I'm Serious

Last updated
I'm Serious
T.I. - I'm Serious.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 9, 2001
Recorded1999–2001
Genre
Length71:06
Label Arista
Producer
T.I. chronology
I'm Serious
(2001)
Trap Muzik
(2003)
Singles from I’m Serious
  1. "I’m Serious"
    Released: June 26, 2001

I'm Serious is the debut studio album by American rapper T.I., released on October 9, 2001 through Arista Records. [1]

Contents

The album included guests appearances from Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes (who called T.I. "the Jay-Z of the South"), [2] Jazze Pha, Too Short, Bone Crusher, Lil Jon, Mac Boney, Pastor Troy, P$C and Youngbloodz. The album featured production from DJ Toomp, Craig Love, Maseo, Brian Kidd, The Neptunes, Jazze Pha, Yung D, Lil Jon and T.I. himself.

Despite the album's guests appearances and production team, the album underperformed nationally at #98 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and only sold over 165,000 copies in the United States. [3] Upon its release, critics pointed to the fact that many of the tracks sounded the same and that a few were blatant rip-offs. [4] Other critics commented saying, "T.I. claims to be the king of the South, but fails to show and prove. He does, however, have potential. If his talent ever matches his confidence, he may just be headed for stardom." [5]

Background

In 1999, T.I. was discovered by fellow Atlanta native Kawan "KP" Prather—whose company, Ghet-O-Vision is frequently mentioned on the album. [6] As Ghet-O-Vision was an imprint of Babyface and L.A. Reid's Atlanta-based record label imprint LaFace Records, to which Prather himself was also signed, T.I. was led by proximity to sign with the label in preparation for his debut studio album. His original stage name was "Tip", a nickname given to him by his paternal great-grandfather; [7] which was shortened to T.I. out of respect for labelmate Q-Tip. [8] Later in 2001, LaFace was collapsed and sold to its parent label and distributor Arista Records, merging the rosters of both labels. According T.I. himself, the buyout made the LaFace no longer based in his hometown, thus creating a more strenuous commute as the Arista headquarters was located in New York City.

The album was preceded by its title track as its lead single, "I'm Serious". The song was released commercially to radio on June 26, 2001 and failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, although it found success locally. It was produced by the Neptunes and features Jamaican singer Beenie Man. The label declined to release a second single. [9]

After the album failed to garner much success beyond regional boundaries, T.I. and manager Jason Geter considered their grassroots promotional marketing in Southern cities and questioned their need to enter a second album cycle with the label. A bargain proposed by T.I. to Arista offered the album's executive production team each receiving US$2 million, a 50/50 revenue cut, or him to be dropped from the label; Arista ultimately chose the latter. T.I. then signed with Atlantic Records within the next two years, who released T.I.'s second studio album, Trap Muzik (2003) as well as his subsequent releases until his contract expiration in 2014. [10]

Content

As a teenager, T.I. was a drug dealer; such activity is frequently detailed on the album. [11] [12] By age 14, he had been arrested several times. [13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Down-SouthStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Rhapsody (favorable) [17]

Upon its release, I'm Serious received positive reviews from most music critics. Some critics, however, pointed to the fact that many of the tracks sounded the same and that a few were blatant rip-offs. [4] AllMusic writer Jon Azpiri wrote "T.I. claims to be the king of the South, but on I'm Serious he fails to show and prove. He does, however, have potential. If his talent ever matches his confidence, he may be headed for stardom." [14] Down-South gave the album a four out of five stars saying "With his solo finally about to drop, this album should be his gateway into the mainstream arena. Overall, this album is all I expected plus more. I don't seen how anyone couldn't like it because it's comprised of so much diversity. So when you see this album on store shelves, be sure to grab it, you won't be disappointed." [15]

