuz yall don’t support black artist just look at itunes top songs are not from black artist.

    14. 4.5/5
      The .5 was lost with cruisin. lol that was horrendous! but whatever, thats just one out of 16. the rest are dope as hell. REAL TALK, COP THIS.

    15. I agree with 85% of the radio. However, TI’s latest mixtae is still rated high on livemixtapes.com

      The only tracks I skipped were “Ball”, “Cruisin” and “Can you learn”.

      I agree with the 4/5 rating but, I’ll give it a 5 to keep the user rating up.

      1. THE BEST OF TIP

        TRAP MUZIK..(way ahead of its time..RUBBERBAND era)

        URBAN(D) LEGEND..

        “king.”…TIP goes mainstream 2006

        “TI VS TIP”……DON’t AGE GOOD..*smile…be4 JESUS PIECE

        “PAPER TRAIL”….gave RiRi her huge break….STILL TIP’$ best

        NO MERCY was ICE WATER…TIP’S worse yet

    16. The cover art is dope! Im feeling the whole “Heavy Is The Hand” theme. The tracklist features & production look good too I have to cop this one. He cant lose right now! Trouble Man Hustle Gang!

    17. The introduction,g season,wildside,the way we ride,wonderfoul life,who want some, guns and roses and hallelujuh isssss CLASSIC TIP SHIT.
      If his next album gonna be as good as this TIPSTER gonna be HALL OF FAMER.!! TELL EM I SAID THAT.!!!

    18. Its a good to great album no reason to skip tracks is the best thing I can say about it. Could be better a lot of ways like everything else is the worse thing I can say about it.

    19. T.I. and Andre 3000 are old mad talentless niggaz. Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Gucci and 2 Chainz run da South. swag

    20. to start earning 53$ in an hour… You can work for a few hours a day online and earn over 250$ every day… Start now, and at the end of day you can already have your first earnings. Good luck! Check it out yourself.

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    21. How mayhny of you internet critics gone hate, u dont like get on with ya byeizzness cuz it is the album of the year, yallactin like shyne on dis blog

    22. This shit is tough. I mean it’s definitely one of his best but I still think Kendrick did the damn thing album wise. TIP is definitely in that conversation though for album of the year.

      1. I have no idea how so many people are rating kendrick so high, gkmc was a decent album at best, nowhere near a classic, and his voice is annoying as fuck… I honestly dont get it… prefer a plethora of albums from last year over his!!!
        t,.i’s, game’s, nas’s, good music’s, and a bunch of others were all better…

    23. I’m a Phonte, Talib Kweli, etc type of dude but T.I. has always been a cat I messed wit. This is a way solid effort from T.I.

    24. 5 star shit because I’ve heard the muhfucka and exceptionally it can be the best album of the year..he deserves it the most

    25. considering the fact I’m not even a t.i. fan ..I really like this album it just seems so truthful from the heart of the artist

    26. such a greatttttttttt album he never fails me love the song with ceeLo,andre and pink and also love the cruising forever the king of the south

    27. this is a dope album as bad as i hate to say this tho i think its gonna flop it just dont feel like it has a strong buzz

    28. it’s a great project he still spittin that ill flow and he’s one of the best in the game at it. tracks are iight, Wonderful Life is real personal, most introspective joint of the album. not feelin Can You Learn and Cruisin’.. rest are ok but Tip really put out the best shit first. my fav joint is still Go Get It, it got half a message behind it. Trap Back Jumpin’ kills it. G Season is a dope trap banger. Like That is back on there but only itunes. Way we Ride is sick. Addresses is still a good beat despite the diss thing. album’s a bit more slanted on the trap music side of things but that was expected.

