This week, Billboard is publishing a series of lists and articles celebrating the music of 20 years ago. Our 2006 Week continues here with the MC whose dominant 2006 run defined the year in rap: T.I., who topped the Billboard 200 with his King album, had smash hits with Justin Timberlake, Young Dro and on his own, and even invaded the multiplexes in ATL.
T.I. keeps coming back to a fitting Jean-Michel Basquiat quote: “Art is how you decorate space, music is how you decorate time.”
The trap pioneer doesn’t reflect on his Hall-of-Fame career often, but he’s looking back with Billboard on the 20th anniversary of his massive 2006 King album during a mid-March trip to NYC’s famed Quad Studios in the heart of Times Square.
With an immovable chip the size of State Farm Arena on his shoulder, Tip delivered on his King of the South proclamations with King, which toppled the Billboard 200 with 522,000 first-week units earned upon its March 28, 2006 arrival and notched his first solo top-five hit with the cinematic Grammy-winning single “What You Know” (No. 3 peak).
Long nights in the studio were followed by longer days on set. T.I. made his feature film debut in ATL, which hit theaters just a few days after King was released.
Tip proved himself in a lead role on the silver screen while serving up Atlanta culture to the masses, and the coming-of-age comedy-drama also introduced the world to Lauren London, who played T.I.’s love interest, New New, in the movie.
“It doesn’t take long to see how much of a serious artist she is,” Tip gushes of London. “She’s a perfectionist and she just has the stuff. She’s very driven. She knows what she wants and how she wants herself to be presented.”
T.I. continued his ’06 pop-culture dominance with a crossover assist on Justin Timberlake’s techno ballad “My Love,” which marked Tip’s first collaboration with JT and Timbaland behind the boards. “He had a lot of soul for a white guy,” he quips of Timberlake.
“My Love” reached the Billboard Hot 100 summit in November 2006 and held the top slot on the elusive chart for three weeks, giving T.I. his first No. 1 hit.
Rocking a snakeskin jacket and an Atlanta Braves fitted cap with the signature T.I. tilt seen on the King cover art, take a trip down memory lane with Tip talking all things King, ATL, leaving the drug game behind and the tragic loss of his close friend, Philant Johnson.
When you hear 2006 and look back at your career, how do you feel about it?
When I think about 2006, I think that it’s crazy that it’s 20 years ago. It’s wild to think that so much has happened in what feels like such a short period of time.
When you were going into King, did you feel like you had to deliver and prove you were the king of the South?
Well, first of all, the album King is widely assumed to be about me — King of the South — but it’s actually named after my son, King, right after he was born. I still felt like I needed to deliver.
You kicked off the year with The Leak with DJ Drama. Was there a bunch of your music leaking?
The songs leaked and so we decided to get ahead of it and put the songs that leaked, along with a few others from the project out. It seemed like it worked.
What do you remember about the recording process for King? What was inspiring you at the time?
One thing I can recall more than anything was recording after getting off the set from ATL. Having long skate practice days and long days on set shooting and then having to go record.
Was it important to prove yourself in Hollywood and prove you could do music and film at the same time?
I’ve never been real keen on proving myself. I don’t really need validation from humans. My blessings come from God. I say I’m the s–t because all it takes is me and God to say I am. Anyone who disagrees is the ones out the loop.
So that was something you wanted to accomplish yourself?
I really wanted to impress myself. I want to make my children and my family proud. I want to create opportunities for the people around me. Everything else is just noise.
Were you trying to give people a certain interpretation of Atlanta, and how life was at that point?
We were painting a picture. We were displaying our culture for the world to see and that was the first film that was shot in Atlanta and for Atlanta probably since [1975 crime comdy] Let’s Do It Again. That was the first time since then that Atlanta has been presented and showcased to the world.
I think ATL was the first time I found out who Lauren London was. Did you know her before that?
I didn’t, she just got cast as New New. I didn’t know who she was. She’s just a cool girl, very respectable and no nonsense. She’s very positive. We clicked immediately.
Did having a successful film open doors for you and give you access to other opportunities?
It opened doors, especially in film. I think ATL opened the door for me to have the opportunity to do American Gangster.
How did you assemble such a star-studded group of producers? You had Manny Fresh, Just Blaze, Swizz Beatz, Toomp and even Travis Barker on King. I don’t think many rappers from the South were getting Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz on their albums.
These were just relationships I had nurtured over time. Any time I work with somebody, it’s as simple as picking up the phone and asking them, “Let’s get in.” Most times, they oblige. It’s a blessing to be able to have such worthwhile relationships.