HipHopDX wrote "Lyrically, Atlanta-bred T.I. (TIP to kids around the way) isn't far behind a lot of other gifted young cats tryin' to make it in the rap game. But rather than doing stand-up on the mic or seeing how many words he can rhyme with Versaci, this 20-year-old tells wonderfully-detailed stories on I'm Serious about coming up when all the elements try to keep you down. But T.I.'s at his best when he uses his head and not his, well, head. Similarly, I'm Serious gets it done by talking about familiar hip hop topics (gats, girls and makin' green), but doing it in a way that somehow comes off as fresh and original." [16] Rhapsody writer Sam Chennault wrote "The opening salvo from one of Southern hip-hop's most charismatic emcees, I'm Serious is more introspective and less bombastic than T.I.'s subsequent work. "Still Ain't Forgave Myself" and "What Happened" are surprisingly tender, though "Dope Boyz" and the Neptunes-produced "What's Your Name" set the stage for the emergence of T.I.'s playa/pusha persona." [17]

Commercial performance

I'm Serious was released on October 9, 2001 through Arista Records in the United States. [1] In its first week of release, I'm Serious made its debut on the Billboard 200 albums chart at number 98, and it debuted at number 27 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [18] The album only sold 163,000 copies in the United States. [3] Due to the poor commercial reception of the album, T.I. was dropped from Arista Records.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
1:33
2."Still Ain't Forgave Myself"
  • Craig Love
  • Harris
Craig Love5:33
3."Dope Boyz"
  • Harris
  • Davis
DJ Toomp4:24
4."What Happened?" P.A. 3:24
5."You Ain't Hard" (featuring Mac Boney)
Brian "BK" Kidd4:05
6."Why I'm Serious" (Interlude)
  • Harris
  • Davis
  • Pettaway
  • DJ Toomp
  • Pettaway (co.)
1:03
7."I'm Serious" (featuring Beenie Man) The Neptunes 3:27
8."Do It (Stick It Baby)"
  • Davis
  • Harris
  • Prather
  • DJ Toomp
  • T.I. (co.)
3:56
9."What's Yo Name" (featuring The Neptunes)
  • Harris
  • Williams
  • Hugo
The Neptunes3:52
10."Hands Up"
  • Kidd
  • Harris
  • Prather
Brian "BK" Kidd4:31
11."Chooz U" (featuring Jazze Pha) Jazze Pha 3:31
12."I Can't Be Your Man"
  • Harris
  • Kidd
Brian "BK" Kidd4:39
13."Hotel" (featuring Too $hort)
P.A.5:04
14."At the Bar"
  • Harris
  • Kidd
Brian "BK" Kidd3:49
15."Heavy Chevys" (featuring P$C)DJ Toomp4:46
16."Grand Royal"Harris T.I. 5:11
17."Outro"
  • Harris
  • Davis
  • Pettaway
  • DJ Toomp
  • Pettaway (co.)
2:45
18."I'm Serious" (Remix) (featuring YoungBloodZ, Bone Crusher & Pastor Troy)
  • Harris
  • Williams
  • Hugo
5:33
Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for I'm Serious adapted from Allmusic. [19]

Charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [20] 98
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [20] 27

Related Research Articles

Jerrell C. Jones, better known by his stage name J-Kwon, is an American rapper from St. Louis, Missouri. He signed with Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings, an imprint of Arista Records to release his 2004 single "Tipsy," which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It served as the lead single for his debut studio album Hood Hop (2004), which entered the Billboard 200 at number seven and contained the charting single "You & Me". He departed So So Def after its release, and his subsequent material failed to chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clipse</span> American hip hop duo

Clipse, also known as The Clipse, is an American hip hop duo, chiefly active from 1994 to 2010. It consists of brothers Gene "No Malice" and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton. Pusha T was known as Terrar during the group's early years, while No Malice was originally known as Malicious, then changed his stage name to Malice soon after the group's formation, before changing it again to No Malice in 2012 following a conversion to Christianity. The duo were based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and were heavily affiliated with producer and fellow Virginia Beach native, Pharrell Williams, who convinced the two in 1992 to be a rap duo instead of solo artists. Williams would go on to serve as their label head, main producer and frequent guest artist through most of their career. The duo frequently rapped about the drug dealing they had done in their youth. Clipse was integral in establishing Virginia as one of the East Coast's strongholds in hip hop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T.I.</span> American rapper (born 1980)

Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., better known by the stage names T.I. and Tip, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Harris is known as one of the pioneers of the hip hop subgenre trap music, along with fellow Atlanta-based rappers Jeezy and Gucci Mane. Harris first became aquainted with local music executive Kawan "KP" Prather, and joined his company Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment by the late 1990s. He was led to sign his first major-label record deal in 1999 with its parent company LaFace Records, an imprint of Arista Records. His debut studio album, I'm Serious (2001) was released to lukewarm commercial reception and became his only project with the label. He then signed with Atlantic Records, where he soon reached his mainstream commercial breakthrough and co-founded his own label imprint, Grand Hustle Records by 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jones (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1976)

Joseph Guillermo Jones II, better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and record executive. He is a founding member of the hip hop collective the Diplomats alongside longtime friend and fellow New York City native Cam'ron.

<i>Unleashed</i> (Bow Wow album) 2003 studio album by Bow Wow

Unleashed is the third studio album by American rapper Bow Wow. It was released on August 19, 2003, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from 2002 to 2003. The album features guest appearances from Amerie, Baby, Mario and Jagged Edge, with its production handled by Bink!, The Neptunes, Jazze Pha, Swizz Beatz and Lil Jon, among others. It is Bow Wow's only album without assistance or production from his mentor Jermaine Dupri, and the first album where he dropped the 'Lil' from his stage name after his film debut in Like Mike (2002).

<i>Lord Willin</i> 2002 studio album by Clipse

Lord Willin' is the major label debut and second studio album by hip hop duo Clipse. The album was released on August 20, 2002 in the United States by Star Trak and Arista. Recording sessions took place over a year, beginning in 2001. Production was handled by The Neptunes.

<i>Trap Muzik</i> 2003 studio album by T.I.

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. In 2002, T.I. launched Grand Hustle with his longtime business partner Jason Geter and signed a new deal with Atlantic Records.

Grand Hustle Records, also known as Hustle Gang Music, is an American hip hop record label, founded in 2003, by American rapper T.I. and his manager Jason Geter. The label was distributed by Atlantic Records until December 2012, and has since operated as an independent record label. Its roster has included acts such as 8Ball & MJG, B.o.B, Killer Mike, Young Dro, DJ Drama, Meek Mill, Chip, Travis Scott, and Trae tha Truth, the latter of whom also served as the label's vice president. The label also houses a roster of record producers, which has included Lil' C, Mars and Nard & B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Azz (rapper)</span> American rapper (1975–2019)

Jamarr Antonio Stamps, better known by his stage name Bad Azz, was an American rapper and member of hip-hop collective D.P.G.C.

<i>Crunk Rock</i> 2010 studio album by Lil Jon

Crunk Rock is the only solo album and sixth overall album by American crunk rapper Lil Jon, released on June 8, 2010 by BME and Universal Republic. The characters at the bottom of the album's cover are Japanese katakana characters, which read "Kurunku Rokku", an approximation of the Japanese transliteration of the album's title. The album predominantly consists of guest appearances from artists including Ice Cube, Pitbull, the Ying Yang Twins, Waka Flocka Flame, the Game, Travis Porter, Damian Marley, Soulja Boy, R. Kelly and Whole Wheat Bread; the latter of whom assisted with its production alongside Drumma Boy, Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke, Steve Aoki, R. City and Shawty Redd, among others. Crunk Rock received mixed reviews and peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T.I. discography</span>

The discography of American rapper T.I. consists of eleven studio albums, one compilation album, one remix album, four extended plays (EPs), 13 mixtapes, 110 singles and 11 promotional singles. He has also released one music video album and over 60 music videos, the details of which are included in his videography.

<i>Hustlenomics</i> 2007 studio album by Yung Joc

Hustlenomics is the second studio album by American rapper Yung Joc. It was released, by Bad Boy Records on August 28, 2007. The album contains the singles "Coffee Shop" and "Bottle Poppin," both featuring rapper Gorilla Zoe.

This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B.o.B</span> American rapper (born 1988)

Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., known professionally as B.o.B, is an American rapper. Raised in Decatur, Georgia, Simmons signed with producer Jim Jonsin through his Rebel Rock Entertainment label in 2006. Two years later, he and Jonsin signed a joint venture recording contract with fellow Georgia rapper T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records. Following his major-label deal, Simmons quickly achieved commercial success when his 2009 debut single, "Nothin' on You", peaked the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and received Grammy Award nominations for Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2009.