    29. I don’t think this album is anything special. To me it is kinda watered down, like Paper Trail, but without any of that album’s personality and pop appeal. It’s no better than No Mercy to me. 3.5

    30. I see how everybodies talking about album of the year & not one mention for Chino XL’z RICANstruction?….smh, didnt even have high hopes for that album, but its easily a more solid offering than kendricks (a good album & thats it)…smh it pretty fucking disgusting, but shouldnt expect any less…

      1. honestly, i feel the same way about chino’s album..if you listen to it, there are SO many times where u are gonna have to rewind the song mid-play because his metaphoresand rhyme structure is just so damn complex..and i dont have a biased opinion on him or nothing, never even heard him rap before i listened to that album…plus, it is hard to out-rap guys like bun b and tech n9ne when your on the same track but this guy somehow pulled it off

    31. This is his best album since King. His last 2 albums were pretty pop, and I’m a big T.I. fan. He went in on this one like he had something to prove. Better beats and better features than his last 2 albums. 4/5

    32. Love this album. Was worried after the singles released that this album would be a let down but it seemed like he saved his best songs for the release date.

    33. Great album, great variety of songs such as club, deep touching songs, and just songs that go hard. Has a huge chance of getting album of the year! Only other albums I can see beating this is self made vol 2, GKMC, street quality music, strange clouds, cruel summer, or life is good.

    34. This might legitimately be his best album to date. I have to go back to Trap Muzik to even compare. The vulnerability he shows on this album while maintaining his image is remiscient of Me Against the World or It’s Dark and Hell is Hot. While maybe not pushing for new ground sonically, it gives us a legitimate glimpse into who TI is as a person. If not for good kid maad city it would be album of the year. Jesus piece right behind them tho.

    35. nice album, could have gone without guns and roses, Ball, and cruisin though. Not his best, but definitely worth a listen

    36. I liked Guns and Roses, “ball” was dissapointing, and Cruisin was terrible (well, it was for the ladies, and im not a lady).
      Other than that it was great!
      4.5/5

    37. CLASSIC BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR………….PERIOD
      CHECK OUT THAT NEW JEEZY TOO ………IT THE WORLD!!!!!!
      BOTH OF MY NIGGAS BACK………TI WENT BACK TRAP MUSIC STYLE SOUTHERN ALBUM SOUTHERN CLASSIC……THE NEXT ALBUM WILL BE THE BIG SELLER……..I MEAN BE FOR REAL IN THIS CLIMATE IF YOU DONT HAVE THE BIG POPPISH SONG RADIO FRIENDLY D*** RIDING SONG ITS HARD EVEN IF YOU DROP A CLASSIC ALBUM,,,,,, ITS THE KING BITCH…..AND GRAND HUSTLE PIMP……..

    38. Yo i know its alot of T.I fans on here. I been fucking with T.I since Urban Legend.(I know Trap Muzic was his first shit) And i thought Paper Trail was a classic.(tho it had a commercial appeal to it) Every song was hot on paper trail. Urban Legend was my shit too. T.I vs Tip was Aight as well as King.(tho i wasn’t feeling King so much) No Mercy was ok but got boring fast. Had like 5 good songs the rest were mediocore.

      But this Album is getting better reviews then it deserves to me.(my opinion) I just feel like its the same old T.I shit. Nothing new, nothing feels fresh off this album. Paper Trail and Urban Legend(as well as Trap Music) always gave me a fresh sound. This shit isn’t wack by no means, but its just feel like a lot is missing. T.I.P still spit some real shit but this album ain’t really all that to me.

      I gave it 3/5.

    39. My favorite songs on this shit is Trap back jumping, Wildside, Sorry(cause Dre 3000 killed it) and Can you Learn(with RKelly). The shit with Kelly is my favorite song on this shit. Thats a girl song, so that tells you how i feel bout this album. Addresses is cool to but its pretty much the same kind of song A Milli, and Backseat freestyles is. etc

      Overall there isn’t one song im going crazy over. And thats odd coming from a T.I album. Usually i play at least one of his songs 5 times before i reach the next. This album have no bangers to me. Just a bunch of O.K songs nothing special. Not much replay value on this album after hearing JP,LIG and GKMC and others who came out. Buddens,Big Krit,Killer Mike and Ab soul. I think this project falls under all of those albums and more.

