T.I. - Paper Trail Album Review

Paper Trail

By T.I.

Paper Trail is the 6th album from The Atlanta rapper. This past year has been steeped in controversy, making Paper Trail one of the most anticipated albums of the year. It is evident that he will take this controversy and construct it into this album.

56 Barz – This intro is true T.I.P. style. While throwing subliminal shots at Shawty Lo, he proclaims to be O Dog (Menace II Society) without the braids. He is on his typical ‘I got more swagger that you’ type style. “Somebody better tell them man/ they swag owe my swag everything”.

I’m Illy – Here he talks about how dope he is, how much money he has and how he doesn’t need to struggle for anything because he’s the illest. He also dispels rumors that he is bankrupt despite losing the bulk of his endorsements due to his trial.

Ready For Whatever – On this reflective beat, he tries to explain why he did what he did that led to his situation. He feels like people were out to get him and his friend dying just made those feelings stronger. A sort of ‘if you’ve never been in my situation you can’t understand me’ type of thing. He felt he had no choice when it came to protecting his family. This song gives you an insight as to why he did what he did.


On Top of the World (Featuring Ludacris & B.o.B.) – This is the first track officially released since Luda and T.I. squashed their beef. He here talks about how he’s gone from being wild and unruly to taking care of his family (sending his younger cousins to college) and becoming arguably the greatest of all time. Luda easily outshines T.I. on this track, not saying that Tip was a slouch but Ludacris was just better.

Live Your Life (Featuring Rihanna) – Honestly, some parts of this song I don’t like. The beat is crazy and T.I. has a crazy flow over it. But Rihanna on the hook would not have been my choice. In some cases she should be seen and not heard. This is one of those cases. Don’t get me wrong I think Rihanna is Beautiful and very talented, just not that great of a singer. He dedicates this track to the soldiers in Iraq as this song is an ode to living YOUR life not someone else’s life. You should be happy for what you have and not try to do something just because someone else does it. Pretty inspirational. Even though I don’t like Rihanna on the hook I caught myself singing it along with her.

Whatever You Like – On this single he explores his more sensitive side by singing about how he can give his partner whatever she likes. Whether it’s shopping sprees or ‘big boy rides or big boy ice’ he is willing to pamper her and make her feel like the queen that she is. He seems to be following the pattern of other successful rappers by singing. He doesn’t sound too bad, but let’s not try and make an entire album singing, okay? Okay.

No Matter What – The first single to be released during the anticipation of his trial. Here he talks of how he’s not through even though there are obstacles surrounding his daily existence. This song is to dispel the rumors that he is through and folded under the pressure.

My Life Your Entertainment (Featuring Usher) - They both seem to take shots at how they are portrayed in the media. Hence the title. It’s just funny how they feel that the media is intruding on them, which at times they do, but they also seem to want that attention. They explain their point of view well on this DJ Drama beat.

Porn Star - On this slow tempo bass heavy track he talks about leaving the bar with a young lady he met, taking her home and seeing if she wants to be a porn star. He brags about all the things he can and will do to her if she was to come home with him.


Swing Ya Rag (Featuring Swizz Beats) - The braggadocio is in full effect on this Swizz Beats track. Everything is all about Louis or Gucci merchandise. “If big money ain’t the topic/Homie I ain’t even talking”.

What’s up, What’s Hapnin - This being the most blatant attack on Shawty Lo, he raps about how haters can keep talking while he just gets bigger. He explains how they’re hate is actually making him bigger and better. In this continuous battle over who is really repping Bankhead (now known as Veterans Memorial) he talks about how the haters feel left out because he doesn’t mention them by name when shouting Bankhead out. The beat is very infectious but the lyrics seem like a petty attempt at picking on someone that is not really his competition to begin with. The song is cool but He’s too big with too many other issues to worry about what Shawty Lo has to say. With all that said, this is still my joint! I play it whenever I feel hated on.

Every chance I get – Here he talks about how he is going to ball out every chance he gets, take your broad and fuck your bitch (his words not mine). Another song about how he can take your girl and how he balls harder.


Swagga Like Us (Featuring Kanye West, Jay Z and Lil Wayne) - He definitely holds his own on Mr. West’s beat alongside these rap giants. To say he was outshined wouldn’t be a reach but he still did his thing. With the 4 of the best in the game on one track, this song will definitely go down in rap history as one of the greatest. Kanye is on his Autotune kick, while Jay Z is on his typical ‘I’m fresh’ style. I’m not sure what lil Wayne is on (probably a cup full of something purple) while T.I. ties it all together on the last verse.

Slide Show (Featuring John Legend) - A slow melodic track that leads you down memory lane to when he had nothing and how he had to hustle to get where he is now. A very inspirational song explaining how you should watch for the pitfalls while following your dreams. Look back at your life like a slide show and you will see how far you’ve come or how far you have to go.

You Ain’t Missing Nothing – This song seems to be a sort of song to himself when he goes to jail. Basically he talks of keeping your head up even though you’re locked up. “you only do 2 days/ the day you go in and the day you come out”. He talks of when time gets hard behind bars just put on this song to help get through.

Dead And Gone (Featuring Justin Timberlake) – On this tribute to Big Phil he murders this slow track (sounds like an extension of the previous track You ain’t Missing Nothing) while rapping about how his old gangsta persona is dead and gone and it’s a new beginning for him. He seems to have grown from both the situation of losing his best friend and the trial.

Overall this album is a solid contribution to my T.I. collection. This album is one of the best to be released in a long time. His time at home was well spent, giving him time to reflect on his life and separate the good from the bad. I give this album 4 out of a possible 5. Paper Trail is well worth the purchase.