As newly married rapper T.I. prepares for the Aug. 27 release of his highly anticipated action flick Takers, the Atlanta rapper has been diligently working towards another release … that of his next album, King Uncaged. Having already collaborated with producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland on the album, the self-proclaimed King of the South has recently added Kanye West to a growing list of A-list collaborators on the project.
“I just left Hawaii with Kanye,” Tip recently revealed at the Hollywood premiere for Takers. “We did six records.” Those six records must have left quite an impression on the MC, as he expressed his eagerness for the world to hear the new music.
“Well, Kanye, man, he’s a phenomenal talent,” Tip said. “It goes without saying that it’s combustible energy [when we’re in the studio]. I’m excited to present it.”
T.I. also had high praise for another top talent, Eminem, who also lent a collaborative hand on the upcoming project.
“I reached out to Em,” the rapper shared. “My management reached out to his management, just in hopes of getting him on a record. Em personally reached out to me, and we’ve been speaking ever since, especially since I went through my situation [with having to go to prison]. [He would] just kinda remind me that ‘I’ve been through dark period in my life, too. You’re gonna make it. You’re one of the ones we need, so you’re gonna make it. Stand tall and walk the walk.’ He just made it a point to always reassure me of the spot that I hold in this thing that we got called hip-hop. It was incredibly helpful. It was incredibly noble of him, in my eyes, to even take the time out to reach out to me.”
The final track listing on King Uncaged has yet to be announced. –djr
