Trap Muzik

Trap Muzik is the second studio album by the American rapper T.I., released on August 19, 2003, by Atlantic and his newly founded record label Grand Hustle. Due to the poor sales on T.I.'s first album, I'm Serious (2001), T.I. asked for a joint venture deal with Arista Records or to be released from his contract; he was subsequently dropped from the label.^[1][2] In 2002, T.I. launched Grand Hustle with his longtime business partner Jason Geter and signed a new deal with Atlantic Records.^[3][2]

Trap Muzik
Studio album by T.I.
Released	August 19, 2003 (2003-08-19)
Recorded	2002–2003
Genre	Southern hip hop gangsta rap trap
Length	67:30
Label	Atlantic Grand Hustle
Producer	Clifford "T.I." Harris (also exec.) Jason Geter (exec.) DJ Toomp (also exec.) Benny "Dada" Tillman Carlos "Los Vegas" Thornton David Banner Jazze Pha Kanye West Nick "Fury" Loftin San "Chez" Holmes
T.I. chronology
I'm Serious (2001) Trap Muzik (2003) Urban Legend (2004)
Singles from Trap Muzik
"24's" Released: April 29, 2003 "Be Easy" Released: October 7, 2003 "Rubber Band Man" Released: December 30, 2003 "Let's Get Away" Released: June 29, 2004

The album spawned the hit singles "24's", "Be Easy", "Rubber Band Man", and "Let's Get Away". The album features guest appearances from 8Ball & MJG, Jazze Pha, Bun B and Mac Boney. With T.I.'s longtime record producer DJ Toomp as an executive producer for this album. Trap Muzik debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 110,000 copies in the first week.^[4] The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[5]

Upon its release, Trap Muzik received generally favorable reviews from most music critics, who generally regarded it as a major improvement from I'm Serious. In 2012, Complex named the album one of the classic albums of the last decade.^[6]

Background

Due to the poor commercial reception of his debut album I'm Serious (2001), T.I. asked for a joint venture deal with Arista Records or to be released from his contract; he was subsequently dropped from Arista.^[1][2] He then formed his own record label,^[7] Grand Hustle Records, with his longtime business partner Jason Geter, and began releasing mixtapes with the assistance of one of his disc jockeys, DJ Drama.^[3] T.I.'s mixtapes eventually earned attention from record labels such as Warner Bros. Records, Universal Records, Epic Records, and Columbia Records. T.I. ultimately signed a joint venture deal with Atlantic Records that year.^[2][8]

Music

Context

In an interview with Stereogum, he explained that "It's called trap music, so you know it's gonna be dealing with all aspects of the trap. And if you don't know what the trap is, that's basically where drugs are sold. In this country, the majority of us live in a neighborhood where drugs are sold, whether we like it or not. Whether you in the trap selling dope, whether you in the trap buying dope, whether you in the trap trying to get out – whatever the case may be, I'm trying to deal with all aspects of that lifestyle."^[9] Speaking on the album, T.I. explained, "It's informative for people who don't know nothing about that side of life and wonder why somebody they know that live on that side of life act the way they do or do the things they do. So it's informative for them and maybe it can help them deal with these people, help them relate to these people, help them understand, help them to see their point of view a little better".^[9][10]

T.I. also said that his second album showed a different insight to the first. "It's another outlook on the trap. Before, trappin' was cool, but now trappin' ain't cool. It's necessary for some, but no, it ain't cool – even if you a hustler. All the hustlers I know – sellin' dope is the last thing they wanna do. If you a real hustler, you gon' move on to bigger and better things."^[10]

Production

Producers for the album include DJ Toomp, Benny "Dada" Tillman, Carlos "Los Vegas" Thornton, David Banner, Jazze Pha, Kanye West, Nick Fury, San "Chez" Holmes and Ryan "LiquidSound" Katz.^[11]

Release and promotion

Singles

"24's" was the first official single to be released from Trap Muzik. It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 78, it charted at number 27 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number 15 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.^[12] "Be Easy" was the second official single from the album, peaking at number 55 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[13] The single was produced by DJ Toomp.

