T.I. vs. T.I.P.
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
T.I. vs. T.I.P. is the fifth studio album released by Atlanta rapper T.I. The album was released on July 3 2007. In the first week of sales, the album went nearly gold, selling 468,000.[1] The album received mostly lukewarm reviews. However, it was nominated for a Grammy.
History
"It'd be easy for me to go over people's heads", he rationalized. "Sometime people might see me act a certain way one time and another way one another time. They might not believe the same cat you see dressed so sharp and winning awards and speaking eloquently is the same cat you see fist-fighting with hoodlums outside a nightclub. This album will be an explanation of all of this". [2]
Guests include Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Eminem, Wyclef Jean, Nelly and Alfamega.
T.I. mentioned working with André 3000, Justin Timberlake, Ciara, Akon, R. Kelly, Young Jeezy, and Lil Wayne as well, because the album was originally planned to be a double disc album, but instead it became a single album, and the other artists didn't make the final cut.[3]
Chart performance
T.I. vs. T.I.P. didn't manage to sell more than 'King', The album still sold over 1.5 million copies. The following chart positions are in reference to their location on the Billboard 200.
| Week | Units Sold | Total Units Sold | Chart Position | RIAA Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 468,000 | 468,000 | 1 | |
| 2 | 175,000 | 643,000 | 1 | Gold |
| 3 | 93,515 | 737,739 | 3 | Gold |
| 4 | 64,426 | 802,165 | 5 | Gold |
| 5 | 55,339 | 857,504 | 8 | Gold |
| 6 | 45,385 | 902,889 | 8 | Gold |
| 7 | 37,694 | 940,583 | 11 | Gold |
| 8 | 33,205 | 973,788 | 13 | Gold |
| 9 | 29,420 | 1,003,208 | 12 | Platinum |
| 10 | 25,100 | 1,027,400 | 15 | Platinum |
| 11 | 26,187 | 1,053,587 | 19 | Platinum |
Album meaning
T.I. is as to be the regular version of himself, while T.I.P. is his alter ego that has a short temper. The pictures included in the album describe/show the personalities and acts of T.I. and his second self, such as T.I. sports a millionaire look as well as clothing, T.I.P., however sports a ghetto look as he wears clothing such as a tank-top with a button-shirt over it and all the backgrounds show things such as a condemned house and a deserted-looking bathroom.
In the leaflet included with the album, T.I. dedicates the album to Philant "Big Phil" Johnson and Leiah Amoré Harris and Deyjah Princess Harris and his 3 sons Messiyah, Demanee, Clifford Harris the 3 aka King, and the mother of his children Tameka "Tiny" Cottle.
In the song "Act I: T.I.P.", The prelude to the song itself is a string of newscasts that flash successes that have happened in his life, the shooting of his friend, Philant Johnson. After the prelude of the song, T.I.P. has a violent outburst against Lyor Cohen.
In the song "Act II: T.I.", T.I. awakens and realizes that his car isn't in the same place he parked it. He then receives a call from Jason Geter and is very surprised at how angry Jason sounds. T.I. then speaks with Douglas Peterson and is informed about his violent outburst at Lyor Cohen. T.I. is confused because he can't remember anything about the situation. He doesn't yet know that it was T.I.P. who had the outburst.
In the skit "Act III: T.I. vs. T.I.P.: The Confrontation", T.I. and T.I.P. come face to face in the mirror to argue their conflict with each other, with T.I.P in the mirror and T.I. on the outside. T.I.P. argues that T.I.'s "Hollywood" status has made him stupid and has clouded his judgment. T.I.P. even names it as the reason his friend (Philant) was murdered. T.I. argues that T.I.P.'s bad temper causes too much trouble. T.I. states that they would be in prison by now if T.I.P. was let in control, T.I.P. then says "If You Let Me? See what the fuck I'm sayin, man? How the fuck you gon let me do somethin?". T.I.P. says that T.I. wouldn't be the King of The South without him and he says "you need me" as T.I. redrects as "You NEED me!!". T.I.P. then taunts his song "Tell 'Em I Said That" by saying "I'm sick of you and all these other hoe-ass rappers out here. Y'all niggas could kiss my ass, and you could tell them I said THAT!". The scene ends with T.I. saying in a lower voice "i'm done talking to ths foo, fuck it, man" smashing the mirror and the glass shattering. This symbolizes the end of their conversation.
T.I. also released an instrumental version of the album on October 12 although it was scheduled to be released on September 16 but was pushed back.
