Atlanta rapper T.I. pushed 500,000 King units the first week, but I don’t think his pro forma rags-or-riches movie debut ATL or America’s boner for all things Southern deserve the credit. Strangely, New York producer Just Blaze made the big cuts here — “King Back,†“I’m Talking to You†— each playing off the album title’s regality with cavernous kick sounds and brassy fanfares daunting enough to make Mike Patton TV themes seem flat and Jeezy’s Thug Motivation flat-out blush. T.I. could always fast-rap, but to my ears he’s never been as much of a punch-line guy until now: “I’m fast as lightnin’ bro/Better use your Nikes bro†is good; “I give it to you straight, nigga/I don’t need a metaphor†is worth a blog post. Never spitting, Tip flows like a glee-club cat: steady breath, and his mouth merely shapes the air. King doesn’t sound too Southern, but the attitude’s here and the anthem “What You Know†could be the year’s best.
T.I. + Young Jock | April 23 | Avalon, 15 Lansdowne St, Boston | 617.228.6000
On the Web
T.I.: http://www.trapmuzik.com/