T.I.'s T.I.P. Drill Mixtape: A Review

The newly incarcerated multi-platinum hip-hop star T.I. planned to release a new version of his latest hit Paper Trail with new tracks to keep his fans satisfied during his year away from the game. Plans for that were scrapped, however, but, never one to leave his fans without music (after all his last five albums were released within a six year span - a consistency bested only by few, including Jay-Z and Tupac Shakur), he released the T.I.P. Drill mixtape along with accompanying music videos.

Beginning a bit grimier than his albums, in terms of production and lyrics, the opening track, Welcome Back to the Trap, sets the mood. That's What I Thought is grade-A boasting in the vein of Urban Legend's (read review) ASAP or U Don't Know Me. Sentencing has made him less humble than some songs would have you believe. Songs like Way That You Want It, Don't Give Up, Bread Up featuring southern royalty Bun B, and All the Time featuring southern godfather Scarface and Keri Hilson follow in the same vein of his recent overt inspirational turn (see No Matter What or Live Your Life off of Paper Trail).

But relatively quickly, he lapses into the pop productions that are his forte. His quicksilver flow is impeccable as always and his rhymes are deceptively simple (as are those of the artist he is most often compared to, Jay-Z). And he is gold over popular beats as the Robin Thicke assisted Magic (Remix) and the Mary J. Blige assists Good Loving and Remember Me easily attest.

And to top it off, the mixtape features some of his greatest hits: ASAP, 24s, Let's Get Away, Top Back, What You Know and Big Things Poppin. Luckily, these all appear at the end of the mixtape, so you are treated to a wholly enjoyable new music experience.

If you are not a T.I. fan, there is likely little here that will move you, as T.I.P. Drill is T.I. doing what he does best: making irresistible club records: All Nite, with the proper promotional efforts, could make a real impact on the charts, as could either of the Mary J. Blige features. Living a Lie though, is an interesting and compelling departure for the rapper as he croons atypically self-loathing lyrics over a rock beat a la Eminem.

To anyone looking for a T.I fix while he serves federal gun charges, T.I.P. Drill offers a great selection of vintage T.I. music: hustling raps over uber-catchy beats. Unfortunately, it also reminds you of what you are missing. He has grown leaps and bounds since his early vocal ambitions about being the King of the South to a genuine national superstar. Here is to hoping he comes home early.

View my other Associated Content music reviews here.