T.I. – Paperwork

    Sifting through the annals of history, it’s evident that most kings historically rose to prominence through familial ties or implemented bloody campaigns. When T.I. prematurely labeled himself as the “King of the South” he quickly went about gaining the blessings of the people by following his bold proclamations with one of the most solid catalogues to date. He feuded with Lil Flip in the Great War Over-What-Some-Chick-May-Or-May-Not-Have-Said and came out completely unscathed. While Fidel Castro employed guerilla warfare to ascend to the top of Cuba’s hierarchy, T.I. began hit the block, permanently planting his flag with a handful of quality albums. Despite a laundry list of temper-tantrum-related incidents, T.I.P.’s superb catalog has amassed a long-lasting era of good feelings.

    In view of his consistent career victories, Paperwork should be as its name implies—another shiny adornment to add to his mantle. But for the majority of the album, T.I. inexplicably panders to the commonplace tastes. “King” commences with the Swag Rap rhapsody witnessed on past introductions like “King Back” and “56 Bars.” But things take a steep dive with “G Shit,” as he welcomes Jeezy along for the ride. The track reeks of a forgettable aura, as Tip revisits the territory of dated boasts rhyming, “Audemars / Hublots / One point five on a two-door, old hustle new flow / Old money, new hoes / Suckas prayin’ I’ma chill, but I’m too cold / Long as I’m around, fuck they need you for / Ridin’ in the Chevy toting three bricks, since nobody wanna make G shit…”

    On “Jet Fuel” he is joined by Boosie Badazz, but the falling horn synths provided by The Beat Bully and Kenoe are wasted with unimaginative talk of molly, lean and sexual conquests. The subject matter in and of itself isn’t the issue so much as Tip and Boosie failing to add a new spin on it, delivering flat lines such as, “Wash the dick off while she roll the kush sack up.”

    T.I. has a penchant for mixing trendy sounds and A-list producers (Kanye West’s Chipmunk Soul or Swizz Beatz’s high-energy repitition), but he doesn’t consistently strike the proper balance on Paperwork. Young Thug delivers an entertaining performance, but overall there is nothing to distinguish “About The Money” from pedestrian territory. Similarly, “No Mediocre” is indistinguishable from dozens of other DJ Mustard-produced songs dominating radio. Setbacks aside, there are still moments that solidify Tip’s well-earned seat on the throne. A far more enduring effort comes in the form of “New National Anthem,” featuring Skylar Grey. The king has exhibited good working relationship with pop princesses, and with Grey’s penetrating vocals, T.I. provides a scathing attack on various epidemics (namely violence and class warfare) in America. T.I. also crafts a poignant, personal ode to his fallen comrades with “On Doe, On Phil,” featuring Trae Tha Truth. On the opposite end of the sonic spectrum, “Stay” and “About My Issue,” find T.I. and Victoria Monet hooking up for two memorable flashes of what the king is capable of.

    T.I. has long showcased the ability to make even the most meanest mean-mugger drop all pseudo-thug pretenses in favor of cuff-happy sentiments, but instead of potentially spiking the birthrate in Atlanta, offerings like “At Ya Own Risk” and “Private Show” fall flat. The latter interpolates UGK’s “Take It Off” but lacks the sonic richness for a proper tribute.

    Paperwork plays out as an uneven effort that isn’t so much inherently flawed as it is unentertaining through long stretches. Even with an increased reliance on an updated version of the double-time cadence he perfected on King, the subject matter covered comes across as trite with little to no emotional resonance. It’s no secret that T.I. is judged on a much higher scale given the quality of his past releases. Trouble ensued the last time fans counted T.I.P. down for the count, so it is too late for chants of “Down With The King.” There is no reason to expect that T.I.’s next project can’t possibly exhibit him in prime form once again.

    97 thoughts on “T.I. – Paperwork

      1. i get his point. a lot of niggas that do reviews aint about that life so they dont understand the music from certain artists. thats y u got hipsters with 4 year college degrees writing for hip hop sites that never put a .4 on a scale much less broke down a zip or an elbow. havent heard this album yet so i aint shittin on the review but i get what anon sayin

      2. This album is the equivalent of when Jay made Kingdom Come, there is hardly anything that bares resemblance to the trap gold he’s laced us with in the past. It’s mostly easily accessible radio garbage. Even T.I.’s worst albums have bangers on them but he’s in a weird place musically and it shows

      1. I am…sucka. You dont know who I know, and how word get around. That nigga snitched after getting caught with all those guns. u wack too…614Grind…nigga please

    1. Wack review.
      “G Shit” is one of the songs with the most replay value on the album along with “Private Show”, “About My Issues”, and “Tell By the Way I Walk”. It’s better than a 3 star album, closer to 3.5 stars.

      1. Production is nothing else than terrible………… Not a pleasure to listen, just like that madlib and gibbs collabo……..

    2. I agree with the review. If you are a fan of Tip’s albums such ass King, Urban Legends, Papertrail, and maybe a couple other nameless ones, there is no comparison with his new effort. The production is great but T.I. has a signature sound that helps solidify him as King of the south and he didn’t give it to us on this effort. It’s better that the average album out right now but not anywhere near better than the average T.I. project. All of you that are co-signing this album will forget about it in a month. I am a T.I. fan and I know what he is capable of. T.I. is the complete package when it comes to lyrics, albums, and entertainment. He’s a hell of a performer, but it doesn’t excuse average work, and that’s what this album is, average.

      p.s. Young Thug is one of the worst rappers ever! That nigga sucks, and anyone who thinks any different is an idiot and shouldn’t be allowed to have an opinion. #factsonly

      1. As long as Scarface is alive and breathing, he will always be King of the South. TIP is no where close to his level or Bun B for that matter.

