Who better to be the reigning ruler of the South?
If you look back, there were traces of claims to the thrown as early as I’m Serious (Peep “Grand Royale”). But checking the history, T.I.’s first legitimate claims to the throne came on one now monumental tape…
Gangsta Grillz: Down With The King
I can’t speak for the rest of the country, but I know, for the South coast region, this pushed T.I. (and subsequently DJ Drama) to the forefront in terms of who to check for. It was a complete package in that it offered so much entertainment from one artist in one wop.
1.) One audio moment sealed it for myself. The mesmerizing sound of Scarface’s voice reverberating and saying “You can have that shitttt…”. That was it. Finito. Right there, the man the whole region deferred to laid down the crown and left it available for whomever wanted it. So who would step up?
Jeezy? Wasn’t even around @ the time. Prolly still @ his auntie’s house with the yams.
Lil Jon? Negatory & shame on those for even considering.
Luda? Enh…too commercial. To be King of The South, you’d have to have a little dirt up under your fingernails.
Wayne? Still embattled by the Hot Boyz breakup.
So who else was available?
Although an unlikely candidate @ the time, T.I. just stepped up & snatched the shit…
2) He crushed Lil Flip. If you remember there was a time when Flip was relevant outside of Cloverland. When people were familiar with the way he balled. Then came the infamous, often heard of but never seen fight that was supposedly taped. While the tape never surfaced, T.I. managed to take the opportunity to steal Flip’s shine by essentially having OGs, members of his hood & his then manager call him. Robert Greene would be applaud the move.
3.) Sheer arrogance & braggadocio.
It wasn’t just the rhyming & his voice that pushed T.I. to the top. And true enough, his claim to the throne wasn’t as clear as B.I.G or Jay’s. But he took it. And hee took it by displaying a certain amount of cockiness, mixing in a little personal history and a touch of ignorance that is somewhat beloved by Southerners (believe that).
“You wanna push me?/Pussy aggin do what you do…/Tryin, testin my flows? Au contraire/I been sellin blow since I was twelve years old my dear/Bustin calicos just to let’em know I’m here/Choppers in the trunk of every au-to I steer…”
All of that made us gleefully entertained, either to see the underdog win or see the lil motherfucker get knocked out.
It didn’t happen.
True enough, he got locked up. But in true G-fashion, he did the time standin on his head, even managing to film a video while in jail. So like Martha, it only served to increase his stock value and catapulted himself into hip-hop’s firmament. Along the way, he dropped two solid albums that did show he was capable of doing much more lyrically than just pop off @ the mouth.
And here we are today…so here’s to that tape.
T.I._N_P.S.C.-In_Da_Streets-2002
T.I._P.S.C.-In_Da_Streets_Pt_3-2003
T.I.-Featuring_T.I.P-CD1-2004
T.I.-Featuring_T.I.P-CD2-2004
T.i.-King_Of_The_South-2004-dPS
T.I.-Sweet_16_Vol.4_(Hosted_By_DJ_Slimer)-(Bootleg)-2006
T.I.-The_King_Collection(Mixed_by_Bigg_Premiere)-2CD-(Bootleg)-2006
T.I.-The_Streets_Part_2-2003
T.I.-VA-DJ_Drama__T.I.-Down_With_The_King-2004-C4
T.I.-Why_You_Wanna-Bootleg-2006
TI-The_Return_Of_The_Rubberband_Man_(Hosted_By_DJ_Keyz)-(Bootleg)-2005
VA-AK_(Of_PSC)_The_Razor_Man-Back_In_The_Streets-(Bootleg)-2006
VA-Best_Of_T.I._(Presented_By_DJ_Kurupt_And_Mixunit.Com)-(Bootleg)-2005
VA-DJ_Drama_And_T.I.P.-The_Leak-(Bootleg)-2006
VA-DJ_Drama_And_T.I.P.-The_Leak_(Chopped_And_Screwed_By_Paul_Wall)-2006