      Overall a disappointment to me in my opinion. With that said this shit aint wack its just mediocore to me. Glad he is getting good reviews tho. I didn’t think he would.

    40. I would put this above No Mercy.. and maybe T.I vs. T.I.P. but his best projects still remain KING/Paper Trail.

      if he really serious about working on his humility, then i hope it shines thru on that TM sequel

    41. Aint nothing gone touch paper trail or trap muzik but still trouble man is a great album, so all u clowns sayinyall T.I. fans just to down talk em can stop ya hating, ya sound rediculous shawty!!!

      1. Never understood why you down south cats fucked up the word “Shorty” which referred to females as shorty but ya’ll call dudes that?…wtf!…just like grills with all that goofy looking colors and shit and hip hop the last 6 to 7 years. The South really corns shit up for real sometimes.

      2. Boston is lame and racist as fuck!!! What y’all contributing to hip-hop currently? Not a damn thing. So STFU!!!

    42. This Album is a true classic.. we got to hear T.I of 2000’s mix with the Modern T.I. and it matches… All i gotta say is that since i bought this album it’s on repeat!!

    43. T.I. is the King of the south.
      He may have a few lackluster albums, but like mentioned above, He has a shit ton of sick songs that easily overshadow any “ok” albums.

    44. What up whats happening, all you hataz, get at me, I hear you and Im watching, but Im still here, I aint stoppin, So what up!!!

    45. Haters are on their way comming here tryna hate on some bullshit they heard with no facts nothing that proves that T.I. is a snitch. Ridin their dicks and just believe everything they say is the way to go today i see.

    46. tip the best be for real who came foward 2 say tip snitch on them just open your eyes up and stop listening 2 the media

    47. The album is good. I like most of the tracks but there are a few that I don’t like at all. But overall good effort.

    48. Best tracks are “No Introduction”, “Wildside”, “Wonderful Life” and “G-Season”…

      “Cruisin” is just really badly autotuned. It sounds like Tip’s trying to imitate Future (which is never a good idea)

      1. if you listen to other songs they are kind of the same. and theyre all over from the albums, mixtapes etc. 1 example is Life of the party. Faggot

      1. You cant be serious Ludacris is the prince of puch lines at best. He cant hold a candle to TIP, matter of fact TIP is arguably the best rapper in the south between him and Wayne and they’re really too different type of rappers to even compare

      2. T.i.’S flow is boring as fuck. His beats all sound the same, just like Lil Wayne, and his lyrics are barely passable.

      3. crazy nigga ,,,,t.i speaks his own xperiences ..luda..jus abt money n bitchez…r u crias niccur just STFU…u dont have an idea who a king iz…

    49. this shit BUMPS!! original trap beats, and the old school ATL tip we all know and love! can’t wait for He who wears the crown!

    50. Ive thoroughly listened to this album multiple times… only wack track is Cruisin’ and its only wack because it’s something were not used to hearing from TI.. best album of 2012 besides Good Kid Maad City because of the story Kendrick tells and what it stands for

    51. This Shit Bumps! been a fan of T.I. since 06 & this is actually da 1st T.I. album i bought & can listen
      to it all without skipping tracks only Lame Song is “Hello” because of Ceelo Greens stupid voice & hook
      he should hav included “Love this Life” on here

    52. THIS ONE OF T.I.’S BEST ALBUMS A IMPROVEMENT FROM NO MERCY BUT NOT BETTER THAN PAPER TRAIL…IT ONE OF BEST HIP HOP ALBUMS OF THE YEAR. THE ONLY THING T.I. WAS MISSING WAS THAT ONE BIG SINGLE BUT T.I. WAS FOCUS ONE HIT HE WAS FOCUSING ON HIS COMBACK AND MAKING GREAT MUSIC…STILL DA KING OF THE SOUTH

    53. The best album of 2012 it’s a shame it didn’t get recognized the way it should’ve. The album actually tells a real life story of the king and has something for everyone to listen to!

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