    3. It’s not his best album, that’s true. But the more I listen to it, the more I like it. I’m not sure about the Pharrell production. Some beats feel to much pop Pharrell shit. Like G Shit. I like Pharrell, but I don’t expect the same thing from Pharrell than T.I.

    4. This was a surprisingly boring record. People keep saying “storytelling” like that’s some new amazing thing. Nobody gives a shit how connected the tracks are, it’s weak production and pretty average lyrics.

    5. The production was corny , all over the place. nicka open your next cd up to all new producers thats hungry…get a few emails on twitter and let the games begin……i liked 3 songs on the whole joint ..worse Tip cd by far. one more like this he is done

    6. HHDX is so wrong yet again…this is one of TI’s best albums. Its well produced and ultimately just as good Paper Trail…im a big TI fan. They are just hating as usual 4/5

      1. @matayo This album is nowhere near paper trail. not even in the same category. no comparison. tip had passion on paper trail, he put that album together like it was going to be his last and we were never going to hear from him again. this new album is average at best, you will not be listening to it two months from now.

      1. Right there with you. I respect the dude and some of the stuff he has done, but his albums been boring as fuck for a while now.

    7. my co-worker’s half-sister makes $89 /hour on the laptop . She has been fired from work for five months but last month her check was $21382 just working on the laptop for a few hours.
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    8. his best album since #PAPER TRAIL 2008…..it took 6 years..but finally..the fans are getting “old school” TIP’s skills…..this album easily makes THE TOP albums of 2014!….

    9. it is 13/13! FIRE!…….not aclassic like #PAPER TRAIL….or#KING….or TRAP MUZIK…even #URBAN LEGEND was a great TIP album….it is better than that last album and i hated #TI VS TIP..LOL

    10. sucka wiggas fall back. you know he better than all the radio bull crap and you cant touch the realness of this bold smart wigga.

    11. FUCK TI!!! Lil Flip is the real king of the souf. TI is a fuck boi, Flip beat his ass when he came over to cloverland and TIP ran away like a little bitch.

      1. No, you still spell “South”. You guys speak English as well, so there’s no reason for fucking up a nice word like that.

    12. If this is his best as all of these trolls say, No wonder I never liked this guy. People obviously are not listening to his corny lyrics. This guy is self absorbed and shallow on everything he does. Most of his positive comments come from his own staff of bloggers.

      1. half of T.I. invented the trap music that poisons hip-hop today. the other half tells those down south tales about the hard life in the streets and getting up out it. in these later days of his career he is just cashing in on the trap rap he built. with some (bad) pop singles here and there.

    13. T.I. did an amazing job on paperwork. I feel as though this is a sophisticated grown album. Pharrell and T.I. together is just genius. Im a huge T.I. fan met him twice all together great guy! Hes funny, smart, beyond talented and what better family man. If you like T.I. I highly recommend buying this album.

    14. And dam theirs some corny ass haters on here. Keep on hating yall just making him more famous 😉 the haters! They have no self respect trying to make themselves feel better about there self by hating on another persons success. #NewNationalAnthemShit #R.S.

    15. this album is a sophisticated album for those rock with t.i. I highly suggest you go it. album is so dope I’m gonna cop another.

    16. I’m a big ti fan I have all his albums even this one but I must speak the truth this album is it better than Trouble Man so for me this album goes in with TI versus tip and no mercy they are good albums but they’re not classics trap muzik Urban legend king paper trail & trouble man are classics

    17. What the hell are you talking about?!! Just because you can’t grow and evolve with new sounds doesn’t mean his new music isn’t great! You just have catch up! This is his greatest work to date!! BEST ALBUM OF 2014 BESIDES LECRAE’S ANAMOLY!

    18. I love this album. T.I. did it again. But he has never failed us yet. Haters are going to hate. I am quite sure he knows he has some haters. He is a man he can take what ppl say. Some like him, some don’t. But it’s not stopping him from getting his money.

    19. I think Paperwork was a solid album from TI it isn’t the best album TI has ever put out but he got some joints on here. Private Party and G Shit and Dope as Fuck and On DOe ON Phil is a Banger TI stuck to the script.I wish he would’ve did more songs over trap beats but he is tryin to grow as an Artist so its all GOod.

    20. THIS ALBUM IS WACK , T.I FELL OFF BAD . PUT THE MIC DOWN NOW AND MOVE AWAY T.I. IT’S OVER

      1. the only one that fell off is wack ass mc eiht. no one is checkin’ for him no more not even you that’s why you talkin’ about a t.i. album u clown.

    21. it’s like another no mercy. t.i. tryna do some pop type shit in some stuff. last one i would consider good is paper trail. after that, it’s moments. nothing gonna be like his debut up to king in my opinion

    22. Paper Trail is still his best work but i prefer paperwork to troubleman anyday….. I think T.I’s album shld be more like paper trail. bt i’ll give dis album 3.5

    23. Im a very loyal T.I. fan !!! Paperwork is different from the others. He is really a Stand up guy and loyal to his friends.

    24. I think this is a decent album. Pretty much what I expected from Tip this late in his career. Nothing spectacular…but it wasn’t a disappointment.

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