VA-DJ_Drama_and_The_PSC-The_Pimp_Squad_Click-(Bootleg)-2005
VA-DJ_Dramatic-Gangsta_Grillz_Meets_T.I._and_PSC-2003
VA-DJ_Folk-Best_of_Ti_The_Bankhead_Ambassador-2003
VA-DJ_Folk-Deep_N_Da_Game_6_(Hosted_By_T.I._And_The_PSC)-(Bootleg)-2005
VA-DJ_Lt._Dan_And_Chops_Presents-Lil_Flip_Vs_T.I.(Bootleg)-2005
VA-DJ_Teknikz_Fabo_And_Young_Dro-Geekd_Up_Music-(Bootleg)-2007
VA-DJ_Teknikz-Georgia_Power_2_(Grand_Hustle_Meets_Block_Ent)-(Bootleg)-2007
VA-DJ_Tremayne-Young_Dro_Vs_Yung_Joc-Bootleg-2006
VA-Grand_Hustle_Presents_In_Da_Streetz_v.4
VA-Mick_Boogie_And_Tip_Harris_Present-The_Tipping_Point-(Bootleg)-2006
VA-Southern_Style_Djs-Best_of_Da_South_Part_2_T.I.-(Bootleg)-2005
VA-Street_Pharmacy_T.I._And_The_PSC-From_A_Classic_To_A_Classic-(Bootleg)-2006
VA-Tapemasters_Inc._And_The_Empire-I_Am_(T.I._Vs._Tip)-(Bootleg)-2007
VA-Tapemasters_Inc._And_The_Empire-Whos_Got_The_Crown-(Bootleg)-2007
VA-World_Wide_Legacy-Presents-Lil_Wayne_vs_T.I.-King_Of_The_South-(Bootleg)-2006
Previous T.I. Vs T.I.P. Vs TSS Articles
The Prequel – “Since You Became A Paid Cat…”
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Shiiiiyyyyyt… good look Gotty!
Just the beginning. That’s maybe half of the mixtapes.
haha, I like that…thats sharp. Act 1…listening to the album, songs like “hurt” bump a lot louder imagining T.I. choking chaka zulu
Wow. Can someone let me know what are the must haves from this list? I can’t get them all.
there are no must have TI tapes. He got shitted on by ludacris on that young buck song and he’s had nothing to say since.
^ and you took the time to comment because…?
Anyways, all those In The Streets mixtapes are pretty hard to come by, esp the first 2. The Leak is pretty solid. Of course, Down With The King (is that link up there?).There’s several up there.
until Outkast and UGK retire- nobody else can claim ‘king of the south’
^ Considered them, but they’re groups. They fall in a different category since “king” usually connotates a single individual.
Hey Gotty, whats poppin TSS, good looks on the T.I. mixtapes, I have or had almost all these shits, but damn how many more do you have coming….
Why put ‘flopper’ in the same category as T.I.P., thats a waste of paragraph real rap, but wasnt ‘Juve’ doing his solo thing around this time?
He’s the one that got the south into they movement, besides P and some of them no limit cats….holla at me GOTTY
what about Trick Daddy?
i think he gets overlooked ALOT.
he can make the club bangers like SUGAR & DRO IN THE WIND, the hood records like ‘I’M A THUG’ & ‘BOY’, and then the conscious records like ‘AMERIKA’ & ‘THE CHILDRENS SONG’
Good calls on Trick & Juve but I don’t think they’ve ever managed to build up anticipation nor attract as much media attention (just like it was mentioned above, Trick is overlooked).
When you think of “king” in this day & age, you think of someone whom greatness is expected each time around, scrutiny is heavily upon, etc. Juve & Trick don’t fit that bill for whatever reason.
Just my opinion. Take it w/a grain of salt.
So which of those mixtapes would you recommend. I’m not about to DL all of them.
I think I’m getting your point, GOTTY.
Your basically suggesting that since T.I.P. had success on the street and in the industry he deserves the title.
So if Juve’s artist, UTP, would of did numbers or sound as good as uh dro or kun than we would be having a discussion about a different person.
Cause I think Juve did everything right to become the king of the south, until his boys cracked under pressure, why didnt he try and scoop up B.G. though?
