T.I.
Urban Legend (Atlantic)The self-proclaimed King of the South rebuilds his case on the heels of a brief period of incarceration. Wishing to parlay the momentum he established in 2003 with monster hits “24’z” and “Rubberband Man,” T.I. follows up the lyrical ferocity of his 2004 Lil’ Flip-dedicated mix tape with his third full-length since 2001. As the jangling bounce of its lead single “Bring Em Out” gathers nationwide radio love, Urban Legend illustrates the tenacity of an MC hellbent on elevating his craft: “You’re trying to stack presidents, I’m trying to set precedents.” Whether conjuring “Motivation” or swapping street trade formulas with B.G. on “What They Do,” T.I. stands apart from the flock by merely wanting the crown more than the next man. Focused on the mic as life, the Atlanta resident proves himself equally worthy over tracks by Lil Jon, Mannie Fresh, Scott Storch, Swizz Beatz, and the Neptunes. “Don’t be a groupie, keep it moving” quickly becomes the mantra for those exposed to T.I.’s never-ending arsenal of smooth, seamless flows. It seems that the Dirty South has at last found the proper mouthpiece to match its recent surge in the heavyweight beats department.
This article appears in January 14 • 2005.