After the release of King, one could say that T.I. hit a high point, perhaps even the apex of his career. The 2006 LP was his fourth release in five years, which saw the Atlanta rapper coming into his own, rather than just being the Southern flavor of the month. With a strong set of singles including “What U Know”, “Why U Wanna”, “Top Back”, “Front Back” (yes, all very similarly titled and confusing), the album was set up incredibly well, and delivered on the promise made by its singles. The record would go own to be a classic, establishing T.I. as the official “king of the south” – a self-appointed title some were laughing at just two years earlier (including Yours Truly).

With T.I. Vs. T.I.P. following just a year later, folks expected the same results, but were quickly let down. This time around, the album was preceded by a handful of lackluster singles – “Big Things Poppin”,  “You Know What It Is”, and “Hurt”, none of which had the staying power of anything that preceded King. Despite still going platinum, T.I.’s fans felt a let down with an album that was equally as dissatisfying as its singles.

Shortly after the album’s release, T.I. was put on house arrest for weapons charges, as a looming trial waits. With plenty of time to craft a new LP, T.I. has delivered Paper Trail, the first LP since I’m Serious to feature T.I. writing his lyrics down, rather than memorizing them. With a potential prison bid on the table, the stakes are higher than ever for T.I., who hopes to create another classic with his latest set.

By now, you’ve heard several of the tracks that make up the strongest material on Paper Trail. Intentionally leaking the whole LP little by little, T.I. made sure his fans were getting a stronger LP this time around. The first peek at the release was the slow southern drawl of “No Matter What”, finding an introspective T.I. eyeing his uncertain future. More of a strong album cut than a single, the club heaters slowly started to be released into the wild. First was the Swizz Beatz fueled “Swing Your Rag”. Different from the raucous marching band sound of their last single together – “Bring Em Out”, instead propelled by Swizzy’s abrasive drums, ceremonial horns, and infectious hook. The buzz was starting, but what really kicked the door in was “Whatever You Like”, a super-smooth player’s anthem in the tradition of King’s “What U Know”, that preaches the motto-of-the-moment, “it ain’t trickin’ if you got it”. Another home run was hit shortly thereafter with the Rihanna featured “Live Your Life” – again, done in the tradition of King’s “Why U Wanna”, again sampling a classic house song, that meets at the crossroads with Kanye West’s “Good Life”. With a set of high-powered instant classics like these, it seems like T.I. could do no wrong on his latest LP.

And for the most part, this is true. T.I. doesn’t shy from collaborating with several other artists that share his star-power, and the results knock it out the park every time. Perhaps the biggest moment on the LP is “Swagger Like Us”, an ego-fest featuring each T.I., Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil’ Wayne rapping over an M.I.A. sample. If that didn’t surprise you, “On Top Of The World” surely would, as former sparring partner Ludacris buries the hatchet with T.I., and the two go for broke on the same track with a catchy, celebratory hook. Even the crossover artists shine on Paper Trail, as John Legend helps lends some emotion to the piano driven “Slide Show” as T.I. digs deeper into his soul. The same can be said for the excellent album closer “Dead & Gone”, where T.I. reunites with Justin Timberlake on this bittersweet dedication to the dead homies.

Unlike many of today’s rappers, while T.I. packs many high profile guest artists into his latest LP, they only enhance his performances, rather than taking the spotlight off of him. T.I. is a star in his own right, proving many times on the LP that he can hold his own just fine – such as on the braggadocios opener “56 Bars” as well as it’s follow-up “I’m Illy” – both of which allow T.I. to show off his swagger all by himself.

At sixteen tracks in length, Paper Trail doesn’t come off quite as strong as “King”, but nevertheless is still a slamming LP. One of the album’s weakest links is producer Drumma Boy, who relies on the “I Put On” (Young Jeezy) patented “wind-up” sound effect on three of his four selections “Ready For Whatever”, “My Life Your Entertainment”, making each of his contributions bleed into one another.  Furthermore, strangely enough, one of the album’s strongest recordings – “Let My Beat Pound” – did not make the final cut – despite the love given to it by club and radio deejays all over the nation. Chalk it up as an unlikely casualty of the cutting room floor.

Despite these minor gripes, T.I.’s got anothersolid LP on his hands with Paper Trail – one likely to win back some fans after the disappointment that was T.I. Vs. T.I.P. – Pizzo