T.I.- Paper Trail (AllMusic Review)

iTzMe · 09-28-2008, 12:05 PM

House arrest would likely slow anyone's daily routine. It probably played a factor in T.I.'s decision to write down his rhymes for the first time since his debut. A year of jail time on the horizon would, just the same, impact a writer's output, and it has done just that on Paper Trail. Plenty of these tracks have nothing to do with T.I.'s federal weapons conviction — escapist fare like the number one Hot 100 single "Whatever You Like" and the mindnumbing "Porn Star," where he's barely coasting — but there is a sense of urgency and a new dimension of self-reflection not touched upon throughout the holding pattern that was T.I. vs T.I.P. And when he's just battling, as on "I'm Illy," he reaches a level of indignant rage that manages to top that of "I'm Talkin' to You." The M.I.A.-sampling, Kanye West-produced "Swagga Like Us" features verses from Jay-Z, West, and Lil Wayne, but its chunky, rugged, alien beat could've hit even harder with just T.I., whose pent-up swagger makes for the best vocal fit. The cut with multiple features that is deserving of even more talk is "On Top of the World," where B.o.B. and (especially) Ludacris complement atypical wealth-related T.I. boasts like "Cousins in college — where you think they get tuition from?" The production work also helps place the album above T.I. vs T.I.P.; Toomp's return provides some much needed punch, as does Danja's slow motion, almost bluesy, organ-drenched beat for "No Matter What."

Rating: 3.5/5

Source: AllMusic

SluGSlinGa · 09-28-2008, 08:05 PM

actually, i hated this album as a whole.

but there are some good tracks like 56 bars, swing ya rag and a couple others but this album is inconsistent as fuck.

and the production? man most of the songs sound similar wtf.

King and even TI vs TIP were 10 times better than this.

The Real K.I.N.G. · 09-28-2008, 08:29 PM

You sick I don't agree with this

GameTime187 · 09-28-2008, 09:57 PM

This album is dope considering his situation and the way he was able to create some hot songs, I think he stepped his game up. Listen to I'm illy!

Hunger4More · 09-28-2008, 10:56 PM

allmusic usually on point but they underrated this

Curtis SSK · 09-28-2008, 10:57 PM

The album was hot the only song I dont like is porn star. All the song is off the hook but Im Illy is hot as hell....

TheKingofMD · 09-29-2008, 10:52 AM

Yeah, they crazy. I don't agree with this review. I felt like TI stepped his game up on Paper Trail. Yeah, he had his syrupy radio singles, but if you ignored the chorus, and listened to the lyrics, he still spit the truth.

It was a good album.

jasmine2008 · 09-29-2008, 05:45 PM

yea they underrated this one..its probably his best one yet

MRKEYS21 · 10-11-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasmine2008

yea they underrated this one..its probably his best one yet

cosign ^^^^^^^

ALittleBitCooler · 10-11-2008, 12:45 PM

don't like t.i. and didn't like the album well...... it was ok

June7 · 10-11-2008, 03:25 PM

T.I is one of my favourite but this album was NOT his best

lil_speedy202 · 10-26-2008, 12:11 AM

Best T.I. album to me

elalebien · 11-12-2008, 10:39 PM

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

09-28-2008, 12:05 PM	#1
iTzMe Punch Line King Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,987 Repped: 1,061 Repped 2,656 Times in 363 Posts Neg Reps: 24 Neg Repped at 11 Times in 8 Posts	T.I.- Paper Trail (AllMusic Review) T.I.- Paper Trail (AllMusic Review) House arrest would likely slow anyone's daily routine. It probably played a factor in T.I.'s decision to write down his rhymes for the first time since his debut. A year of jail time on the horizon would, just the same, impact a writer's output, and it has done just that on Paper Trail. Plenty of these tracks have nothing to do with T.I.'s federal weapons conviction — escapist fare like the number one Hot 100 single "Whatever You Like" and the mindnumbing "Porn Star," where he's barely coasting — but there is a sense of urgency and a new dimension of self-reflection not touched upon throughout the holding pattern that was T.I. vs T.I.P. And when he's just battling, as on "I'm Illy," he reaches a level of indignant rage that manages to top that of "I'm Talkin' to You." The M.I.A.-sampling, Kanye West-produced "Swagga Like Us" features verses from Jay-Z, West, and Lil Wayne, but its chunky, rugged, alien beat could've hit even harder with just T.I., whose pent-up swagger makes for the best vocal fit. The cut with multiple features that is deserving of even more talk is "On Top of the World," where B.o.B. and (especially) Ludacris complement atypical wealth-related T.I. boasts like "Cousins in college — where you think they get tuition from?" The production work also helps place the album above T.I. vs T.I.P.; Toomp's return provides some much needed punch, as does Danja's slow motion, almost bluesy, organ-drenched beat for "No Matter What." Rating: 3.5/5 Source: AllMusic __________________ "Cool As AC Cuz The Heat Secure Me"- Bank$ aka The PLK

