Avg Rating: 
4.4 ( 24 total votes )
Let’s review. On October 15, 2007, T.I. was headed to the BET Awards, but first he had to run a quick errand. T.I. pulled into the parking lot of an Atlanta grocery store and proceeded to purchase illegal firearms from undercover ATF agents, prompting his immediate arrest. Upon searching his home, agents further discovered an enormous cache of illegal weapons; TIP was apparently preparing for an attack from Godzilla. Because T.I. was a convicted felon the weapons charges threatened to end his career completely, but thanks to a plea bargain he was released after serving … ...Read the full album review
Fans can also check out T.I.'s previous albums: T.I. - Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head | T.I. - No Mercy | T.I. - Paper Trail | T.I. - T.I. vs. T.I.P.
DJBooth Album Review
Let’s review. On October 15, 2007, T.I. was headed to the BET Awards, but first he had to run a quick errand. T.I. pulled into the parking lot of an Atlanta grocery store and proceeded to purchase illegal firearms from undercover ATF agents, prompting his immediate arrest. Upon searching his home, agents further discovered an enormous cache of illegal weapons; TIP was apparently preparing for an attack from Godzilla. Because T.I. was a convicted felon the weapons charges threatened to end his career completely, but thanks to a plea bargain he was released after serving one year and is now preparing to unleash his comeback album King Uncaged this summer. There, I think that about catches us up.
(Quick pause number one: King Uncaged? Really? Sounds more like a WWE Pay Per View than a classic hip-hop album. The homey Almost Forgotten suggested Return of the King, which, Lord of the Rings connections aside, I think is solid. Hit me up with more, improved album title suggestions below.)
Like a good entertainer/CEO/movie promoter, T.I. knows it’s all about building anticipation, so before he releases the album, and his new movie The Takers, he’s paving the way with his new, self-loathing project F**k a Mixtape. Hosted by DJ Drama – who, per usual, yells a lot – F**k a Mixtape is first and foremost an intimidation move; an announcement that rappers who caught shine in the King’s absence should be, very, very afraid. Prison may have convinced T.I. to put away the weapons, but it’s only made him harder on the mic.
(Quick pause number two: For a platinum selling artist like T.I. to release an album length, album quality work for free even five years ago would have been unthinkable. The times have changed.)
“Prison ain’t changed me. It made me worse.” Ain’t That the Truth. F**k a Mixtape’s lead leak Yeah Ya Know is as hard-hitting as anything Clifford Harris has ever done, and that’s saying something. Constant rhyme collaborator DJ Toomp provides a bass-rattling beat for T.I. to go in on, and go in he does, spitting high-caliber rhymes (pun intended) with crazy precision. There’s a very, very short list of rappers who could even dream of touching a track like this. Very short. The onslaught continues on F**k a Mixtape with the riding Welcome Back to the Trap (which notably contains the most gangster Waldo reference ever), the horn heavy, slowly swaggering Spazz Out (produced by Alicia Keys impregnator Swizz Beatz) and the paper stacking Getting Paid. And of course we have to mention Yeah, which fittingly includes a top-notch verse from the now imprisoned Lil Wayne. (Seriously guys, let’s stay out of jail, ok?) Anyone who thought his legal ordeals and prison time would convince T.I. to back of the intimidation thought wrong. On F**k a Mixtape there’s no doubt who’s still running the streets, and the game.
(Quick pause number three: I’m getting tired of all these censored “f**ks”. From now on I’m referring to the mixtape as FaM. Just so we’re all on the same page.)
As T.I. knows, running the streets may earn you respect, but it won’t earn you that big money. For that you’ve got to run the radio, and there are moments on FaM when he tips his hand to the mainstream hits he has in store on King Uncaged. In that vein may I present bonus track Got Your Back, an obvious attempt to recreate Whatever You Like’s magic by pairing an addictively harmonized beat with female-friendly rhymes from T.I. and hook work from the always lovely Keri Hilson. I don’t think it will blow as big as Whatever You Like, but Got Your Back is proof that T.I. hasn’t lost that radio touch. FaM’s other more easily accessible offering is Here We Go Again, a cut that most notably includes the most hip-hop beat we’ve heard from Timbaland in a minute (maybe now Timbo will drop Katy Perry and get back to rap…I doubt it). No rapper in history has managed to simultaneously carry street cred and mainstream commercial appeal as T.I., and FaM proves he still got that legendary versatility.
