Return of the King

9.14.20

T.I. from Cut Throat City

While one can definitely argue that he has not gone anywhere, T.I. has got a lot of big things coming down the pipeline. Over the weekend, T.I. chopped it up with those over at XXL, giving us an inside scoop to some new projects he has been working on. From music, to acting and film making, to fighting for social injustice, we need it all, from the King of the South.

The first question that XXL asks T.I. is if he is ready to drop his eleventh studio album. T.I.’s last album dropped in 2018. It was in 2014 where his last album had peaked in the top 5 album chart in US sales. His last album to go gold was one the prior to this, in 2012. While some may say T.I. is out of his prime, he has several number one selling albums, has gone platinum seven times, and has been spending his time in resources doing so much more than creating new music.

T.I. has been very vocal on social media that he is looking to go head-to-head with 50 Cent in a Verzuz battle. This could be an excellent opportunity to announce or promote a new album, if this were to be the case. In T.I.’s mysterious ways and extraordinary vocabulary, he shares that there is a rumor going around that he is ready to drop off his eleventh studio album. He goes even further to say that if there was an album, there would be lots of visuals and he would be working with Hype Williams for the first time, to create to visuals.

Hype Williams is a film and video director, known for many of his fabulous music video productions in the era of 90s hip-hop. If you remember the No Scrubs music video, Gold Digger, Diamonds from Sierra Leone, Drunk In Love, and so many more, you will understand the work of Hype Williams. It makes perfect sense that T.I. and Hype Williams would work together today. They are both older Kings in their own spaces, that continue to educate the youth. I can only imagine the retro inspired vibes with today’s technology represented throughout the video. I am hopeful for this album and now even more curious as to the visuals.

Next, T.I. talks about his film making that he has in the works. T.I. has his family shows that have aired for many seasons, and has had a few more. T.I. was a big member of the Hip-Hop Squares crew last season, and mentioned he thinks VH1 is working on bringing this back. It would be their fourth season, after launching in 2012 and then pausing their renewal until 2017. The show is a fun hip-hop spin off of a Family Feud type games, and gives you a bit of insight into who the artists are as people, showing off their personality. I never watched it too much, but was always interested. I would definitely give it a shot if it does come back soon.

What I am most excited about, is that T.I. shared they are definitely working on Rhythm N Flow 2. This was T.I.’s Netlifx original series where he teamed up with Cardi B and Chance The Rapper to find the next big hip-hop artist. At first I thought this show may be corny, since I was not into American Idol or other singing shows. However, the different challenges, the raw talent, and behind the scenes with three amazing hip-hop artists sucked me right in. I watched Season 1 several times over all the way through, and I cannot wait to see what new talent they find for Season 2, and if anyone comes back for a second shot. Allegedly, Season 2 will air in 2021, and T.I. will return with Chance The Rapper and Cardi B as the three judges.

T.I. was has also taken his acting to the big screens. Just this past month, T.I. was in a movie that released in theaters called Cut Throat City. The film stars T.I. and many other notable faces, as they face a horrific Hurricane Katrina and receive no help from survival town officials. They are forced to fend on their own, and find their own sources of money for rebuilding all of what they had just lost. In Massachusetts, it just hit theaters last week. I cannot wait for it to hit On Demand so I can check it out. The trailer looks incredible. T.I. clearly has a large roll as he is the scary cousin that everyone goes to for money chasing advice.

Finally, there have been talks the past two years that T.I. was filming a movie in South Africa. This film is called Monster Hunter, and is very much based on a popular Japanese video game. Initial reports say that T.I. would play the sniper from the game during this movie, which is being directed by the same guy whom directed the Resident Evil films based off of their games. T.I. confirmed to XXL that this film is coming, and should hit screens as soon as this month, and will be international.

So many exciting things for T.I. in the pipeline. In addition to all of this, he just dropped a single Ring with Young Thug over the weekend. Not to mention he is a soon to be grandfather, and his son is taking off on his music career. The interview finishes talking about the importance of T.I.’s role in the Black Lives Matter movement. He shares that the initiative is important, but he likes to study and learn about the actual programs themselves before selecting a cause he chooses to represent. The King of the South, cannot be dethroned.