Trap Muzik

Trap Muzik is the second studio album by the American rapper T.I., released on August 19, 2003, by Atlantic Records and his newly founded record label Grand Hustle Records. Due to the poor sales on T.I.'s first album, I'm Serious (2001), T.I. asked for a joint venture deal with Arista Records or to be released from his contract; he was subsequently dropped from the label.[1][2] In 2003, T.I. launched Grand Hustle Records with his longtime business partner Jason Geter and signed a new deal with Atlantic Records.[3][2]

Trap Muzik
Studio album by
T.I.
ReleasedAugust 19, 2003 (2003-08-19)
RecordedDecember 2002 – July 2003
Genre
Length67:30
Label
Producer
T.I. chronology
I'm Serious
(2001)		 Trap Muzik
(2003)		 Urban Legend
(2004)
Singles from Trap Muzik
  1. "24's"
    Released: April 15, 2003
  2. "Be Easy"
    Released: October 7, 2003
  3. "Rubber Band Man"
    Released: December 30, 2003
  4. "Let's Get Away"
    Released: June 29, 2004

The album spawned the hit singles "24's", "Be Easy", "Rubber Band Man", and "Let's Get Away". The album features guest appearances from 8Ball & MJG, Jazze Pha, Bun B and Mac Boney. With T.I.'s longtime record producer DJ Toomp as an executive producer for this album. Trap Muzik debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 110,000 copies in the first week.[4] The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[5]

Upon its release, Trap Muzik received generally favorable reviews from most music critics, who generally regarded it as a major improvement from I'm Serious. In 2012, Complex named the album one of the classic albums of the last decade.[6]

Background

Due to the poor commercial reception of his debut album I'm Serious (2001), T.I. asked for a joint venture deal with Arista Records or to be released from his contract; he was subsequently dropped from the label.[1][2] He then formed his own record label,[7] Grand Hustle Records, with his longtime business partner Jason Geter, and began releasing mixtapes with the assistance of one of his disc jockeys, DJ Drama.[3] T.I.'s mixtapes eventually earned attention from record labels such as Warner Bros. Records, Universal Records, Epic Records, and Columbia Records. T.I. ultimately signed a joint venture deal with Atlantic Records that year.[2][8]

Music

Context

In an interview with Stereogum, he explained that "It's called trap music, so you know it's gonna be dealing with all aspects of the trap. And if you don't know what the trap is, that's basically where drugs are sold. In this country, the majority of us live in a neighborhood where drugs are sold, whether we like it or not. Whether you in the trap selling dope, whether you in the trap buying dope, whether you in the trap trying to get out - whatever the case may be, I'm trying to deal with all aspects of that lifestyle."[9] Speaking on the album, T.I. explained, "It's informative for people who don't know nothing about that side of life and wonder why somebody they know that live on that side of life act the way they do or do the things they do. So it's informative for them and maybe it can help them deal with these people, help them relate to these people, help them understand, help them to see their point of view a little better".[9][10]

T.I. also said that his second album showed a different insight to the first. "It's another outlook on the trap. Before, trappin' was cool, but now trappin' ain't cool. It's necessary for some, but no, it ain't cool - even if you a hustler. All the hustlers I know - sellin' dope is the last thing they wanna do. If you a real hustler, you gon' move on to bigger and better things."[10]

Production

Producers for the album include DJ Toomp, Benny "Dada" Tillman, Carlos "Los Vegas" Thornton, David Banner, Jazze Pha, Kanye West, Nick Fury, San "Chez" Holmes and Ryan "LiquidSound" Katz.[11]

Release and promotion

Singles

"24's" was the first official single to be released from Trap Muzik. It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 78, it charted at number 27 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number 15 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.[12] "Be Easy" was the second official single from the album, peaking at number 55 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[13] The single was produced by DJ Toomp.

"Rubber Band Man" was the third official single. It charted reasonably well, peaking at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[14] It charted at number 15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number 11 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.[13] David Banner's production was noted by music reviewers,[15][16] particularly the ascending organ riff that has been described as "hypnotic" and "pure halftime show".[17] The song is included in the hits collections Totally Hits 2004,[18] Crunk Hits Volume 1,[19] and Hip Hop Hits Volume 9.[20] T.I. says the song's title is a reference to his habit of wearing rubber bands around his wrist, a habit that dates back to when he was a drug dealer.[21] Publicity efforts for the single were derailed by T.I.'s arrest in August 2003.[22]

"Let's Get Away" was the fourth and final official single from the album. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 35, it charted at number 17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, at number ten on the Hot Rap Songs chart, and at number 16 on the Rhythmic Top 40.[13]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[23]
HipHopDX3.0/5[24]
Pitchfork8.7/10[25]
Rolling Stone[26]
Vibe3.5/5[27]

Trap Muzik was well received. The AllMusic editor, Andy Kellman, wrote that with Trap Muzik, the "promise T.I. showed on his flawed debut is almost fully realized".[23] Vibe's Damien Lemon found that the album's best tracks showcase T.I. rapping unaccompanied, citing "Be Easy" and "T.I. vs. T.I.P." as highlights.[27] Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone described T.I. as "a hustler with a conscience and a heart" and a "limber linguist... at his best when he's dissecting the minutiae of the game."[26] Raymond Fiore of Entertainment Weekly was more critical, finding his flow and lyrics to be ordinary except on tracks where he "breaks from his static Southern comfort zone".[28]

In 2010, Rhapsody included Trap Muzik in its guide to "coke rap" albums.[29]

Commercial performance

Trap Muzik was a commercial success. It debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 110,000 copies on its first week.[30] On June 1, 2007, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for sales of over a million copies in the United States.[31] To date, the album has sold 1,070,000 copies in the United States.

Track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Trap Muzik" (featuring Mac Boney)Clifford Harris, Jr., San "Chez" Holmes, DJ Toomp4:00
2."I Can't Quit"Benny "Dada" Tillman, Carlos "Los Vegas" Thornton4:17
3."Be Easy"DJ Toomp3:18
4."No More Talk"San "Chez" Holmes3:53
5."Doin' My Job"Kanye West4:13
6."Let's Get Away" (featuring Jazze Pha)Jazze Pha4:37
7."24's"DJ Toomp4:42
8."Rubber Band Man"David Banner5:47
9."Look What I Got"DJ Toomp3:05
10."I Still Luv You"Nick Fury4:58
11."Let Me Tell You Something"Kanye West3:40
12."T.I. vs. T.I.P."Clifford Harris, Jr.3:52
13."Bezzle" (featuring 8Ball & MJG & Bun B)DJ Toomp4:54
14."Kingofdasouth"Ryan "LiquidSound" Katz5:00
15."Be Better Than Me"San "Chez" Holmes5:00
16."Long Live da Game"San "Chez" Holmes2:14
Bonus track
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
17."Rubber Band Man" (Remix) (featuring Twista, Trick Daddy & Mack 10)David Banner4:32
Notes
  • "Be Easy" contains a samples of "Somebody To Love" by Al Wilson[?]
  • "No More Talk" contains a samples of "Can't Find The Judge" by Gary Wright
  • "Doin' My Job" contains a samples of "I'm Just Doin My Job" by Bloodstone
  • "Let's Get Away" contains a samples of "Day Dreaming" by Aretha Franklin
  • "I Still Luv You" contains a samples of "She Only A Woman" by The O'Jays
  • "Let Me Tell You Something" contains a samples of "I Want to Be Your Man" by Zapp & Roger

Personnel

Credits for Trap Muzik adapted from Allmusic.[11]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[38] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Ogunnaike, Lola (2006-04-12). "The Enterprising Rapper T. I. Looks Beyond Hip-Hop". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  2. "T.I.: Biography". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  3. Soren Baker (May 12, 2005). "Taking the street route back". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  4. Hasty, Katie. "T.I. Rules As 'King' of Album Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  5. Barnes, Ken. "June's RIAA awards: The shipments vs. the sales". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 7, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  6. "T.I., Trap Muzik (2016) — 25 Rap Albums From the Past Decade That Deserve Classic Status". Complex. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  7. Artist Details: T.I. Archived 2007-12-13 at the Wayback Machine Accessed December 22, 2007.
  8. Ogunnaike, Lola (2006-04-12). "The Enterprising Rapper T. I. Looks Beyond Hip-Hop". The New York Times. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  9. Patel, Puja (August 6, 2012). "From T.I. To TNGHT: A Look At Trap Rave". Stereogum.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015.
  10. "T.I. TRAP MUZIK - PROMOTIONAL FEATURE - RAPINDUSTRY.COM". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
  11. Credits: Trap Muzik. Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
  12. ""24's" > Charts & Awards> Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  13. T.I., Allmusic. Retrieved August 4, 2008
  14. "Artist Chart History – T.I." Billboard. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  15. Rollie Pemberton (2004). "T.I.: "Rubber Band Man" [Track Review]". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  16. Andy Kellman (2004). "Ruberband Man review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
  17. Dominic Umile (2003). "T.I. Trap Muzik". Prefix. Archived from the original on 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
    - Jonah Weiner (2004). "Various Artists: Fat Joe, Fabolous, T.I., Juvenile, Trick Daddy". Blender. Archived from the original on 2007-04-09. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  18. "Totally hits 2004, Volume 1". Amazon. Archived from the original on 2007-04-28. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  19. "Crunk Hits". Amazon. Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  20. "Various Artists Source Presents Hip Hop Hits Vol. 9 CD". CD Universe. 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  21. Nooreen Kara. "T.I." The Situation. Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  22. Joseph Patel (2004). "'Rubber Band Man' Rapper T.I. Gets Three Years In Prison". MTV. Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
  23. Kellman, Andy. "Trap Muzik – T.I." AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  24. Tindal, K. B. (October 10, 2003). "T.I. – Trap Muzik". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  25. Kearse, Stephen (September 9, 2018). "T.I.: Trap Muzik". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  26. Caramanica, Jon (February 19, 2004). "T.I.: Trap Muzik". Rolling Stone: 67.
  27. Lemon, Damien (October 2003). "T.I.: Trap Muzik". Vibe. 11 (10): 182. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  28. Fiore, Raymond (August 22, 2003). "Trap Muzik". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  29. Reeves, Mosi (July 20, 2010). "The As, Bs and Kilos of Coke Rap". Rhapsody. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  30. Hasty, Katie. "T.I. Rules As 'King' Of Album Chart". Archived from the original on 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  31. "RIAA Certifications - T.I." RIAA. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  32. "T.I. Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  33. "T.I. Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  34. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  35. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  36. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  37. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  38. "American album certifications – T.I. – Trap Muzik". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 


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