T.I. ironically spends most of FaM complaining about mixtapes and comparisons between his album and mixtapes, but since I know he’s no longer strapped I’ll risk angering T.I.: FaM is better than your mixtape. In fact, FaM is probably better than your album. There is only one King, and he’s back – with a vengeance. Long live the King!
Listen to More: T.I. Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 24
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11866 |
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 Great review. T.I. is indeed among the best doing it right this second. The tape has me very much looking forward to the new album (which needs a new title).
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| Posted on May 31, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 38 |
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Only T.I. can do a mixtape like this: commercial appeal while holding it down for the streets? It amazes me the streets don't leave him and mainstream hasn't kicked him out yet. But it's awesome that the jail time hasn't slowed up his pace/momentum. Definitely an awesome mixtape, can't wait for (interestingly titled) King Uncaged.
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| Posted on May 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 52 |
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The tape itself may not be legendary like his Down With The King or In Da Streez 1-3 but it's solid from top to bottom. Hell, even the skits (which I can't stand half the time on anybody's tapes) are hilarious.
Glad to see there's universal uproar over Tip's WWE-like album title. |
| Posted on Jun 01, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 178 |
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This was a very smart move for Tip to help him build some street hype for his next album and also proves he hasn't lost an inch. As stated before The Return of the King would have been a great title but it also seems a bit to cliche in some ways. I actually remember seeing a video of Tip and Young Dro talking and Dro suggested that as the title but T.I. kind of played it off like it was too expected.
But honestly I can't think of a better name so I won't bother trying. No matter what the name is though I am damn sure looking forward to August. |
| Posted on Jun 01, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 544 |
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This was one of those great mixtapes that were better than most rapper's albums (like Drake, Fab, J. Cole, Jeezy's). Good review too, only T.I. isn't the only rapper who could balance street cred and mainstream appeal. Pharrell didn't call him "the Jay-Z of the south" for nothing. If he gave these songs away for the mixtape, think of what's gonna be on the album.
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| Posted on Jun 01, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jun 02, 2010 |
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First off this was a good review by Nathan S. This mixtape is dope and this mixtape is really for the streets. I know he put Got Your Back on there but this is for the street cats. If you looking for the radio-ready T.I. listen to the Paper Trail or wait for the Album.
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| Posted on Jun 02, 2010 |
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It's a good mixtape but I have to say how did T.I,'s @*#$! a mixtape get reviewed and last year Lil Wayne got no love for No Ceilings which was INCREDIBLE.
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| Posted on Jun 02, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 306 |
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seriously i listened to this whole mixtape and then did it again they were hard hitting,inspiring,funny,emotional damn this dude know how to entertain loved everything about this mixtape and cant wait for the abum!!!!!
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| Posted on Jun 02, 2010 |
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I usually don't mess with too many mixtapes, but i've been dyin for some Tip. This has to be the hardest mixtape i've heard since Bun B's No Mixtape. But this is way better. Play it straight through.
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| Posted on Jun 02, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 225 |
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the hasnt lost his step and actually i think in my opinion hes gotten better
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| Posted on Jun 03, 2010 |
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This Mixtape is sick. I hope King Uncaged comes out and sells ten mil.
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| Posted on Jun 04, 2010 |
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dope
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| Posted on Jun 04, 2010 |
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T.I. IZ DA BEST
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| Posted on Jun 05, 2010 |
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Yea this tape was raw, I didnt expect T.I to make such gangsta tracks like he did but im glad he did it. King Uncaged will be a dope album for sure
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| Posted on Jun 13, 2010 |
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this is in heavy rotation...T.I. is the best of both worlds...commercial appeal, street knowledge....cant wait for King Uncaged!
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| Posted on Jun 14, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 278 |
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come an getcho girl she all in my face!
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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Cd quality Mixtape deos that mean the next album is brewing to be a classic i hope so.
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| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jun 29, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 16 |
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TIP went in on the tape addressing haters and there criticism... Definitely has me looking forward to the album hope he doesn't rush it too quickly tho...
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| Posted on Jul 07, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jul 08, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 143 |
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Meh...just not feeling it. lol
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| Posted on Nov 05, 2010 |
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Dopest F'n mixtape ive ever listened to!
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| Posted on Nov 24, 2010 |
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| Posted on Mar 04, 2011 |
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