Paper Trail [PA] by T.I.

Pros: T.I. has grown as a rapper; tight production; healthy blend of celebration and reflection.

Cons: Maybe a fourth of the album could have been shaved off.

The Bottom Line: Call it a crowning achievement, or at least something close to one: Paper Trail is T.I. finally attempting to match skill with swagger.

Review: There is a rather succinct yet compelling reasoning behind T.I. naming his sixth studio album Paper Trail< i>< b>: It is the first time since his debut that he has committed rhymes to paper. < p> No kidding. < p> In my review of his ...

Pros: When T.I.'s on-point, he shines.  Swaggering bravado and somber reflection.

Cons: The middle of the album is mostly dead weight.

The Bottom Line: Sure, part of Paper Trail is just an exercise in filler, but the album has enough great songs and displays of technique to make it a very solid purchase.

Review: Okay, I'll never profess myself to be an expert of all things T.I.  Only owning one of his albums (the one in question), I can't say I'm intimately familiar with all his material.  However, I'm reasonably sure I've taken in the entirety ...

Pros: --

Cons: --

The Bottom Line: T.I.'s Sixth Studio Album Showcases his growth. Pick This One Up.

Review: WARNING: glvrican's first RAP ALBUM review... enter at your own risk of being disappointed!________________W ith the sex appeal, rap skills, and crossover success reminiscent of the late Tupac Shakur, T.I. has probably been the ...

Pros: Solid tracks, good guest appearances, Swagga Like Us is worth the price of admission

Cons: Porn Star? Are you freaking kidding me?

The Bottom Line: A strong effort from T.I., but only a few songs are the home runs we've come to expect from him.

Review: I admit it -- I jumped on the T.I. bandwagon kind of late. I bought "KING" on a whim and loved it so much I went back and bought most of his older albums. While he's never been too deep lyrically, his rhymes are intricate, his producers' beats are ...

Pros: A few bangers

Cons: A lot of strong material was left out

The Bottom Line: T.I.'s sixth album

Review: "Paper Trail" is T.I.'s sixth album. If you were not aware, this Atlanta rapper was arrested late in 2007 and had been under arrest for a few months on firearm-related charges. During this period of time he decided to record an entire album, he ended up ...

Pros: Generally good guests, T.I. remains an impressive technical rapper.

Cons: Disappointing production, lyrics aren't always believable.

The Bottom Line: Although it has some definite flaws and isn't as great as T.I.'s last two albums, Paper Trail is mostly a pleasurable listen.

Review: Suggesting that T.I.'s career has floundered would be exaggeratory—after all, the Atlanta emcee has released two platinum-selling albums and earned a handful of Grammy nominations in less than two years. Very few of even the most successful ...

Pros: A few songs that call to mind the anthemic sound T.I.'s so good at.

Cons: Bland, generic Southern production. Lack of energy. Unnecessary Dwayne Carter-inspired trend jocking.

The Bottom Line: A disappointment

Review: To me, it was telling that the best Southern rap album of 2008, Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III," didn't happen to sound especially Southern. For whatever reason, the year was plagued with releases from the Southern rap elite that sounded almost exactly ...