Ohhhh, B-Gizzle was goin through his situation, my bad.
And how the hell you gonna have Young Buc sittin in the back of a tour bus? If you cant make money off of buc than I guess you arent meant to be a boss.
Juve hasnt had our attention since that first album honestly, and eveb that took time to catch on. He has had moments since then, but not for an entire album. Trick Daddy never had enough mainstream appeal to sit on the throne, Although he is one of my favorites of all time.
some of you are referring back we’re moving forward the king of the south Today is T.I., the group of the south is Outkast. I like how you respond with these comments Gotty
&
“he took it by cockiness, mixing personal history w/ a touch of ignorance
that is somewhat beloved by southerners (believe that)”
..lol indeed it is..
“walk through the club like everybody p****”
Gotty, good article,nice to read…But I disagree!!!!
First, to say that someone needs to have a little dirt under there finger nails or to commercial to be considered King? Naw Homie you lost me with that one..Although TIP is a “GOOD” lyricist, he’s got a long way to go before he can officially call himself the “KING” of the south.At that, to me he’s not calling himself the “KING” of the south.He a King in his own right..I can go down a whole lineup of emcee’s that can squash this boy from the south that have put out LP’s…Eightball(lost),people slept on that cat…Maybe it was a marketing thing, who knows..But everything TIP has put out can’t touch that…Honestly if Bun(THE PRESIDENT)had a little bit more uumph behind him he coulda said he was the king..I can go on, and on…Due to the recent altercation that between TIP and Zulu, who knows what was said, but was it worth fighting over for position of power or did he touch TIP emotions?
Either way it shouldn’t have happend…OVER words? Don’t sound like no KING to me…Call yourself a “KING’ conduct yourself like one…Yeah,he crushed Flip but I but that tape will never surface…..There’s a reason why and his camp has the tape…He has a ways to go before he can catch LUDA…Lyrically and business wise..TIP in movies,commercials,vidoes on TV all day..is he commercial also..Isn’t that how you get yourself out there? But oh yeah you have to have a little dirt under your finger nails…..
SHOUT OUT TO EVERYBODY TODAY!!!
*stops by to wink at H.E.R.*
“he has a ways to go before he can catch Luda Lyrically and business wise” why you wanna go and do that love huh? lol smh, i emphasis on Lyrically!
King status?
I dunno mayne, Scarface/Geto Boys forever King(s) of the South to me. Or UGK, Devin The Dude mayne. I like T.I., I mean he’s not much lyrically but he definitely puts out some good shit. I was feelin’ a couple tracks off that new album. Gotta love the swag too n’ quickness to throw punches I’m wit him on that. I may not always win a fight but I’ll get that first crack in on mommas.
Nice article.
I’ll check out the In the street mixtapes since you’ve spoke on them for so long. But let’em be the king of the south, it’s not that big a deal anymore. The way rap is so watered down being the king of NY, the south, the west or anywhere else doesn’t hold the same weight it used to.
I’m happy that he’s gone on to be successful and made a name for him self.
But I sure do miss T.I. from the Trap Muzik days though.
@ BlazedaCannonz
I said they samething about Juve. I remember Buck on those Smoked Out Records underground tapes back in the day and even then he stood out. Juve dropped the ball on that one.
Wow,
The haterade must be on tap this week.
(Sidenote) Hey H.E.R. :)
Anyways.
Gotty, I appreciate this.
Seeing as how you guys did Mr. Jones properly, I can only expect the best.
This is a great start and my hard drive is being cleared as we speak.
Can’t we all just appreciate good music?
First, to say that someone needs to have a little dirt under there finger nails or to commercial to be considered King? Naw Homie you lost me with that one..
==========
Just liked you stopped, I have to stop as well.
Perhaps not all Southerners do, but I value street cred. If you’re gonna rap about the shit, I want to know something about you or some proof that makes me believe that you have an inkling of experience in it.
And yes, HER, we love a little ignorance lol. I’m not ashamed to admit one bit.
Ignorance huh!! LOL!!!
