Is King a good place to start with T.I.?

Yes, King is recommended as a starting point for new T.I. listeners. A bold and confident blend of trap beats and Southern swagger that showcases T.I.'s lyrical prowess and street narratives. Released in 2006, 'King' was T.I.'s fifth studio album and followed his breakthrough success with 'Trap Muzik' and 'Urban Legend'. At this point in his career, he had solidified his status as a leading figure in Southern hip-hop, setting the stage for future commercial successes.

King works well if you're into dynamic journey with peaks, infectious beats for celebration and wave-like pacing for engagement.

How many songs are on King?

King has 18 tracks, running approximately 75 minutes.

Released 20 years ago

King

T.I. · 2006

75 min · 18 tracks · trap music

A bold and confident blend of trap beats and Southern swagger that showcases T.I.'s lyrical prowess and street narratives.

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Top tracks — play these first

→
What You Know — This track encapsulates T.I.'s signature blend of confidence and storytelling, featuring a catchy hook that became an anthem for the South.
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King Back Start here — As the opening track, it powerfully re-establishes T.I.'s dominance in the rap game, marking his return with a defiant tone.
→
Why You Wanna — This song showcases T.I.'s vulnerability while maintaining his characteristic bravado, exploring themes of love and trust within a smooth production.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong lyrical themes and production quality, solidifying T.I.'s place in Southern hip-hop.

What we noticed

The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo groove, with 'What You Know' featuring a prominent hook that reinforces its catchiness.
Several tracks incorporate layered vocal harmonies and ad-libs, enhancing the depth of T.I.'s delivery and the overall sound.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic journey with peaks
infectious beats for celebration
wave-like pacing for engagement
sharp lyrics for deep listening
for late-night drives

Maybe skip if you

seeking instant gratification
prefer standalone tracks only

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Established T.I.'s reputation with commercial success and critical acclaim.
Themes: Southern swagger· street narratives· Atlanta hustle
Career context: Released in 2006, 'King' was T.I.'s fifth studio album and followed his breakthrough success with 'Trap Muzik' and 'Urban Legend'. At this point in his career, he had solidified his status as a leading figure in Southern hip-hop, setting the stage for future commercial successes.
Stylistic neighbors: Jeezy· Gucci Mane· Lil Wayne