Up until this point in hip hop, Southern hip hop was considered simply party music. T.I. was considered an underground rapper. Atlantic Records took a chance on T.I. They signed him and gave him space to start Grand Hustle Records. T.I. used his sophomore album, Trap Muzik, to prove them right on their bet.
In the summer of 2003, T.I. had a standout verse on Bone Crusher’s “Never Scared.” The momentum carried over into “24’s.” Released late in the summer of 2003, T.I. scored his first mainstream hit as a lead artist. It was dominating radio. Far from a one hit wonder, T.I. dropped the “Be Easy” single early in the fall of 2003.
Already with two moderate hits off the album, which had gone platinum by the end of the year, T.I. released the biggest hit off the album late in 2003. “Rubberband Man” dropped late in December 2003. It became T.I.’s staple single. He gave the world a break and his album was met with rave reviews.
Most thought T.I. was done after having three successful singles under his belt. In the midst of a prison sentence, T.I. dropped one more single, “Let’s Get Away” with Jazze Pha. The song did not release until the summer of 2004. It became a late summer smash that helped T.I. launch his next album. Now, it has been a decade since T.I. dropped Trap Muzik. Hip Hop Vibe took a little time out to reflect on the album.
What is pretty impressive is how T.I. pulled off three hits and a platinum album without a smooth single and a collaboration. Once his album was already established, he dropped “Let’s Get Away.”
