T.I. - Kill the King

I was recently reminded of something about T.I. recently. All these years, I thought his single “I’m Serious” was my introduction to this artist. Turns out Tip’s career was essentially launched after a freestyle he had done got him invited to go on tour with OutKast & Goodie Mob. During that tour, the groups did an episode of BET’s Rap City from their tour bus, which included the usual freestyle with everyone on board, including T.I.. It was really from there that T.I.’s career basically took off. That tour gave Tip clout with some of Atlanta’s biggest names, and the rest was up to him. The rest was history, and T.I. has done very well for himself in the two decades since, earning him the title of "King of the South.”

There are few rappers who have a catalog like T.I. has. He’s had some mainstream hits, to be sure, but he’s also been a model of consistency through the years. He is who he is; he changes for no one, only adapting to the situation when he needs to. He’s become a smart businessman in the process, investing in real estate in the Atlanta area with an emphasis on keeping landmarks and neighborhoods thriving through purchases of staples like the famed Bankhead Seafood and building an affordable housing unit in the neighborhood he grew up in.

With all of this going on, there’s been a six-year gap since T.I. released an album, until now with the release of what he says will be his last album, Kill the King. The title has a bit of a double meaning. T.I. explains he got the blessing from many rappers across the South to use the moniker “King of the South,” but it was Big Boi from OutKast who had a deeper conversation with T.I. telling him that everyone would be coming for him now and that in the game of chess, everyone is trying to kill the king. This is T.I. telling us this is his last album when it comes to him making music. But he also speaks about ”killing the ego" when it comes to this side of him, as he’s now looking to focus more on other ventures once this run with music is over. If this is indeed T.I.’s last run (because we’ve seen other rappers say they’re retiring before), then he’s showing he’s still running better than most.

This album feels like a blend of every T.I. album released before this, feeling like a highlight reel of sorts. There’s production from Pharrell, Organized Noize, and even a track from Dr. Dre. The lead single “Let ’Em Know,” produced by Pharrell, felt like a bit of classic T.I.. The swagger has never died with this man. Yet he brings quite a few artists with him on this ride, including the deeply Atlanta track ”Dope Boys Academy,” which features 2 Chainz & Jeezy, along with T-Pain, allowing all of them to shine their hardest while still showing who the star of the show is.

But there’s also a passing of the torch on this album by featuring his children Heiress Harris and Buddy Red, and even YoungBoy N.B.A.. His upcoming tour will also feature his other sons Domani and King.

T.I. reflects on his past, including how his past legal troubles humbled him, looks back on his rise to fame, on his current perspective on hip-hop as it stands now, and what’s in the future for him. This feels everything like the kind of southern hip-hop classic type of album I expect from T.I.. It’s a fitting tribute to his career and a fitting sendoff if this truly is the end for T.I.. I selfishly hope it isn’t, however.