"Rubber Band Man" was the third official single. It charted reasonably well, peaking at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[14] It charted at number 15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number 11 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.^[13] David Banner's production was noted by music reviewers,^[15][16] particularly the ascending organ riff that has been described as "hypnotic" and "pure halftime show".^[17] The song is included in the hits collections Totally Hits 2004,^[18] Crunk Hits Volume 1,^[19] and Hip Hop Hits Volume 9.^[20] T.I. says the song's title is a reference to his habit of wearing rubber bands around his wrist, a habit that dates back to when he was a drug dealer.^[21] Publicity efforts for the single were derailed by T.I.'s arrest in August 2003.^[22]

"Let's Get Away" was the fourth and final official single from the album. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 35, it charted at number 17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, at number ten on the Hot Rap Songs chart, and at number 16 on the Rhythmic Top 40.^[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[23]
Entertainment Weekly	B−^[24]
HipHopDX	3.0/5^[25]
Pitchfork	8.7/10^[26]
Rolling Stone	^[27]
The Source	^[28]
Vibe	3.5/5^[29]

Trap Muzik was well received. The AllMusic editor, Andy Kellman, wrote that with Trap Muzik, the "promise T.I. showed on his flawed debut is almost fully realized".^[23] Vibe's Damien Lemon found that the album's best tracks showcase T.I. rapping unaccompanied, citing "Be Easy" and "T.I. vs. T.I.P." as highlights.^[29] Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone described T.I. as "a hustler with a conscience and a heart" and a "limber linguist... at his best when he's dissecting the minutiae of the game."^[27] Raymond Fiore of Entertainment Weekly was more critical, finding his flow and lyrics to be ordinary except on tracks where he "breaks from his static Southern comfort zone".^[24]

In 2010, Rhapsody included Trap Muzik in its guide to "coke rap" albums.^[30]

Commercial performance

Trap Muzik was a commercial success. It debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 110,000 copies on its first week.^[31] On June 1, 2007, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for sales of over a million copies in the United States.^[32]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Trap Muzik" (featuring Mac Boney)	Clifford Harris Aldrin Davis Sanchez Holmes Nathaniel Josey	T.I.P. San "Chez" Holmes (co.) DJ Toomp (co.)	4:00
2.	"I Can't Quit"	Harris Benny Tillman Carlos Thornton	Benny "Dada" Tillman Carlos "Los Vegas" Thornton	4:17
3.	"Be Easy"	Harris Davis Gary St. Clair Timothy O'Brien	DJ Toomp	3:18
4.	"No More Talk"	Harris Holmes Gary Wright	San "Chez" Holmes	3:53
5.	"Doin' My Job"	Harris Kanye West Michael Smith	Kanye West	4:13
6.	"Let's Get Away" (featuring Jazze Pha)	Harris Phalon Alexander Aretha Franklin	Jazze Pha	4:37
7.	"24's"	Harris Davis	DJ Toomp	4:42
8.	"Rubber Band Man"	Harris Lavell Crump	David Banner	5:47
9.	"Look What I Got"	Harris Davis	DJ Toomp	3:05
10.	"I Still Luv You"	Harris Nick "Fury" Loftin Victor Carstarphen Gene McFadden John Whitehead	Nick Fury	4:58
11.	"Let Me Tell You Something"	Harris West Roger Troutman	Kanye West	3:40
12.	"T.I. vs. T.I.P."	Harris	T.I.P.	3:52
13.	"Bezzle" (featuring 8Ball & MJG & Bun B)	Harris Premro Smith Marlon Goodwin Bernard Freeman	DJ Toomp	4:54
14.	"Kingofdasouth"	Harris Holmes	San "Chez" Holmes	5:00
15.	"Be Better Than Me"	Harris Holmes	San "Chez" Holmes	5:00
16.	"Long Live da Game"	Harris Holmes	San "Chez" Holmes	2:14

Bonus track

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Rubber Band Man" (Remix) (featuring Twista, Trick Daddy & Mack 10)	David Banner	4:32

Sample credits^[33]

• "Be Easy" contains samples of "Somebody To Love", written by Gary St. Clair and Timothy O'Brien, and performed by Al Wilson.
• "No More Talk" contains samples of "Can't Find The Judge", written and performed by Gary Wright.
• "Doin' My Job" contains samples of "I'm Just Doing My Job", written by Michael Smith, and performed by Bloodstone.
• "Let's Get Away" contains samples of "Day Dreaming", written and performed by Aretha Franklin.
• "I Still Luv You" contains excerpts from "She Only A Woman", written by Victor Carstarphen, Gene McFadden, and John Whitehead, and performed by The O'Jays.
• "Let Me Tell You Something" contains excerpts from "I Want to Be Your Man", written by Roger Troutman.

