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

Album details

US: 3 July 2007 on Atlantic
UK: IMPORT ONLY

The Atlanta rapper and actor returns with an album based on a track from his 2003 album ‘Trap Muzik.’ The guest lineup includes Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Wyclef, Eminem and Nelly.

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The critical consensus

Few reviewers fully enjoyed the not-too-original concept driving the album, which finds T.I.’s split personalities facing off against each other. "It ain’t Shakespeare, but the dual protagonists make for an intriguing bout," notes EW. Amazon actually likes the disc in spite of the theme, saying, "few artists have been known to spin something so compelling out of a concept so silly." Billboard also gives TI "an A for creative effort" but says the album "doesn’t offer as many gems as King." The Boston Globe finds the theme "distracting," but likes the disc nevertheless. The Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot, on the other hand, likes the concept behind the disc but laments that "T.I. doesn’t do much with it." The Washington Post agrees, stating that T.I. is "not skillful enough as a lyricist to handle the demands of the concept." Count Pitchfork among the concept’s detractors, too, although they say "T.I. vs. T.I.P. still warrants a listen, if only because T.I. seems constitutionally incapable of releasing an album full of uncompelling music."

Both PopMatters and Prefix unequivocally enjoyed the album. The former drops the phrase "another hip-hop masterpiece," while the latter declares that "T.I. is in top form."

"Make no mistake though, this ain’t King," stresses Exclaim!, and that sentiment is echoed by many critics. All Music Guide finds the disc "generally enjoyable" although the material tends to be "familiar" and the productions "do not match up to past successes." (The Tribune’s Kot, however, finds the tracks "impeccably produced.") Spin’s mixed review labels it "ambitious but uneven," but Artist Direct is underwhelmed by TI vs TIP, declaring that "the album is seldom terrible but rarely thrilling." Rolling Stone enjoys only half of the album (the remainder is "overheated and undercooked at the same time"), while Stylus feels that "T.I. mostly fails to realize the difference between introspection and self-absorption," and Tiny Mix Tapes echoes that self-absorbed criticism. In a detailed, lengthy review, the New York Times calls it both "disappointing" and "puzzling," while Now labels it "uneven," and the Voice, "confusing."

You may want to skip ahead until the disc’s "Act III" section, as many reviewers preferred those tracks to the remainder of the disc.

This psychodrama feels both overplayed and underwritten.

- Blender

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Act I: T.I.P.
2. Big Things Poppin’ (Do It)
   
   
3. Raw
4. You Know What It Is
5. Da Dopeman
6. Watch What You Say To Me
7. Hurt
8. Act II: T.I.
9. Help Is Coming
10. My Swag
11. We Do This
12. Show It To Me
13. Don’t You Wanna Be High
14. Touchdown
15. Act III: T.I. Vs. The Confrontation
16. Tell ‘Em I Said That
17. Respect This Hustle
18. My Type

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site