T.I. - The King of Atlanta's Hip-Hop Scene

The year was 2018 and hip-hop had never been more alive than it was at that moment in time. T.I., one half of the duo known as OutKast, alongside his partner-in-crime André 3000, had just dropped their highly anticipated album 'Aquaponic' earlier that same year.

But before they could even catch a breath and celebrate such an achievement, another legend was ready to step up onto the scene. None other than T.I., aka Clifford Joseph Simmons III (also known as Tip), who would go on to release his tenth studio effort - Dime Trap just months later in September of that same year.

With this new project being released so close behind 'Ye vs The People', many were left wondering whether or not T.I. still had enough gas left in the tank to deliver another classic hip-hop album like he did with 'Trap Muzik'. Well, wonder no more folks because after listening through Dime Trap from start-to-finish, I can safely say that yes indeed - Tip is still king when it comes all things trap music related!

The cover art for T.I.'s tenth studio effort immediately grabbed attention upon its release due to the bold and eye-catching design featuring a large stack of hundred dollar bills with an image of Snoop Dogg's infamous 'G-Funk' era LA Lakers jersey plastered across them. This artwork perfectly encapsulates what we can expect from within - pure old-school hip-hop sensibilities mixed up with modern day trap beats.

The lead single off Dime Trap, also titled 'Dime Trap', sets the tone for the entire album right away as Tip spits bars about his life growing up on Atlanta's Westside streets. The production credits go to Zaytoven and Metro Boomin', two of today's most sought-after producers when it comes creating trap beats.

Throughout Dime Trap, T.I. pays homage to all those who came before him in the hip-hop game while also giving props to his peers who continue to push the genre forward today. Tracks like 'Prison Cell' featuring Lil' Uzi Vert and Young Thug are straight-up throwbacks to Tip's early days as a rising star out of Atlanta.

However, what really sets Dime Trap apart from other trap albums released around this time is how T.I.'s storytelling ability hasn't aged one bit. On songs like 'Dope Boy Thinking' he takes listeners back into his childhood memories growing up on the mean streets of Eastside where drug dealing was just another way of life.

But despite all these nostalgic references throughout Dime Trap, don't let that fool you - this isn’t your average trap album by any stretch. T.I.’s still got bars for days and he proves it time-and-again with verses like the one on 'Twinz'. He also brings in some heavy-hitting guest appearances from artists such as Jeezy, Offset & Lil' Baby to name a few.

Overall, Dime Trap is an absolute must-listen for anyone who loves classic trap music. With its mix of old-school beats and modern-day production combined with T.I.'s signature storytelling ability makes this album a true masterpiece that will be remembered for generations to come.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Ti dime trap album cover