Campus Chronicle

Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Entertainment

T.I.

T.I. vs. T.I.P.

Grandhustle/Atlantic

T.I., the self-proclaimed "King of the South," is back with his fifth album "T.I. vs. T.I.P." On this project, a fierce battle takes place between T.I.P., the tough trash talker who speaks his mind and his smooth talking alter-ego T.I. The album is split into three acts.

In Act I, T.I.P. starts it off with his hit single "Big Thangs Poppin." T.I.P. shows his lyrical ability over this powerful Mannie Fresh beat. His lyrics getr even tougher on the Danja produced "Hurt," which featured Busta Rhymes and newcomer Alfamega. The song that stands out the most is "Watch What You Say To Me" featuring Jay-Z.

T.I. gets his time to shine in Act II. He gets things started with the song "Help is Coming," produced by Just Blaze. T.I. then brags on his flashy lifestyle on the Runners-produced track "We Do This." T.I. dissapoints on the Eminem-produced song "Touchdown." After much anticipated hype with the song, it does not deliver the quality that one would expect from Marshall Mathers.

The two sides of Tip Harris finally confront each other in the final act. On "Tell 'Em I Said That," one of the three tracks produced once again by Danja, the two expose rappers in the industry that lie about their past lifestyles on their records. The album ends with T.I.(without the alter ego), exclaimning that there will never be another like him in the song "My Type."

Overall, T.I. delivered a great album. The idea of him being two different people was a great innovative move for his long-awaited fifth album. This is one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.

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