T.I. is one of the illest MCs to touch a mic in the last 20-plus years. Later this year, he’ll celebrate the 25th anniversary of his debut album, I’m Serious. The talent was there, but I’m Serious underperformed commercially. The album ranked number 98 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and sold an estimated 14,000 U.S. copies in its first week. T.I. was dropped from the label and signed with Atlantic Records. Almost two years later, T.I. returned with his second album called Trap Muzik. Before that, T.I. would form Grand Hustle Records and begin releasing mixtapes. Trap Muzik became a monumental album after going platinum. 24s, Be Easy, Rubber Band Man, and Let’s Get Away were the singles, and they helped propel him into superstar status. A little over a year later, T.I. dropped his third project called Urban Legend.
T.I. stepped his game up and began to earn the moniker of the King of the South. Bring Em Out, U Don’t Know Me, and ASAP were the singles released that helped the album go double platinum. T.I. was one of the biggest rappers in the world, and he released his fourth album a little over a year later. King was the name of the album, and it was released 20 years ago today. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling over 522,000 copies in its first week. King was originally set to be released as a soundtrack to T.I.’s film acting debut, ATL. After half of the songs of the album leaked on the Internet in early 2006, T.I. used the leaked tracks, plus a few more new songs, to make an album titled Gangsta Grillz: The Leak.
What You Know was the first single from the album, and it’s one of the many bangers on the King album. The single went double platinum in the process. What You Know” won for “Best Rap Solo Performance” and was nominated for “Best Rap Song” at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. Why You Wanna became the second single released from the King album. The single peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it went gold. The third single featured Jamie Foxx, and it was called Live in the Sky. The hip hop and R&B song is a tribute and dedicated to T.I.’s deceased friend Big Phil. Live in the Sky was a great record, but it didn’t reach the success of his previous two singles. The fourth and final single from the King album was the Top Back Remix.
Top Back remix featured Jeezy, Young Dro, Big Kuntry King, and B.G. T.I. performed the remix at the BET Hip Hop Awards on November 15, 2006. The Top Back Remix went gold as it concluded all the singles from the King album. The King album went double platinum. There were three Grammy nominations, along with the award for Best Solo Performance. The album is one of my favorite albums from T.I. Check out my top 5 tracks from the King album. After that, check out the track listing and stream link for the King album.
Top 5 Tracks: Goodlife, What You Know, Live in the Sky, Front Back, and Ride wit Me
King Track Listing
- King Back
- Front Back ft. UGK
- What You Know
- I’m Talkin’ to You
- Live in the Sky ft. Jamie Foxx
- Ride wit Me
- Breakup Skit ft. Mike Epps
- Why You Wanna
- Get It
- Top Back
- I’m Straight/Pimp C (Skit) ft. B.G. & Jeezy
- Undertaker ft. Young Buck, Young Dro & DJ Drama
- Stand Up Guy
- You Know Who
- Goodlife/Phone Call (Skit) ft. Pharrell, Common, & Mike Epps
- Hello ft. Governor
- Told You So
- Bankhead ft. P$C & Young Dro
