T.I. is done apologizing.
“I’m just a hood n—a, I ain’t never had s–t. Just a bad attitude and a bad b—h…” those are the opening words of T.I.’s semi-comeback album Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head. From the start, it’s obvious that the King of the South is looking to remind everyone in hip-hop who he is, and on the Marvin Gaye-sampling “Introduction,” he does just that. “Sometimes I ain’t get in trouble, trouble got in me. Guess it follow me, but I stays on my hustle, man.” The track — and the sentiment echoes Tip’s early 2000s heyday, more so than the T.I. who was looking to redeem his public image back in 2007.
His prison stint, the public backlash and media obsession with his missteps sit at the forefront of Clifford Harris’ mind, particularly on the Meek Mill-assisted “G Season.” The Cardiak-produced track is all aggression, with Tip scoffing at any thought that prison made him any softer. The slowed down funk of “Wildside” features A$AP Rocky and continues the back-to-basics approach and themes prevalent throughout the album. The No I.D.-produced track sounds like peak-era UGK and Rocky riding shotgun is the perfect nod to one of contemporary hip-hop’s most promising stars.
The brilliant “Sorry” is arguably the high-point of the album. “For God’s sake/Like a wedding cutting large cake/For large stakes/Let the hammer bang all day/Never mind what the blogs say — what my mind and my heart say?” T.I. raps over an inspired Jazze Pha beat. Of course, Andre 3000 steals the show — as he always does. The reclusive OutKast rhymer proves to be a welcome addition to what could be T.I.’s magnum opus, with both now firmly cemented as elder statesmen of ATL’s rich hip-hop history. “I don’t even like rappin fast/But that’s how the words come to me/Talk to me sideways — n—a, that’s yo’ ass.” Admitting that he ran from attention, it’s another moment of introspection on an album full of them.
Much has been made of the uber-confrontational “Addresses,” for good reason. T.I. is firing shots at an unnamed Atlanta rapper over rat-a-tat production from T-Minus. “Ain’t no back-and-forth, my n—a,” T.I. threatens. With the streets buzzing about who the song could possibly be about, it’s the most sincerely menacing track Tip has done in years. Contrasting it is the victory lap “Hello” with Cee Lo Green. On an album full of throwback references to trapping, Tip takes a moment to relish in where he is and the hook from Cee Lo would likely make for the perfect anthem for a slow-cruising Friday night in downtown ATL.
And that’s the essence of Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head. This is T.I. reclaiming his former position. Not hip-hop mogul. Not semi-successful actor. Not crossover star singing about how the old him is “dead and gone.” He wants to remind everyone who The Rubberband Man is. Of course, some of that is silly — considering he can’t possibly be the same guy he was in 2003. But the most amazing thing about Trouble Man is that he almost makes you forget that. And his mistakes have only fueled his fire.“Role model ain’t me …” he raps, with no hesitation or pensiveness.
T.I. is done apologizing. Good for him.
