T.I. - Paperwork (Album Review)

Release Date: October 21, 2014
Label: Grand Hustle / Columbia

Paperwork is TIs 9th album and its also executive produced by Pharrell. Its only right since they've been making bangers for years. Going back to TIs debut single "I'm Serious" and "What's Yo Name" to "Freak Though" to "Good Life" to "Get Back Up", and even Robins Thickes "Blurred Lines", which was a big hit. If you never heard their past collabos then go check them out, those shits still bang. I thought the buzz for this album would of been bigger but that has to do with TI not having a big single leading up to the release. "About the Money" and "No Mediocre" were Summer bangers but wheres the next single? The same thing happened with "Trouble Man" though and he still sold well. Paperwork has some "single ready" songs like "Private Show" with Chris Brown, the title track "Paperwork" with Pharrell and "Stay" with Victoria Monet.

T.I should have no problem getting radio play. In addition to Pharrell, other producers hold it down like DJ Toomp, Mars of 1500 Or Nothin', Sak Pase, London on da Track, DJ Mustard and more. I know some of yall probably thinking like damn "Aint no hard joints on the album? Of course there is. Like with every TI album, you're gonna get those high energy joints, check the album opener "King", "Jet Fuel" featuring Boosie, "G Shit" featuring Jeezy and Watch The Duck and "On Doe, On Phil" featuring Trae tha Truth. Speaking of Doe B, on the dedication track to him, "Light 'Em Up (RIP Doe B)", TI talks about how Doe B was supposed to meet up him and Pharrell the next day but but he ended up getting killed at the club. Thats a crazy situation right there. Im pretty sure TI has some unreleased material from him that he'll end up releasing.

I wanna touch a few issues I had with album. The first is all these features. No way a TI album should have that many fucking features, especially since he has the ability to carry a project by himself. Collabs definitely should of been kept to a minimum. The Usher assisted "At Ya Own Risk" was a little weak to me. "New National Anthem" featuring Skylar Grey is another one I was on the fence about. I agree with TI's message about racism and the double standards of it. The production didn't do it for me. It was way too "happy" for that kind of message. It would of worked if the production was edgier (ala "Live Ya Life"). Overall, Paperwork is an enjoyable album.

4/5