Apparently, T.I. doesn’t think anyone in the rap game is worthy competition. Well, nobody except…himself.

On his latest album, T.I. vs. T.I.P., the Atlanta rapper is in a constant struggle with his alter-ego. Here’s the basic personality outline: T.I. is the wealthy rapper; T.I.P. is the gun-toting thug. The album is broken into three acts - T.I.P. appears on Act I, T.I. raps on part two, and part three is sort of an argument between the two.

It’s certainly an interesting concept and while others have tried it, often without much success (Cassidy’s Split Personality), T.I. pulls it off magnificently.

Perhaps it works on this disc because there isn’t a huge difference among the various parts. This isn’t some crazy experiment in which the T.I., who dazzled on 2006’s King, tries to completely reinvent himself. If the songs were all mixed up and you had to divide them yourself (in other words, if you had to choose which songs were T.I.’s and which were T.I.P.’s), you’d probably make a couple mistakes.

That being said, Act I has more of a party feel. After opening the segment venting his frustrations with his record label, T.I.P. lets loose. On “You Know What It Is,” the act’s best track, he boasts, “Had the album of the year, n***a, Grammy or not.” The song is backed brilliantly by sirens and a plucky guitar produced by Wyclef Jean.

T.I.P. manages to keep pace with Busta Rhymes’ rapid-fire delivery on the quick-hitting, raucous “Hurt,” rapping, “You finna get hurt, merked, put ‘em in the dirt / Boy you betta catch me first.” There are many more drug and gun references in Act I than in the other acts, but hey, that’s what T.I.P.’s about.

Act II opens with T.I. being told of his outburst - which he doesn’t remember. He can’t recall speaking with Warner Music Group Chairman/CEO Lyor Cohen or making threats of any kind. “I got the album right here. Man, send this to him,” T.I. says, unaware of his alter-ego’s actions.

That leads to the act’s first song, “Help Is Coming.” Just Blaze’s production is epic - the uplifting organ accentuates T.I.’s message on the song: “I got the game on the lock, standin’ on top / Say hello to the man who can save hip hop.” T.I. mentions decreasing album sales several times, but doesn’t seem to care about the issue. As the track fades out he declares, “They say bootleggin’s up…I don’t notice.”

This is immediately followed by another stellar Wyclef production. ‘Clef provides sputtering drums and choppy synths as T.I. describes his journeys around the world (”My Swag”). It’s got a smooth, laidback vibe unlike anything T.I.’s done in the past.

T.I. offers a couple joints for the ladies but the album hits a little snag with weak guest spots from Nelly and Eminem, with the latter collaboration coming off as awkward.

Then comes Act III, where it all gets a little confusing. T.I.P. reappears to confront T.I. They argue with each other - T.I.P. blasts T.I. for becoming too Hollywood and T.I. claims T.I.P. would always be in jail if it weren’t for his guidance.

They seem to settle their differences though, and come together on the album’s final three songs. It’s like two protagonists in a movie meeting on screen for the final scene, and the result is brilliant. The “duo” points out the fake rappers in the industry on “Tell ‘Em I Said That.” A lot of rappers have made this claim, but the way T.I./T.I.P. angrily delivers it, you actually believe him.

So, in the battle between alpha males, who wins? Well, let’s call it a draw. Or, better yet, (as the quality of Act III proves) the music might be best when the two personalities are cooperating.

by Andrew Kahn

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