Personnel

Credits for Trap Muzik adapted from Allmusic.^[11]

Bosko – talk box Leslie Brathwaite – mixing Mike Caren – A&R, editing Lavell Crump – producer Mike Davis – assistant engineer Christina Dittmar – art direction DJ Toomp – executive producer, producer Steve Fisher – engineer, mixing assistant Fury – producer Brian Gardner – mastering Jason Geter – executive producer, management Mark "Exit" Goodchild – engineer Vance Hornbuckle – assistant engineer Jazze Pha – producer, Vocals Kevin Knight – photography James Lopez – marketing Craig Love – guitar Mac Boney – performer

Manny Marraquin – mixing Chris Morris – artist co-ordination Benjamin Niles – art direction, design Charles Pettaway – bass guitar, guitar Dale Ramsey – mixing Dale "Rambro" Ramsey – mixing Daniel Romero – mixing T.I. – executive producer Guion Thomas – assistant engineer Ryan Katz – producer Carlos Thornton – producer Benny Tillman – producer Kanye West – producer Howard White – assistant engineer Cory Williams – engineer, mixing assistant Crystal Williams – mixing assistant Mike "Hitman" Wilson – engineer Michael Witwer – guitar

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003) Peak position US Billboard 200^[34] 4 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[35] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position US Billboard 200^[36] 195 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[37] 49 Chart (2004) Position US Billboard 200^[38] 153 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[39] 29

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[40]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Ogunnaike, Lola (April 12, 2006). "The Enterprising Rapper T. I. Looks Beyond Hip-Hop". The New York Times. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
2. . Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
3. Soren Baker (May 12, 2005). . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
4. Hasty, Katie. "T.I. Rules As 'King' of Album Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. from the original on January 12, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
5. Barnes, Ken. . USA Today. Archived from the original on September 7, 2007. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
6. "T.I., Trap Muzik (2016) — 25 Rap Albums From the Past Decade That Deserve Classic Status". Complex. from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
7. Artist Details: T.I. December 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Accessed December 22, 2007.
8. Ogunnaike, Lola (April 12, 2006). "The Enterprising Rapper T. I. Looks Beyond Hip-Hop". The New York Times. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
9. Patel, Puja (August 6, 2012). "From T.I. To TNGHT: A Look At Trap Rave". Stereogum.com. from the original on May 19, 2015.
10. . Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
11. Credits: Trap Muzik. Allmusic. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
12. ""24's" > Charts & Awards> Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
13. T.I., Allmusic. Retrieved August 4, 2008
14. "Artist Chart History – T.I." Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
15. Rollie Pemberton (2004). . Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 24, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
16. Andy Kellman (2004). "Ruberband Man review". Allmusic. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
17. Dominic Umile (2003). "T.I. Trap Muzik". Prefix. from the original on June 19, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
    - Jonah Weiner (2004). . Blender. Archived from the original on April 9, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
18. "Totally hits 2004, Volume 1". Amazon. from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
19. "Crunk Hits". Amazon. from the original on March 29, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
20. "Various Artists Source Presents Hip Hop Hits Vol. 9 CD". CD Universe. 2004. from the original on November 23, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
21. Nooreen Kara. The Situation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
22. Joseph Patel (2004). "'Rubber Band Man' Rapper T.I. Gets Three Years In Prison". MTV. from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
23. Kellman, Andy. "Trap Muzik – T.I." AllMusic. from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
24. Fiore, Raymond (August 22, 2003). . Entertainment Weekly. p. 133. Archived from the original on May 26, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
25. Tindal, K. B. (October 10, 2003). "T.I. – Trap Muzik". HipHopDX. from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
26. Kearse, Stephen (September 9, 2018). "T.I.: Trap Muzik". Pitchfork. from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
27. Caramanica, Jon (February 19, 2004). . Rolling Stone. No. 942. p. 67. Archived from the original on February 22, 2004. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
28. Harris, Michael "Ice-Blue" (October 2003). "Record Report: T.I. – Trap Muzik". The Source. No. 169.
29. Lemon, Damien (October 2003). . Vibe. Vol. 11, no. 10. p. 182. Archived from the original on November 29, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
30. Reeves, Mosi (July 20, 2010). . Rhapsody. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
31. Hasty, Katie. "T.I. Rules As 'King' Of Album Chart". from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
32. "RIAA Certifications – T.I." RIAA. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
33. Trap Muzik (booklet). Atlantic, Grand Hustle. 2003.
34. "T.I. Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
35. "T.I. Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
36. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
37. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
38. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
39. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
40. "American album certifications – T.I. – Trap Muzik". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Rebecca Haithcoat, "What the Hell Is Trap Music (and Why Is Dubstep Involved)?", Los Angeles Weekly, October 4, 2012
• Trap Muzik at Discogs
• The Making of T.I.'s "Trap Muzik"