Leaked to the internet on 17 September 2008 and hitting stores on 30 September, the rapper’s follow-up to 2007’s T.I. vs. T.I.P. hit at the end of a high-selling hip-hop summer. On the heels of releases from Lil’ Wayne, The Game, and Chamillionaire, Paper Trail brings together top-level production with T.I.’s most accomplished lyric set to date. With hip-hop history on "Swagga Like Us" and an industry influenced rhythm and blues style, Paper Trail is a distinctly new page in T.I.'s songbook.
The Paper Trail Singles
Released in May 2008, the new T.I. album's promotional recording “No Matter What” established his introspective side. Rapping over a rhythmic marching band-type beat and some minimal synthesizers, the song finds the rapper acknowledging his rise from anonymity and his lasting influence in his trade. Featuring the lyric: “You never seen in your lifetime/A more divine Southern rapper with a swag like mine.”
The follow-up lead single to Paper Trail, “Whatever You Like,” was released in August as a street hop anthem, emerging to the number one spot on the Billboard Charts. With subsequent releases of “Swing Ya Rag,” produced by Swizz Beats, and the 23 September release of “Ready For Whatever,” fans of the new T.I. album were offered a even sampling of the moods of the record.
Lil' Wayne, Jay-Z and Kanye West on Paper Trail
In perhaps one of the most successful rap ensembles ever assembled on one track, Paper Trail brought this year’s biggest rap act, Lil’ Wayne; the highest selling rapper alive in 2008, Jay-Z; and the most sought after rap producer, Kanye West on one track. Along with T.I., four verses over five minutes establish “Swaaga Like Us” as a unprecedented mixing of styles and certainly swagger on one song.
Along with contributions from other platinum-selling rap acts, T.I., the part-time actor, brings out the biggest names in production. “I’m Illy,” produced by Scott Storch, finds T.I. rapping extended verses over a strictly southern style beat, while the Just Blaze produced “Live Your Life,” premiered at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, provides an inspirational call and response chorus from standout Rihanna. With additions from rap producers Timbaland and Jazze Pha, Paper Trail is hardly short of selling power, and proves T.I.’s status within the industry as a top drawing act.
T.I. : Rhythm and Blues Influences
T.I. follows the recent trend in a more mellowed out rap music with Paper Trail. Follwing on the heels of Lil' Wayne's rhythm-infused Carter III, T.I. brought out the R&B stars of the year to round out an album less influenced by southern crunk and more reliant on sharp beats and smooth hooks.
With contributions from John Legend on the Kanye West produced “Slide Show,” Justin Timberlake on the album closer “Dead and Gone,” and Usher on T.I.’s nod to the celebrity lifestyle, “My Life, Your Entertainment,” the album features no shortage of sharp R&B sounds.
With popular samples, the presence of feature-machine Ludacris, and a more serious lyric writing process--having written them down for the first time since 2001--Paper Trail is T.I.’s response to pressure from his rap peers and anticipation from a hungry rap industry and fan base.
Matthew Fortuna - My Blog Matthew Fortuna is a freelance writer and journalist currently contributing to multiple on-line and print publications, as well ...
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