(U-WIRE) COLLEGE STATION, Texas — His assertion that he is the “King of the South” may be questionable, but Atlanta rapper T.I. does have something going for him: He has the streets in a chokehold. Though small in stature, he makes up for it with big credibility, big swagger and big rhymes.
But does confidence translate into a good album? With his fourth LP King, T.I. almost makes his case.
On the heels of 2004’s Urban Legend, and in conjunction with film debut ATL, King is hitting the streets in a major way.
The lead single “What You Know” couldn’t be more representative of the album as a whole. With triumphant synthesizers, big bass and T.I.’s confrontational bravado firing on all cylinders, this track is the very definition of a club banger.
The first half of the album follows suit in the same fashion. Texas rap fans are sure to appreciate the song “Front Back,” the Mannie Fresh-produced remake of UGK’s classic “Front, Back and Side to Side.” It’s tailor-made for driving slow on a Friday night.
More standouts include “King Back” and “I’m Talking to You,” both produced by Just Blaze. While the former succeeds on the strength of the chorus’ horns, the latter will draw more attention. “I’m Talking to You” is a thinly-veiled attack on rival emcees Lil’ Wayne and Rick Ross. Though T.I.’s manic verses evoke flashes of an angry Tupac, Just Blaze’s horns, snares and bass confirm once again why he is easily one of the top three producers in all of rap.
King fails when it deviates from what it knows best: street-oriented raps. When T.I.-lite songs like “Why You Wanna” and the Neptunes-produced “Stand Up Guy” are introduced into the equation, they more or less dilute the rawness of the album. While not bad by any standards, these songs do make listeners fully aware of label execs’ need for radio-friendly cuts.
When it hits its mark, it stands as some of his absolute best work, but because King does take a few errant, though not devastating, turns, T.I.’s potentially outstanding disc is brought down to the level of one that is just really good.
