By shelz.

Years ago, some of the best and brightest of Southern Hip-Hop (depending on your taste) were quibbling over who really possessed the dirty’s crown jewels.  Plenty of folks tossed their hats in the ring, just to subsequently get knocked down in the rap round robin tourney that it turned into. When the dust cleared though, there were only two men still standing, T.I. and Ludacris.

With careers that ran remarkably parallel, the pair probably had the only two names that deserved mention in that whole Kang of the South banter in the first place. (Shawty Lo and Lil Flip? Ummm. No. Scarface and Bun B respectfully declined to participate.) The competition between the two produced a few issues along the way that have since been squashed.  It also produced two of the best albums of the rappers’ career, Release Therapy and King. But which one is better?

Yes, I know plenty of people do not believe Release Therapy is the best of Luda ’s work.  It was a stark, and for a few, unwelcome diversion from Luda ’s chock full of party and bullshit releases that we were used to.  While the album did maintain that approach on a few cuts like the Neptune ’s produced “Money Maker” and “Girls Gone Wild.” Luda widened his scope of practice to include darker, deeper presentations. 

“Runaway Love” was one of Luda ’s first attempts at serious societal observation.  His laid back and emotional delivery shed light on absentee parents, sexual abuse and senseless violence while giving flight to Mary J’s soaring voice over the perfectly layered Polow Tha Don track. “Grew Up a Screw Up” was the inevitable salute to the grind.  Luda and Jeezy laid out their lyrical paths to success over the DJ Nasty and LVM thump as the producers managed to weave in BIG’s sample so well it almost sounded like he was in the booth with them. The anger perceived in “War With God” wasn’t really new for Luda as we saw him get a little funky with Bill O’Reilly years back on Chicken N Beer. However, his crisp delivery and no nonsense approach to anyone and everyone who tossed a subliminal shot his way spent plenty of time under the microscope as folks tried to figure out who he was referring to.  According to Luda , if you felt a certain way about the lyrics, he was probably talking to you.

The production on the album was also a bit different than what Luda fans were used to.  The over the top and at times quirky and comical  foundations Luda tended to use were split by a more laid back thump and simpler construction to give his voice the spotlight as he offered his most personal lyrics to date. 

The album helped in laying out one awesome year for Mr. Bridges as Release Therapy took home a Grammy and Crash took home an Oscar.  However, T.I. was also having a stellar year and the foundation of his 2006 was arguably his best album to date, King.

Release Therapy

The album was an extension of T.I.’s leap into silver screen success, ATL. King wasn’t a true soundtrack.  However, the lead single from the LP, ‘What You Know,” was used by and promoted with the film. Menacing synths with perfect breaks punctuated by T.I.’s exasperated flow as he explains why you shouldn’t mess with him.  However, he still opens a door for peace which is something rarely heard of when such topics are on the table. It’s not scary.  It’s a matter of fact explanation of the Hip-Hop caste system which always found his opponents hovering around the area of the untouchables. 

The true brilliance of this album can’t be found in one particular song though.  It is within the sum of all its parts that you find the release’s greatness.  T.I. manages to go from the slow pull of a Southern drawl to Mid-West double time with the succinctness of a technician.  He employs a diverse list of characters from UGK on “Front Back” to Common and Pharrell on “Goodlife” and never butts stylistic heads with his features. In addition, he was able to put down some seriously insightful and thoughtful lyrics without sounding like he is too in touch with his feminine side.     

The production is just as eclectic as T.I. spits over bottom heavy bass just as effectively as he tackles tracks that flirt with Caribbean , club and gospel sounds.  King simply is one of the rare albums that can hand you almost everything but the kitchen sink and still remain a cohesive project.  It’s no small task and should be applauded.

TI-King (2006)

So there you have it.  In one corner you have the King of the trap who manages to maintain street cred without sounding insincere and also manages put his heart in his lyrics without sounding like a punk.  In the other corner you have a party and punchline machine who manages to take his listeners deeper without erasing the huge personality that they had learned to know and love.  But you have to pick one, so get to it.  King or Release Therapy?  You be the judge.

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