09-28-2008, 08:29 PM	#3
The Real K.I.N.G. Too Ill For Radio Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,926 Repped: 824 Repped 458 Times in 182 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 8 Times in 8 Posts	You sick I don't agree with this __________________ R.O.B.

09-28-2008, 10:56 PM	#5
Hunger4More BLACK PRESIDENT Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,262 Repped: 194 Repped 555 Times in 126 Posts Neg Reps: 6 Neg Repped at 9 Times in 8 Posts	allmusic usually on point but they underrated this __________________ R3LAPS3

09-28-2008, 10:57 PM	#6
Curtis SSK Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 338 Repped: 34 Repped 48 Times in 15 Posts Neg Reps: 14 Neg Repped at 3 Times in 3 Posts	The album was hot the only song I dont like is porn star. All the song is off the hook but Im Illy is hot as hell.... __________________ “I mean, you tell me. When you start telling me that a nigga could put a butterfly on his eye or a nigga could claim to be a gang member and [not] really be, or a nigga could kiss another nigga in the mouth and it be okay, then yeah, it’s turned into entertainment.”- Lloyd Banks

09-29-2008, 10:52 AM	#7
TheKingofMD Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 13 Repped: 0 Repped 10 Times in 2 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yeah, they crazy. I don't agree with this review. I felt like TI stepped his game up on Paper Trail. Yeah, he had his syrupy radio singles, but if you ignored the chorus, and listened to the lyrics, he still spit the truth. It was a good album. __________________ "You come at The King, you best not miss." Omar, The Wire

09-28-2008, 08:05 PM	#2
SluGSlinGa Ur wOrsT NiGhtMaRe... Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Killadelphia, Pistolvania Posts: 2,967 Repped: 38 Repped 132 Times in 58 Posts Neg Reps: 45 Neg Repped at 72 Times in 46 Posts	actually, i hated this album as a whole. but there are some good tracks like 56 bars, swing ya rag and a couple others but this album is inconsistent as fuck. and the production? man most of the songs sound similar wtf. King and even TI vs TIP were 10 times better than this.

09-28-2008, 09:57 PM	#4
GameTime187 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 336 Repped: 2 Repped 11 Times in 8 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	This album is dope considering his situation and the way he was able to create some hot songs, I think he stepped his game up. Listen to I'm illy!

09-29-2008, 05:45 PM	#8
jasmine2008 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Port City, NC Posts: 287 Repped: 9 Repped 39 Times in 15 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 2 Times in 2 Posts	yea they underrated this one..its probably his best one yet __________________

10-11-2008, 12:45 PM	#10
ALittleBitCooler Grown Kid Syndrome Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Saturn Posts: 833 Repped: 70 Repped 376 Times in 135 Posts Neg Reps: 5 Neg Repped at 61 Times in 32 Posts	don't like t.i. and didn't like the album well...... it was ok __________________

10-11-2008, 03:25 PM	#11
June7 aka ...HI HATER Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: T.O Posts: 3,569 Repped: 606 Repped 1,306 Times in 378 Posts Neg Reps: 104 Neg Repped at 76 Times in 66 Posts	T.I is one of my favourite but this album was NOT his best __________________ First Place Is Often The Worst Place But Fuck It I Love Here I Call It My Birth Place - Drake

10-26-2008, 12:11 AM	#12
lil_speedy202 Join Date: May 2006 Location: D.C. Posts: 42 Repped: 0 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Best T.I. album to me

11-12-2008, 10:39 PM	#13
elalebien Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: argentina Posts: 1 Repped: 0 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

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