“I USE TO LOVE H.E.R”
Dont get me wrong I like TIP…Have all his albums,King stay on rotation..But come on man.
I value street cred 2, but does that make you KING on some level?Content…
SHOUT OUT TO HATERS!!!
lol hey y’all :OP
I think Andre got the southern crown. Not Big boi. But Andre. but since he Knows most of the people in the area don’t like the common sense rappers Who speak on things to help grow. he doesn’t even mention being king or close to it. He just does what he does, and keeps bringing originality which is what some Artists need to do. Instead of claiming king, I hate when people do that, cause you need to let other’s do such things for you by reviewing your work and making you king. Since when has Rap, Not Hip-Hop, been a dictatorial or even totalitarian system? we the people have the ultimate choice on who is king.
We need to use our voice=Our money, to stop buying albums of artists who have no staying power, i could name about 100 right now, but you guys know who i speak of. if we want more artists who we can reminisce on for more than 2 mixtapes and a one album for the forthcoming years. we need to find better qualified emcees, not mothafuckas who can read a sheet of paper on beat, but emcees who possess dexterity, knowledge, history (and not one shrouded in drugs cause that’s a negative light which is continually pointed on black people), potential for creative growth, and an actual flow. We need to create more artists with a lifespan if we ever want to see more Outkasts, Commons, Talibs, UGKs, Scarfaces, Snoops (for some not for me), or any artist who has had the staying power. By taking the power from these labels, who generate these awful one hit wonders who continue to drag down the demeanor of our station which we call Rap, Not Hip-Hop. Take the control out of there hands so we can decide who is the next ‘star’ will be.
i think Andre & Big Boi are on the same level. Andre usually gets the shine cuz he is so eccentric.
They are but If I had to choose one, then I’d choose Andre since he has the willingness to do other shit. and He has more talents as far as being able to play guitar and being able to get away with singing an entire track. Plus his experimental work on the Love Below was nice in my opinion.
the osuth, but thank for all those tapes man.
King means your name rings bells and ppl north, south, east, and west are all feelin u. It means you slayed the corporate dragon and stacked paper while still doing u. T.I.’s done it all. TI vs TIP is overall a huge disappointment but that happens sometimes. No one holds down the crown forever.
I think Waynes wearing the crown. Hate him or love him u can’t not hear him or his name even if u tried. TI I can get away from if I really wanted to, not that I want to but I’m just sayin.
Good lookin on all the mixtapes!!
^Andre is like Scarface to me. No need to crown him. He crowned himself a long time ago. Andre made his mark and it will never be erased. Andre (Outkast) gave us classic after classic after classic and that alone speaks volumes. I didnt have to listen to Southernplaylistik, ATLiens, or Aquemini on the pc, ipod, then the car stereo to know it was the shit from the moment I put it in my cd player…thats king shit right there. NO CROWN NEEDED. So I’ll argue about Wayne and TI but I’m not about to put Andre into the scenerio. One cause he was part of a group and two cause I thought we were talkin about now not yesterday.
t.i. makes me zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Nice JA from va…Feel that!
STAYING POWER IS KEY……
@ whatevaman
Andre STILL gets down on beats 2day, peep the ‘International Player Anthem’, or his verses on the ‘Walk It Out’ remix, or the ‘Throw some Ds’ remix, or the ‘You’ remix…
@whatevaman
“Andre is like Scarface to me. No need to crown him. He crowned himself a long time ago.”
That’s one of the dopest quotes I have ever read – period.
Good job on that one.
When you think of “king” in this day & age, you think of someone whom greatness is expected each time around, scrutiny is heavily upon, etc. Juve & Trick don’t fit that bill for whatever reason.
Gotty
————————-
Why would you expect greatness from T.I. when we have barely seen any from him?
