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T.I. On T.I., Musically
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Before he wrapped up his first sit-down interview since his arrest, and subsequent guilty plea on firearms charges, Atlanta rapper T.I. also discussed at length his upcoming CD “Paper Trail,” due in stores in September: When are we going to hear some new music? “People are so eager to hear what I’ve got to say they’re digging up unauthorized old records trying to say that this is ‘Paper Trail’ material, when it’s really not. And we recognize that, and we appreciate that. So we have chosen a record that we’re about to get mixed and we’re about to actually put something out there within the next two, three weeks.” “Log on to streetcred.com if not the Tuesday coming up, the Tuesday after that.” What’s the name of the record? “If it’s not ‘It’s All G’ it’s ‘No Matter What’. What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to set streetcred up for new music Tuesday, where we will also have the Young LA “Ain’t I” remix with me, him and Young Dro. We’ll have that premiering one of these Tuesdays.” DJ Toomp [an executive producer on ‘Paper Trail’] has already said people are comparing this CD to 2Pac’s “Me Against The World”, would you agree? “It’s ‘Me Against The World’-ish, yeah, in a way. It’s very sincere. It’s heartfelt. It’s reflective. It’s apologetic in some ways. It’s motivational in some ways. It’s inspirational in the sense that when people counted me out, I knew better. And all that did was light my fire. Make me go hard. And it’s a lot of endurance shown. It’s deep. It’s deep in a sense where you can kind of hear where I was whenever all these songs came out. You can say ‘Well he probably heard about that that day’ [while he was on house arrest]. Or ‘he probably read this that day’. “I think ‘Me Against The World’ is a little darker than this one is going to be. I’m going for moreso ‘All Eyez On Me’. Kind of like when he got out of jail, rather than when he was going in.” Toomp and Kawan Prather also said they’ve given you tracks for the album… “Yeah Toomp. K.P. . Frank Ski sent me something - we’re still working on that one. He sent me a deep one. It’s like a real - it’s out there for me. It’s not normal T.I. listening so it’s going to take me a little while. Drumma Boy. We did a lot of work with Drumma Boy. Lil C. Me, Lil C and Ricco - Fantasia’s brother - he blessed me a few different times. We have a new R&B artist and writer named Mitchelle’l. And Ricco’s signed to us as a writer and an artist. And he’s got heat. “And let me see who else we’ve worked with — Danja Handz, again, we worked iwth him. A guy named J.R. — he’s a producer out of L.A.. J Rock — he’s a producer out of Miami, I think. Nard and B — they’re also Grand Hustle producers. And I believe that song’s got B.O.B on the hook. “We have a lot of different things, different irons in the fire. And we haven’t even really set out to start doing collaborations yet.” Surely you have a lot of people interested… “Well you know, only so many fit. Of course I’d love to go do songs with everyone but now we’ve got to make sure it fits with what we’re doing.” Who do you want to work with at this point in your career, that you haven’t? “Right now I think I’m about to do something with Amy Winehouse. I don’t know if it’s for [her CD] or for mine, but I’m definitely looking forward to that. Me and Cee-Lo spoke about doing something. I’ve just got to get in touch with him and arrange it. We’re already cool. We’re homies. We’ve just got to get into the same place at the same time. Justin [Timberlake] — I figure that’s worth revisiting. Usher as well.” Do you have an All-Time-Love-To-Work-With Artist? “OutKast. Dr. Dre and OutKast. I’m working dilligently on getting that OutKast record. I just need Three Stacks to just feel like it right quick. If he could just feel like it between now and August, I’ll be good.” Headed into your sixth album with Grammys and millions sold, do you think you’ve made it yet? “I don’t think where I’ve been is half as successful as where I’m going. I think my future is brighter than my past. Still. And the reason I know that is because of how many people are trying to stop me from getting there. They’d just leave me alone and let me go if they thought we weren’t going to do nothing but go on and fall off. They assume that ‘He[’s] going to be bigger than ever if they let him get through this, man. I need to start hating. Hard. Quick. Pleeaaase lock him up. If y’all let him get through this he’s going to be, man, the best thing since hot grits.’ And they’re right.” Do you agree with T.I. on that last point? Do you think the anticipation for ‘Paper Trail’ is the most ever for a T.I. CD? And who would you like him to work with; what would you like to him her rap about now?
Comments
By stilldefiant
April 11, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
I think a T.I./Outkast track would be hot. I’d like to see Organized Noise produce it too. I think that people are very interested in hearing what he has to say following all of his legal issues. Will ‘Paper Trail’ beat ‘King’? I really can’t see it happening because that album was huge for him and for hip-hop. I’m glad he’s trying to top it though. I’m curious to see what he will talk about on this album. The gun talk will only draw his critics in to say he hasn’t changed as they have already said following the release of the unauthorized track, “Hunt Em Down”. This album will be a true test to see his evolution as a lyricist.
By Mark
April 13, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
TI knows nothing about music. He’s a rapper.
By dave
April 13, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
I think Clifford should have to do a spoken word album about being anti-guns, anti-gangs, anti-violence and having respect for law enforcement. This way he can reach those kids who don’t attend schools in Georgia with his “positive”, albeit court-ordered, message.
By MusicEd
April 14, 2008 11:14 AM | Link to this
This T.I. interview is nothing more than JAILHOUSE TALK. As soon as he get all this behind him he will be out preaching violence and advocating drug use again. Personally, I think the SOB got off very easy.
By toney b
May 15, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
i would like for Tip to work with snoop,scarface,and Kanye