Paper Trail [Deluxe]

by T.I.

Overview

House arrest would likely slow anyone's daily routine. It probably played a factor in T.I.'s decision to write down his rhymes for the first time since his debut. A year of jail time on the horizon would, just the same, impact a writer's output, and it has done just that on Paper Trail. Plenty of these tracks have nothing to do with T.I.'s federal weapons conviction -- escapist fare like the number one Hot 100 single "Whatever You Like" and the mindnumbing "Porn Star," where he's barely coasting -- but there is a sense of urgency and a new dimension of self-reflection not touched upon throughout the holding pattern that was T.I. vs T.I.P. And when he's just battling, as on "I'm Illy," he reaches a level of indignant rage that manages to top that of "I'm Talkin' to You." The M.I.A.-sampling, Kanye West-produced "Swagga Like Us" features verses from Jay-Z, West, and Lil Wayne, but its chunky, rugged, alien beat could've hit even harder with just T.I., whose pent-up swagger makes for the best vocal fit. The cut with multiple features that is deserving of even more talk is "On Top of the World," where B.o.B. and (especially) Ludacris complement atypical wealth-related T.I. boasts like "Cousins in college -- where you think they get tuition from?" The production work also helps place the album above T.I. vs T.I.P.; Toomp's return provides some much needed punch, as does Danja's slow motion, almost bluesy, organ-drenched beat for "No Matter What." ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	12/29/2023
Label:	Grand Hustle
UPC:	0843563168349
Rank:	41513

Album Credits

Performance Credits

T.I.   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Lil Wayne   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Usher   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Ludacris   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Justin Timberlake   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Kanye West   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
B.o.B   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
John Legend   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
B.O.B.   Primary Artist
Swizz Beatz   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Jay-Z   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Larry Gold   Conductor
Fall Out Boy   Featured Artist
Gregory Teperman   Violin
Igor Szwec   Violin
Rihanna   Featured Artist
M.I.A.   Vocals
Julio Miranda   Guitar (Acoustic)
Stevie Salas   Guitar
Emma Kummrow   Violin
Peter Nocella   Viola
Canei Finch   Keyboards
Ghislaine Fleischmann   Violin
Michelle Bishop   Violin
Eliza Cho   Violin
James J. Cooper III   Cello
Carol Briselli   Viola
David Siegel   Keyboards
The-Dream   Featured Artist
Ricco Barrino   Vocals
Ghislaine Fleishman   Violin
Terrell Sass   Bass,Drums,Saxophone
Jason Lewis   Piano,Guitar (Electric)
Mitchelle'l   Vocals

Technical Credits

T.I.   Audio Production
TIP   Executive Producer
Paul Simonon   Composer
Swizz Beatz   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Elliott Carter   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Drumma Boy   Producer,Audio Production
Bobby Simmons   Composer
Dan Balan   Composer
Leslie Brathwaite   Mixing
Jim Jones   Composer
Chris Gehringer   Mastering
Topper Headon   Composer
Larry Gold   Arranger,String Arrangements
Jean-Marie Horvat   Mixing
Jay-Z   Composer
Jeff Chestek   Engineer,Audio Engineer,String Engineer
John Fry   Mixing
Maya Arulpragasam   Composer
T-Pain   Composer,Lyricist
Lil Wayne   Composer
Ludacris   Composer
Just Blaze   Producer,Audio Production,Instrumental Producer
Justin Timberlake   Composer,Producer
Jason Geter   A&R,Executive Producer
Kanye West   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Montay Humphrey "DJ Montay"   Composer,Lyricist
Nate Hills   Composer
Kasseem Dean   Composer
Cordale Quinn   Composer
Chuck Diesel   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Jun Ishizeki   Recording
Julio Miranda   Composer
John Frye   Mixing
Harvey Mason, Jr.   Composer
Clifford Harris   Composer
Robert Marks   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Rob Knox   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Tom Syrowski   Assistant,Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Ryan West   Mixing
Dwayne Carter   Composer
Anthony Palazzole   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Jim Jonsin   Producer,Audio Production
Charles Spencer   Composer
Usher Raymond IV   Composer
Ray Seay   Mixing
Lil C   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Elvis Williams   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
DJ Toomp   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Danja   Producer,Audio Production
Mike Caren   Producer,Audio Production
James "Nard" Rosser   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Audio Production
Glenn Schick   Mastering
Paul Foley   Engineer,Recording
Andrew Dawson   Mixing
David Siegel   Composer,Lyricist
The Individualz   Producer,Audio Production
Gary Fly   Assistant,Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Christopher Bridges   Composer
Josh Gudwin   Engineer,Assistant,Recording,Assistant Engineer
James Scheffer   Composer,Lyricist
Derrick Selby   Engineer,Recording
Joseph Alexander   Composer
Makeba Riddick   Composer,Producer,Vocal Producer
Brandon Rackley   Composer,Producer
Robin Tadross   Composer
Shawn Carter   Composer
Aldrin Davis   Composer
Ian Wright   Cover Illustration
Lanre Gaba   A&R
Matteo Bolzoni   Engineer,Recording
Douglas Peterson   A&R
Brad "Dirt" Horne   Engineer,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro   Mixing
DJ Troomp   Producer
Rosie Phillidor   Stylist
Brandon "B" Rackley   Composer,Producer
Hannah Kang   A&R
Bill Orcutt   Cover Illustration
Darren Ankenman   Photography
Greg Gigendad Burke   Design,Art Direction
Darryl Morris   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Marsha St. Hubert   A&R
Justin Smith   Composer,Lyricist
Rob Gold   Producer
Sydney Margetson   Photography
Ricco Barrino   Composer
Terrell Sass   Composer
Andrew Wright   Tracking
Jason Lewis   Composer
Individuals   Producer
Clarence Montgomery III   Composer
Christopher Gholson   Composer,Producer
Thomas Wesley Pentz   Composer
Marcella Araica   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Steven Hills   Composer
Wook Kim   Composer
Elliot Carter   Engineer,Assistant,Recording,Assistant Engineer
Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr.   Composer
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.   Composer
Bradley Horne   Recording,Mixing Engineer
James Rosser   Composer,Producer,Recording
Elliot Stroud   Composer
Avery Chambliss   Composer
Joshua Gudwin   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Jordan Young   Mixing Engineer
Kassim Washington   Composer,Lyricist
Lil' C   Producer
Daryl Morris   Assistant Engineer
Nathaniel Hills   Composer,Producer
John Mellor   Composer
Michael Jones   Composer