Last time I interviewed you, you said you knew “What You Know” was a hit in the studio right when you recorded it. What do you remember about that time?
I did. I just remember as soon as the beat played, I immediately recalled the words coming to me and I knew what to do. I just went right in and that’s a good sign.
“What You Know” entered the Hot 100 at No. 3 for your first solo top-five hit. Did the charts mean anything to you back then?
I can’t say I felt that way then, but this is how I feel now. I didn’t really pay attention to it until it hit No. 1. If the song ain’t No. 1, I’ll hear about it — and then it will be in one ear and out the other — but once it gets to No. 1, that’s when I’m paying attention to it.
I read you recorded over 70 tracks for King. What do you recall about that process of whittling it down to less than 20?
I just know that the sequencing process is always rigorous. It’s always something that takes time. I always have a much longer list than everyone else. Another thing is, I always feel that more songs lead to a more impressive album. Most people feel the exact opposite.
Yeah, if I can get those really good 12 to 14 songs and every single one takes me on that journey.
What if you can get 20 to take you on that journey? I think 20 is cool.
Listening back, I feel like [rap] music had a slower pace and songs had three verses and nowadays the game is so different.
We’ve been conditioned and indoctrinated with a cyber-sense of how to consume music.
What do you remember about recording “I’m Talking to You?” I thought that was a unique way to construct a diss track.
It wasn’t a diss track. I was probably just trolling. If you could cast a wide net on a diss track and kinda talk to everyone that’s talking about you.
That’s why I thought it was unique, you’re not mentioning the names of the people you’re negatively talking about.
I was tweaking back then. It was fun. I think people had a lot of fun with who I was talking about. I was really just trying to create conversation. Mission accomplished.
How’d it feel to earn your first No. 1 album and move over 500,000 [units] first week?
I felt phenomenal about it. It was a surreal moment [for me].
Did you feel like you were at the peak of your powers?
I did, until I found there was a new peak. Right now [is my peak]. Right now, for me to go away and take a hiatus for so long and re-establish myself the way [I’ve] done, that to me feels special.
I was reading Jeezy’s book last year and he recalled an important conversation where you told him, “You can’t do the street s–t and the rap s–t.” He thought you were tricking him. Do you remember that?
The conversation did happen. I made a conscious decision to step away from the streets as soon as I knew I had an opportunity to do the rap s–t for real. This was right when I was getting signed before the first album. I went to L.A. with Outkast, Goodie Mob, Dungeon Family, Cool Breeze and YoungBloodz and that was my first time in L.A., and my first trip in the professional music business. When I came home, I gave the rest of my dope away. I gave it to my partners, “I don’t want to do it anymore.”
Did people think you were crazy to make that kind of play? How did you deal with that?
I ignored them. Your vision is your vision for a reason. When God calls on you for your purpose, it’s not a conference call. It’s you and him. I can’t wait on nobody else to have a positive opinion of my decision before I make my move. I had to do what I know in my heart that I’m supposed to be doing.
How was linking up with Justin Timberlake for “My Love?” That was your first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100.
They just sent me the song and I immediately loved it. It might have been my first time doing something with Timbaland. So it was just a blessing to be part of such an incredible collaboration. It was very dope to see.
Were you a fan of JT?
I really had a lot of love and respect for what he contributed to the game. I thought he was a dope artist in his time.
“Shoulder Lean” with Young Dro was another top 10 hit on the Hot 100 for you that year.
“Shoulder Lean” was a song I wrote for Dro to do the hook and he kept me on the hook. When I went in there and did it, I expected him to go in and redo it, but he never did it.
What do you remember about the Grammys that next year, when you won your first two?
Not [much] really. I remember winning before the show started. So the rest of the night was just a blur. I wanted [to win] the best rap album because that was an on-camera moment. It went to Ludacris [for Release Therapy]. But for King to mean so much to so many and resonate is incredible.
Also, later in that year, we lost your close friend Big Phil [Philant Johnson]. How was going from the highest of highs with your biggest album to having to deal with that tragedy personally?
It sucked, but those are the cards. Play the hand. Big Phil’s daughter just became a doctor. We supported her through college and medical school.
Do you see a throughline from King to what’s set to be your last album, Kill the King?
I think they’re both heavy on the self-affirmations. In my conversation, I maintain an extreme level of humility. In my songs, I do not. The glory should go to God; I’m just a vessel. It’s his show and I’m just acting in it. At the same time, can’t nobody f–k with me.
Sum up your 2006 in one word.
Diverse.
from Billboard https://ift.tt/RBxkGYC
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