Atlanta rookie T.I. wants to be taken seriously, but after listening to the first couple of tracks on his debut album, it's hard to do that. The young rapper is filled with so much bluster and confidence that it's hard to take him at face value. I'm Serious is, after all, his first album, and he has the audacity to call himself the king of the South. Despite all the bravado, T.I. still has plenty of lyrical ability and uses it to chronicle his ability to get women ("The Hotel") and to dump women ("I Can't Be Your Man"). He also shows a more sensitive side on the track "I Still Ain't Forgave Myself." Production-wise, I'm Serious doles out plenty of typical Southern-fried funk, with the Neptunes producing one of the best tracks on the album with "What's Yo Name," as well as the title track, "I'm Serious." Unfortunately, too many of the other tracks sound the same and a few are blatant rip-offs, namely "Do It," which is a note-for-note remake of Juvenile's hit "Back That Azz Up." T.I. claims to be the king of the South, but on I'm Serious he fails to show and prove. He does, however, have potential. If his talent ever matches his confidence, he may be headed for stardom.
CONDITION: USED LIKE NEW! PROMOTIONAL IMPRINT ON BACK COVER. MINOR RIP LOWER ON COVER.
TRACK LISTING
SIDE A
A1 Intro
A2 Still Ain't Forgave Myself
A3 Dope Boyz
A4 What Happened?
A5 You Ain't Hard
SIDE B
B1 Why I'm Serious (Interlude)
B2 I'm Serious Featuring – Beenie Man
B3 Do It
B4 What's Yo NameFeaturing – The Neptunes
SIDE C
C1 Hands Up
C2 Chooz U Featuring – Jazze Pha
C3 I Can't Be Your Man
C4 Hotel Featuring – Too Short
SIDE D
D1 At The Bar
D2 Heavy Chevys Featuring – P$C
D3 Grand Royal
D4 Outro
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