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Featured guest(s) | Sampled song(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Act I (T.I.P.)" | T.I. and Kannon "Caviar" Cross, additional production by Just Blaze | 2:22 | ||
| 2 | "Big Shit Poppin' (Do It)" | Mannie Fresh | Samples a guitar riff from the song Top Gun Anthem, the theme of the movie Top Gun | 4:51 | |
| 3 | "Raw" | Lil C | 3:51 | ||
| 4 | "You Know What It Is" | Wyclef Jean and Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis (Co-produced by Sedeck "All Hands on Deck" Jean and Keith "Lil' Wonda" Duplessis | Wyclef Jean | 4:54 | |
| 5 | "Da Dopeman" | Mannie Fresh | Contains a sample from "Dopeman (Remix)" by N.W.A | 5:09 | |
| 6 | "Watch What You Say To Me" | Khao, co-produced by Bao Quoc Pham & Steve Holdren | Jay-Z | 4:45 | |
| 7 | "Hurt" | Danja | Alfa Mega, Busta Rhymes | 4:47 | |
| 8 | "Act II (T.I.)" | T.I. and Caviar, additional production by Just Blaze | 1:46 | ||
| 9 | "Help Is Coming" | Just Blaze | Contains samples from "Somebody's Gonna Off The Man" by Barry White | 4:25 | |
| 10 | "My Swag" | Wyclef Jean, Wonda, All Hands on Deck and Keith Lil' Wonda | Wyclef Jean | 4:34 | |
| 11 | "We Do This" | The Runners | 3:33 | ||
| 12 | "Show It to Me" | Tony Galvin | Nelly | 3:18 | |
| 13 | "Don't You Wanna Be High" | The Runners | 3:59 | ||
| 14 | "Touchdown" | Eminem and Jeff Bass | Eminem | 4:42 | |
| 15 | "Act III (T.I. vs. T.I.P.) The Confrontation" | T.I. and Caviar, additional production by Just Blaze | 1:46 | ||
| 16 | "Tell 'Em I Said That" | Danja | 4:50 | ||
| 17 | "Respect This Hustle" | Danja | 4:26 | ||
| 18 | "My Type" | Keith Mack | 4:50 |
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (December 2007) |
- T.I. vs. T.I.P. was leaked on file-networking sites and P2P programs on June 24th.
- This is T.I.'s first album not to feature production from DJ Toomp, the Atlanta producer who produced some of T.I.'s biggest hits. Also neither this album or Trap Muzik features production from the Neptunes.
- Lyrics are provided in the small booklet that comes with the album. These lyrics have been pointed out as being incorrect in various locations.
- There are also three bonus tracks available via iTunes and Best Buy, "No Sweat", featuring Big Kuntry King and JR, also "You Ain't Fly", a pre-order exclusive from iTunes and from Best Buy "The Hottest" featuring Mac Boney, also "Hustlin'" featuring Governor.
- You can get the Exclusive Footage DVD included with the T.I. CD if you purchase it from Target. The DVD includes an interview with T.I. and T.I.P. and the T.I. vs. T.I.P. album shoot.
- The album has also got an alternative title, Clifford Harris, his real name.
- T.I. vs. T.I.P. is based on T.I. vs. T.I.P. track from T.I.s' album Trap Muzik
- This is T.I.'s second album name that has been scrutinized, the first being the 2004 album Urban Legend, which was going to be an earlier album title by Cormega, which he scrapped.
Exclusives
T.I. released his Bonus DVD to T.I. vs. T.I.P. This DVD is only in exclusive double-pack in BET Edition available at Wal-Mart or Sam's in its edited version.
DVD features are:[4]
- ACCESS GRANTED: "Big Things Poppin"
- 106 & PARK: T.I. Interview
- 2006 HIP-HOP AWARDS: "Top Back" Performance
- BET PROMO: T.I. Exposure
Music Videos:
- "Rubberband Man"
- "Big Things Poppin'"
Target released an exclusive as well, including a bonus DVD which featured T.I. vs. T.I.P.: Conflict Resolution a full version of the therapy T.I. and T.I.P. receive in many of the commercials.
Album charts
| Chart (2006) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 1 |
| U.S. Top Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Top Billboard Rap Albums | 1 |
References
- ^ Brendan Grimaldi (July 11, 2007). Off the Charts: T.I. Is Still the 'King' AOL. Accessed December 31, 2007.
- ^ Shaheem Reid (March 19, 2007). T.I. Taking On T.I.P. With Help From Eminem MTV. Accessed December 31, 2007.
- ^ Julianne Shepherd (April 10, 2007). T.I. Versus Himself Vibe. Accessed December 31, 2007.
- ^ T.I. vs. T.I.P. (CD/DVD Set)