Ludacris & T.I. - “I Wish You Would”

Produced By Toomp, “Wsh You Would” is taken from Luda’s Theater of the Mind, due in September. I remember when these two used to diss each other on songs. Now they jock each other on songs.

[Props to Enigmatik]

Here’s T.I.’s Paper Trail cover art in all its computerized glory. Sure, it’s been out there for some days now, but in line with my policy of not throwing up anything that could be remotely fake (at least not intentionally) I waited to verify it. So, go ahead and make it your new wallpaper if you want to.

Paper Trail has a new release date, by the way. It will now drop on September 9th, 2008.

in the pic: T.I. and some random lady

T.I. and Tiny welcomed another baby to the fold.

The hit-making hip-hopster and girlfriend Tameka “Tiny” Cottle (formerly of the R&B vocal group Xscape) welcomed their second son together at the stroke of midnight this morning.

“God has blessed us with another miracle,” T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, told People. [via: E!]

Major Harris made a grand entrance weighing in at 5 pounds, 15 ounces.

Led by the Danjahandz-produced buzz single “No Matter What,”
Paper Trail is officially slated for release on August, 12, 2008.

[Thanks, Brian D.]

T.I. - “No Matter What”

I love it when artists seize an opportunity to turn personal turmoil into a banger. Tip has always flourished in this area, and “No Matter What” (a buzz cut from Paper Trail) is no exception. I do find it interesting that he noticed this, “They couldn’t wait to say ‘Good night, shawty,’ so they can try to rhyme, act, and look like shawty. Go get a beat from Toomp and make a hook like shawty.” Ha!

Update:
TRU reader Arthur KR just sent me this: “Know Matter About What”

Coming next Tuesday on a blog near you…

Apparently, the T.I. track that’s been circulating on the net is an older joint.

I knew there was something fishy about that song.

[Shout out to Brian @ Atlantic for the audio]

Tip and his family on Easter

Looks like T.I.’s lawyers are sketching out a plea deal that will limit his bid to 1 year.

From the Associated Press:

Rapper T.I. was expected to plead guilty Thursday to federal weapons charges and will face prison time, according to two people familiar with his case.

The 27-year-old singer, whose real name is Clifford Harris, was expected to be sentenced to 1,500 hours of community service talking to youth groups around the country, followed by about 12 months in prison, according to two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plea deal had not been finalized yet Thursday morning.

If this goes through, those lawyers definitely deserve a raise and some hookers.

Update:
Tip is expected to enter the plea at 1:30 p.m. Quick, get those “Free T.I.” t-shirts ready.

“Paper Trail’s on the way. We bout 30% into it, and everythang’s going great…”

Live and direct from House Arrest Avenue.