T.I. has made some great music but to claim him King cus no one else is good enough to fit the bill dont fly. Why when talkin bout T.I. media attention, fame, street cred and things that really dont matter to this music are all of a sudden noteworthy. None of that gets brought up when talkin all time greats why change it for him. Face became who he is cus of his music, music is what makes you King. I can give a fuck what T.I does in the business, he should of never picked up a mic and you should of never pressed play if thats what you are caring about. Groups or not Andre and Bun, maybe Devin, are the only ones worth mentionin when talkin King shit. Musically, T.I. aint nowhere near bein worthy of any thrown, but I’m still a fan.
*scrolls down
ALL THE P$C TAPES?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
oh yeah. this album for TI = when Jay dropped Roc La Familia. EVERYBODY thought that album was a huge let down at first because he had just came down from an album that had huge crossover success and he was the head figure of hip hop at the time. also, a lot of niggas was like on some shit where they wasnt fuckin with jay no more. but then shit like 1800 hustler and soon you’ll understand couldnt be denied. in the beginig the album didnt live up to what everbody thought it would be, but with time, things started to come to light that while the album wasnt as good as his past few albums, its a critical part of his catalog of music. some how, it was THAT album. then eventually the crushing classic BLUEPRINT dropped and after all of the talk, it was official. Jay WAS THE KING! with that, i see the same turn of events happening with TI. right now, everybody doesnt like the album and personally, people dont even like him as a man right now as they stoned jay. but once the album starts to sink in, and time goes by, the nigga will eventually be the king of the south without any questions asked….
“…people dont even like him as a man right now as they stoned jay.”
Generally speaking…
T.I. is THE rapper right now. Everybody loves T.I. (dudes and ESPECIALLY the women… of EVERY race). He’s 2007′s equivalent of Jay in the Vol. 2 era (i.e. he’s a black man making real black music that is for a small frame of time, openly accepted by a ‘crossover’ audience… i.e. white people, without having to “water down” his ways – talk, slang, music, etc – he brought them to him and not the other way around).
“while the album wasnt as good as his past few albums, its a critical part of his catalog of music.”
I disagree.
Jay is my favorite rapper [alive] and has been since Pac passed. I have purchased every single one of his albums since Reasonable Doubt, and that (The Dynasty) is the one album I listen to the least. Even as a true admirer of his work, you could toss out The Dynasty Roc La Familia, and I would be okay with it.
E Mass pretty much nailed it right here. I like T.i. I’ve been a fan every since I had a copy of N.E.R.D.’s “In Search Of…” mysteriously with “I’m Serious” at the end. But I think the persona and image he’s worked so hard (and every accolade he gets in deserving) to create to allow him to be billed as a superstar has let the music take a back seat. He’s by no means wack but the mixed feelings from all you guys on every album after “Trap Muzik” shows that there’s a fair amount of coasting going on. I remember him saying that he talked to Outkast, Face, and UGK before he started his King Campaign to let them know the angle he’s gonna play to give himself notoriety. And it worked. It’s his angle that he played and the image he gave us just as the same as every rapper U know. They’re known for something. But I admit I get a little irked when I hear he actually labeled as the best or his albums being the best cuz they’re not and that’s a fact.
I gotta comment on “The Dynasty”. I always tell people “The Dynasty”, Scarface’s “The Last Of Dying Breed”, and now Common’s BE are the reason the 4.5 Mic rating was created. Perfect albums, missing something every soooo slightly but who gives a shit cuz they stay in your players…
TI was and won’t be a king, ever. A King is crowned, never self declared. Thats like Saigon saying “My album is better than Illmatic” – even if it is, it is not up to the artist to say it. OTHERS say it.
Unfortunately, as the current crowd just fell into TI’s marketing silliness, he said it and everybody was “yeah it’s true, TI the king of the South”…nigga please.
I remember seeing him live once (pretty good show) and he had a corny monologue – “Why am I the king of the South? Because I say so!”
If that is valid to you, you are dumb.
The other thing, Kings don’t buy silencers in supermarket parking lots on their way TO AN AWARDS SHOW.
Only MORONS do that.
But thanks for the links, I’m sure there will be some cool songs in there. The early ones I prefer, his last album was complete garbage.
Can somebody repost the best of t.i. bankhead ambassador mixtape or send me the link? I need that mix!