Adversity helps spark creative fires and Paper Trail, the sixth studio album from T.I., is ample evidence of this. In the midst of two recent felony charges, the Atlanta emcee has delivered one of his strongest albums to date. From the beginning, the listener recognizes T.I.'s improved flow and lyricism. Tracks such as the insightful "Ready for Whatever," which discusses his recent legal troubles, and the brilliant lead single "No Matter What" showcase a focus and intensity that was largely lacking from his previous effort T.I. vs. T.I.P.
The album falters a bit in the middle section, in which T.I. settles for a more standard affair. While his flow remains strong, it's overshadowed by repetitive synth-heavy production and clichéd talk of materialism and swagger. East Coast producers Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz seem out of their element when they experiment with a more Southern sound on "Live Your Life" and "Swing Ya Rag."
Things improve during the closing trifecta of "Slide Show," "You Ain't Missin' Nothin" and "Dead and Gone." Covering topics like childhood nostalgia, fallen comrades and personal growth, the songs prove that T.I. is at his best when focusing on more introspective subject matter. They also feature excellent production from Kanye West, DJ Toomp and most surprisingly, Justin Timberlake.
Using his personal dilemmas as inspiration, T.I. has made one of the best rap albums of 2008. One can only hope that he'll remain this inspired once he resolves them.
