2008 Woodie Awards
Follow this rapper's 'Paper Trail' with caution
Matt Goodman
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
The album hits another stride toward the end. Swizz Beats bang hard on "Swing Ya Rag," while "What's Up What's Haapnin" and "Every Chance I get" are some of the best tracks on the record - he gets back to that huge sound that he's used to and swings his voice around his trademark synths and head-banging percussion.
Then something special happens in the Kanye West-produced "Swagga Like Us." Sampling M.I.A.'s anthemic "Paper Planes" (too soon?), Kanye, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne and T.I. slay the track. It stands next to Kanye's best work and proves to be the most interesting track. The end of the album slows a tad with boring John Legend lending his voice to another piano, synth-driven Kanye track in "Slide Show," and Justin Timberlake accents with a solid finish in "Dead and Gone."
"Paper Trail" is a tonally inconsistent album. While the dope money was being pushed across the table in "King," it's being hustled in the background here, and while the synths stabbed in "King," they soothe here. But it shows that T.I. isn't done and he may have another solid rap effort left in him after this.
Then something special happens in the Kanye West-produced "Swagga Like Us." Sampling M.I.A.'s anthemic "Paper Planes" (too soon?), Kanye, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne and T.I. slay the track. It stands next to Kanye's best work and proves to be the most interesting track. The end of the album slows a tad with boring John Legend lending his voice to another piano, synth-driven Kanye track in "Slide Show," and Justin Timberlake accents with a solid finish in "Dead and Gone."
"Paper Trail" is a tonally inconsistent album. While the dope money was being pushed across the table in "King," it's being hustled in the background here, and while the synths stabbed in "King," they soothe here. But it shows that T.I. isn't done and he may have another solid rap effort left in him after this.
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