T.I.

For anyone wondering what good came out of T.I. catching a year on gun charges, Paper Trail is a good start. The Atlanta rapper has never lacked confidence, and he shines on opener "I'm Illy" over Chuck Diesel's ominous bells and operatic voices, but baring his soul is where he's exceptional. Tip addresses his legal troubles on "Ready for Whatever," his beef with Shawty Lo on the scathing "What Up, What's Haapnin'" and the murder of his best friend, Philant Johnson, on "Dead and Gone," featuring Justin Timberlake. This king isn't ready to give up his crown just yet.

"Facing all kinda time/But smile like I'm fine," T.I. crows on "No Matter What." The Atlanta
rapper recorded his sixth album while under house arrest for weapons possessions
charges, and he faces a year-long prison sentence beginning in 2009. But as the plodding
"existential" concept album T.I. vs T.I.P. (2007) showed, he is a far better braggart than
brooder — smiling like he's fine is good for business. On Paper Trail, T.I. mostly di... More >