Trappin' some Southern

With slow beats and laid back rhymes, the South often gets criticized for the lack of quality lyricists. This is where T.I. throws up his dukes and presents his new album Trap Muzik. The 22-year-old Georgian prides himself with elaborate lyrics, while maintaining a heavy Southern style.\nThe flavor of the South is evident, but T.I. hasn't quite reached the point where all his lyrics stand out. His whining drawl on the chorus of the single "24's" reminds us what his primary concerns are ("Money, hoes, cars, and clothes/That's all, all my niggas know"). What eventually helps justify this sophomore album's persistent hype are lyrics sharp enough to puncture thug life nearly as often as celebrate it. "T.I. vs. T.I.P." is a revealing conversation with himself, while "Better Than Me" manages to advise against the hustler's life without sounding hypocritical. \nAs he further establishes his own style, T.I. will soon become a southern powerhouse with whom to contend. Set to a mode of crunk that oozes rather than bounces, and thick with guitar licks and soul samples, T.I.'s Trap Muzik eventually sucks you in.