T.I. - Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head

 

Unless you’ve been under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard somehow that T.I. has a new album coming. On his reality show he’s been hyping it, and he’s dropped quite a few lead singles of various types trying to drum up excitement for the album, but nothing so far has really solidified excitement. Nonetheless Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head is here.

Best song without a doubt is Sorry ft. Andre 3000, its probably the best I’ve ever heard TI rap, unfortunately it has Andre on it, because its not even Dre best verse but it so far out shines TI that it seem s as if he doesn’t belong on a song with Andre. The Andre verse will get several rewinds; you may or may not listen to the TI verses again, and ill repeat it’s probably the best of his career.   All of the best songs seem to be tracks with other artist, even despite a few not so great team ups. The Strongest songs and brightest spots on the album are G Season ft. Meek Mill, Wildside ft. A$AP Rocky, Can you Learn ft. R. Kelly, and a possible crossover single Guns and Roses ft. Pink.  Then there is Addresses a heavy diss track that will garner some attention, no names are said, but plenty of subliminals and there is controversy over who’s actually being talked about, we’ll let it all wash out though. It’s a better than average diss track, focused on the lyrics, rather than being a good beat and wack words.  It doesn’t overcompensate by going way over the line, I’m sure the person that it’s about feels some type of way, trust me.

Lacks a true single, although several have been released. Sounds like he’ s attempting to recapture or hold onto his past success by reusing the formulas that worked before, rather than innovating and growing. Right now TI seems stagnant. His music reflects no growth, maturity, or updating. Its as if he’s no longer working at his craft and taking the if it aint broke don’t fix it approach, because his skills, delivery, musicianship, song making ability have not gotten sharper, and some would say have regressed.  It’s a lot of ok punch lines, but not many eyebrow raisers or unexpected ones, expected “ I’m real, I got a lot of money, insert name brand here” braggadocios rhetoric. Based on the skits/ interludes it seems as if the album is supposed to be a concept album, but it lacks the focus to tie it all together and build a central theme throughout.  TI’s strength as always is his, flow and personality, which make the songs listenable, but if you’re a person that focuses heavily on lyrics don’t expect a whole lot.

There is not a lot of excitement or replay value. For this point in his career and for all of the hype and anticipation that was drummed up for this album, more was expected.  The Production is so so, not the quality that was expected for the most part, there are a few head scratcher’s.  I give Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head 3 ½ out of 6 stars