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
'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
, 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
boasts like "Cousins in college -- where you think they get tuition from?" The production work also helps place the album above
;
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