Paperwork
TI
(Columbia/Grand Hustle)
Three stars
With his deceptively lackadaisical delivery, Atlanta's Clifford Joseph "TI" Harris Jr is now, at 34, an elder statesman of rap. And there's a maturity to this ninth album. He has reunited with his Blurred Lines co-star Pharrell, whose hand looms large as the executive producer, while the stars are out in force on the mic, including Chris Brown, Rick Ross and Iggy Azalea. There's plenty to endear: New National Anthem name-checks Gaza and calls out authorities for handgun control; and the sweetly intoned title track, featuring and produced by Pharrell, repairs the aural damage inflicted by Blurred Lines. The less said about the misogyny-fuelled Private Show and No Mediocre, however, the better.
aworkman@thenational.ae