<i>Malice n Wonderland</i> 2009 studio album by Snoop Dogg

Malice n Wonderland is the tenth studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; it was released on December 8, 2009, by Doggystyle Records, Capitol Records and Priority Records. Production for the album took place from January 2009 to September 2009 at several recording studios and the production was handled by Battlecat, The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, The Neptunes, Teddy Riley, Lil Jon and Terrace Martin.

PSC or Pimp Squad Click, is an American hip hop group from Bankhead, Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2001, the group was originally composed of six members, southern rappers Big Kuntry King, Mac Boney, C-Rod, AK, Young Dro And T.I. In 2002, the group began amassing several self-released mixtapes, namely their In da Streets series, which garnered them local recognition. PSC released their debut studio album 25 to Life, in 2005, under Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records.

<i>Ten Toes Down</i> 2010 studio album by 8Ball & MJG

Ten Toes Down is the eighth studio album by the American southern hip hop duo 8Ball & MJG. The album was released on May 4, 2010, by Grand Hustle Records and E1 Music. This is the first album by the duo after leaving the Bad Boy South, before signing a record deal with the Grand Hustle label. The album has guest appearances by T.I., Young Dro, Slim Thug and Bun B with production by T.I., as well as Nitti, Drumma Boy, Nard & B and Lil' C, among others.

This article summarizes the events, album releases and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big K.R.I.T.</span> American rapper and record producer (born 1986)

Justin Lewis Scott, better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T., is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he began his musical career in 2005. He was signed to Def Jam Recordings by Sha Money XL in 2010, and first gained recognition following the release of his single "Country Shit". The following year, he guest appeared on T.I.'s promotional single "I'm Flexin'", which became his sole entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

References

  1. 1 2 "I'm Serious: T.I.: Music". Amazon. Archived from the original on 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  2. (December 21, 2004). Vibe Cover Story: T.I. – King of the South? Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine Vibe. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Martens, Todd (2003-08-27). "Hitmakers The Neptunes Land Compilation At No. 1". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  4. 1 2 Jon Azpiri (2001-10-09). "T.I. I'm Serious" Archived 2009-12-31 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 21, 2009.
  5. " T.I. "I'm Serious" Album Review" Archived 2009-01-08 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on June 21, 2009.
  6. "'King Of The South' T.I. To Perform Live At T-Mobile Center".
  7. T.I.: Me, Myself & I Archived 2007-12-24 at the Wayback Machine Vibe. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  8. Hillary Crosley (May 1, 2007). It's Summer Time With T.I., 'T.I.P.' Archived 2014-09-19 at the Wayback Machine Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  9. "T.I. Biography". Monstersandcritics.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  10. "T.I. Breaks Down How He Got Dropped From LaFace Records & Signed to Atlantic Records — YouTube".
  11. "Hip-Hop Star & Actor T.I." People . Time. 2006-04-24. Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  12. Samantha Strong and Bill Hutchinson (May 12, 2009). "Rapper T.I. and Al Sharpton march in Harlem to stop gun violence" Archived 2009-05-15 at the Wayback Machine Daily News (New York) Retrieved on 2009-06-21.
  13. "Hanging at Home with Tiny". Sister2Sister. Sister2Sister. 2010-04-14. Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
  14. 1 2 Azpiri, Jon. Review: I'm Serious. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-12-06.
  15. 1 2 Down-South, Down-South. Review: I'm Serious Archived 2009-01-08 at the Wayback Machine . Down-South. Retrieved on 2010-12-06.
  16. 1 2 HipHopDX, HipHopDX. Review: I'm Serious Archived 2007-06-21 at the Wayback Machine . HipHopDX. Retrieved on 2010-12-06.
  17. 1 2 Chennault, Sam. Review: I'm Serious Archived 2010-08-12 at the Wayback Machine . Rhapsody. Retrieved on 2010-12-06.
  18. "I'm Serious > Charts & Awards". Allmusic . Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  19. Credits: I'm Serious. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-12-07.
  20. 1 2 "T.I. Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-12-16.