Music Review: T.I.: Paper Trail

9/10


With the inevitable reality of prison looming, T.I. (or T.I.P. if you want to be technical) releases perhaps his most introspective material yet on "Paper Trail."

Though the name is a direct reference to his choice to once again write his rhymes down with pen and pad (the rapper du jour of the current generation is to go pen less), "Trail" doesn't squander its content or lose it's way with a gaggle of filler tracks.

T.I. is at his most brutally honest on "Paper Trail," speaking candidly about the implications of his arrest on "Ready For Whatever", and putting a certain Atlanta naysayer in his place on the hard hitting and in your face anthem "Whats Up, Whats Happenin," produced by Drumma Boy.

T.I. once again teams up with longtime friend and producer DJ Toomp who produces 5 of the strongest tracks on the album, including the long awaited team up with Ludacris on "On Top Of The World," which also features Grand Hustle newbie B.O.B. The song is excellent of course and T.I. and Luda have great chemistry which will hopefully lead to many more collabs with them over time. "Paper Trail" also features the infectious mash-up "Swagga Like Us" which features Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil' Wayne as four of the most popular MC's today lyrically sparring over the M.I.A. sampled tune.

"Paper Trail" is also light on the upbeat bop of past T.I. albums and even though the Jim Jonsin produced "Whatever You Like" gets in that zone, there are few tracks on the album like it. It's the confessional of an artist facing one of his biggest trials, and as a fan it's worth taking the journey.