T.I.’s groundbreaking second album, “Trap Muzik,” celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. To commemorate this milestone, Insider interviewed T.I., DJ Toomp, and Jermaine Dupri about the album’s impact and lasting legacy. “Having the ability to create a lasting phrase in hip-hop is truly remarkable,” Dupri remarked. Now, let’s delve into the story behind this influential album.
Great albums don’t always come from fancy music studios. For example, 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” was largely recorded in a basement in New York. Similarly, Bon Iver’s “For Emma, Forever Ago” was recorded in a Wisconsin hunting cabin. In the case of “Trap Muzik,” T.I. transformed the back of an Atlanta beauty salon into his creative canvas. T.I. revealed, “It was an old storage room that she rented out to us after hours.”
Despite these humble beginnings, “Trap Muzik” catapulted T.I. to commercial success upon its release on August 19, 2003. More significantly, the album pioneered the genre of trap music as we know it today. While previous rappers briefly touched on the subject of the “trap” – a house where drugs are sold – T.I. was the first to dedicate an entire album to exploring this topic. His debut album, “I’m Serious,” had not achieved the commercial success he desired, which he attributes to minimal support from his record label and a lack of cohesion. Determined to make a breakthrough, T.I. delivered an honest and comprehensive depiction of trap life in “Trap Muzik’s” 16 tracks. The album covered various aspects of his experiences, ranging from his pursuit of love in “Let Me Tell You Something” to dealing with disapproving neighbors in “Doin’ My Job.”
“We wanted to ensure that the album authentically represented the lifestyle and culture we were immersed in,” T.I. explained. “We aimed to capture the essence of those street conversations filled with war stories and conspiracy theories, making it both impactful and concise.”
To bring “Trap Muzik” to life, T.I. collaborated with established figures and emerging talents. DJ Toomp, who served as the executive producer for T.I.’s previous album, returned to collaborate on this project. Joining them were Jazze Pha and Mac Boney, who made guest appearances. Jason Geter, David Banner, and a young Kanye West, known primarily as a producer at the time, also contributed to the album. T.I. described his recording session with West as a “historic” moment, recalling how West played him tracks from his own debut album, “The College Dropout.” Impressed by West’s talent, T.I. remarked, “That shit was like, ‘Whoa.’ After that, I knew he would either do exceptionally well, or exceptionally bad.”
Meanwhile, David Banner, fresh off the success of “Like a Pimp,” produced one of the album’s standout tracks, “Rubber Band Man.” The song, released as the album’s third single, peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is now considered one of Atlanta’s finest rap songs. T.I. sensed the song’s potential after hearing the beat, but strategically chose not to make it the lead single. He explains, “It had to be presented in the right way,” referring to the song’s star-studded music video, featuring appearances from Usher, Bow Wow, Jagged Edge, and even Diddy. T.I. fondly recalls how he met Diddy three years prior when he noticed a convoy led by a Ferrari while getting his car washed. A chance meeting led to a lasting friendship, and Diddy’s cameo in the music video played a pivotal role in its success. T.I. expressed, “Diddy being in the video was a huge deal for us, and it played an enormous role in presenting the song exactly as we had hoped.”
“Trap Muzik” received critical acclaim and achieved commercial success, selling over 1 million copies by 2007. Music producer Jermaine Dupri believes the album resonated with listeners due to its freshness. He remarked, “It was something that felt real, yet it was presented in a new way that hadn’t been seen before.” The album also holds a significant place in hip-hop history as the birth of trap music as a distinct subgenre. “T.I. coined the name and essentially created this space,” Dupri explained. He further stated, “Being able to coin a phrase in hip-hop that will last forever is truly amazing.”
Today, trap music reigns as one of the most popular subgenres of hip-hop. Artists like 21 Savage, Future, and Lil Baby, all hailing from Atlanta, dominate the genre. Though the sound of modern trap may have evolved to be heavier and faster than “Trap Muzik,” its core elements, especially the lyrical content, remain intact. Reflecting on his groundbreaking album’s legacy, T.I. humbly stated, “I’m grateful to have organically started something that has become a global sensation over the past 20 years. It’s serendipity at its finest.”
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