Issue date: 10/25/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

With the release of his album Paper Trail, Rapper T.I. proves it does not take two personalities to show the different sides of his music.  Amiss all the adversity Tip Harris is facing in his personal life, the singles in Paper Trail are a testimony to all the events that lead to the rapper's success thus far.  The release of T.I.'s last album T.I. vs. T.I.P showed two sides to the rappers personality as well as his music. 
Wrapping up a successful year in 2007, the rapper is back and able to infuse all of his thoughts and personality into one solid record. In Paper Trail, T.I. demonstrates his ability to change his music to match his particular mood. In the album's first single "No Matter What," T.I. talks about how thankful he is for all those people who have supported him through all of the adversity he has faced thus far in his career. "Ali say even the greatest gotta suffer sometime," chants the rapper as he explains how even though he is an entertainment personality, he is still human and will have to deal with the same obstacles and challenges that people face in their everyday lives.
The pace quickly changes throughout the album as T.I. shows his party side over the Swizz Beatz produced track "Swing Your Rag." In typical T.I. fashion, the rapper demonstrates through his lyrics that his swag is above others, as he raps about the benefits of making it big in the Hip Hop industry and the ability to show off all the things he is able to purchase with his well deserved money.  "You can have whatever you like," sings the rapper on the hook of his version of a love ballad "Whatever you like." This single demonstrates the rappers ability to change gears and connect with the listeners on a more personal level as he shows a softer side and raps about the way he treats his woman to anything she wants, no matter how expensive it might be.
With the release of the album many will be able to connect with the rapper on a more mature and personal level, proving that it does not take two albums to capture all of  T.I.'s personalities but show the divine ability to create one general album defining one great man.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools