This Week On Billboard: T.I. - Whatever You Like
This Week On Billboard is where I unabashedly critique the current no. 1 hit on Billboard.com, the major yardstick for what's "hot" in music today. In order to simplify the review for those who don't want to read the whole article, each song is given a "!" rating, in which the finest grabs five of them.
Weeks in No. 1: 1
Weeks in Chart: 3
From the upcoming Paper Trail LP
!!!
The rap planet may be owned by Lil' Wayne as of this moment, and Kanye's still as ubiquitous as ants are in my crumb-ridden house; but, right now, there's not a voice in hip-hop as sericious as T.I.'s. The Atlanta-native's verses doesn't need to be swift nor witty nor hilarious in order for it to achieve greatness; but whenever he opens his mouth, the track is guaranteed to exude coolness and nonchalance. T.I., for a few years now, is uncontested as rap's royalty.
However, his sing-songy performance in his latest hit, "Whatever You Like", didn't possess as much of his trademark swagger as his past singles did. It's not like he didn't have a comfortable beat to lay his vocals onto. Producer Jim Jonsin has victoriously interlaced T.I.'s 2006 smash "What You Know" and the drum pattern and synth tones from his project for Lil' Wayne, "Lollipop". Yet, something's missing. "Whatever You Like's" effectiveness may have been enormously increased if the song is lowered a few pitches, just so that T.I. operates in this baritone iciness we are accustomed to.
Sure, when he promises his audience limitless "stacks on deck" and "patrons on ice", they believe him only because he has delivered before. But if T.I. doesn't already have this reputation as a velvety paramour, "Whatever You Like" wouldn't have hooked them immediately.
Weeks in No. 1: 1Weeks in Chart: 3
From the upcoming Paper Trail LP
!!!
The rap planet may be owned by Lil' Wayne as of this moment, and Kanye's still as ubiquitous as ants are in my crumb-ridden house; but, right now, there's not a voice in hip-hop as sericious as T.I.'s. The Atlanta-native's verses doesn't need to be swift nor witty nor hilarious in order for it to achieve greatness; but whenever he opens his mouth, the track is guaranteed to exude coolness and nonchalance. T.I., for a few years now, is uncontested as rap's royalty.
However, his sing-songy performance in his latest hit, "Whatever You Like", didn't possess as much of his trademark swagger as his past singles did. It's not like he didn't have a comfortable beat to lay his vocals onto. Producer Jim Jonsin has victoriously interlaced T.I.'s 2006 smash "What You Know" and the drum pattern and synth tones from his project for Lil' Wayne, "Lollipop". Yet, something's missing. "Whatever You Like's" effectiveness may have been enormously increased if the song is lowered a few pitches, just so that T.I. operates in this baritone iciness we are accustomed to.
Sure, when he promises his audience limitless "stacks on deck" and "patrons on ice", they believe him only because he has delivered before. But if T.I. doesn't already have this reputation as a velvety paramour, "Whatever You Like" wouldn't have hooked them immediately.
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