Kill The King

T.I. & Kevin Gates Stay Solid On “Active”

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In the midst of his fallout with Boosie Badazz, T.I. is currently gearing up for the release of his final album with a new single alongside Kevin Gates. Tip recently began the rollout for his forthcoming project, Kill The King, which will mark the end of his era in rap. Though it’s unclear if he’ll commit to comedy full-time, the “Whatever You Like” rapper plans to dethrone himself as the self-proclaimed “King Of The South” – a title he’s carried for the last two decades.

While T.I. dished out a few singles over the past year, he began teasing a collaboration with Kevin Gates in 2022. The song leaked online after Tip began teasing the record on Instagram, though it seemed like the unofficial version terminated the possibilities of an official release. However, earlier this week, T.I. began to tease the single with Kevin Gates again, as fans anticipated two Southern giants connecting on wax for a commanding street banger.

T.I. – Active Ft. Kevin Gates

This morning, T.I. unveiled the single with Kevin Gates in full.  Javar Rockamore of The Loopholes delivers a menacing production with ghostly synths sweeping through the enchanting guitar strings. Tip and Gates evidently bring out the best in each other throughout the record as they both reflect on the spiritual crossroads. Gates opens his verse with a passage from the Qu’ran before spilling an emotionally potent verse that details the intersection between his spirituality and his street deeds.

Though Gates holds down both the hook and his verse, the record intends to showcase their lyrical swords. T.I. similarly opens up his verse with a passage from Psalm 91 before bearing his soul in one of his most impressive verses in a while. Tip looks back at the hardships he’s faced throughout his life, from the streets to rap, detailing how he overcame adversity to prosper. Hopefully, a release date for Kill The King arrives shortly. Peep T.I.’s latest collaboration with Kevin Gates above.

Quotable Lyrics
Treat ’em like a clown in a nightgown
Catch ’em slippin’, get his nose wipe down
Pullin’ up in those Goose so clean, still politickin’ with some dope fiend
Probably tellin’ me to keep my nose clean, lookin’ like I’m droppin’ off a whole thing
But I ain’t touched the shit since the 90’s

T.I. Explains Meaning Of His Final Album, “Kill The King”

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T.I. says that he’s hoping to dethrone himself as the “King of the South” with his upcoming final album, Kill the King. Speaking with TMZ, the legendary rapper reflected on the title as well as the end of his storied career. T.I. has referred to himself as the king on many songs throughout his career. The first time came on his song, “2 Glock 9’s,” featuring Beanie Sigel. He even named his 2006 album King. “That was the beginning of a long road of many challenges, opposition and adversity,” the rapper reflected.

“I feel like the King of the South moniker is very egotistical, self-gratuitous and it’s a persona that kinda enters the room before I do physically. Big Boi cautioned me of [the title] back when I was coming onto the scene,” T.I. recalled to the outlet. “Big Boi said, ‘It sounds cool. I like it, but understand when you are king you put a big bullseye on your back. You can’t look for no favors. Life is a game of chess, and the name of the game is called Kill The King. That’s what you are setting yourself up for.’ [At the age] I didn’t really think much of it.”

T.I. Speaks To TMZ

T.I. announced Kill the King back in 2021, at the end of the music video for his single “What It’s Come To.” The Atlanta rapper also addressed a series of allegations including sexual assault, rape, drugging, and more that were made against him and his wife, Tiny Harris, on the song.

“When people heard it, the visceral reaction that they had, that’s what made it more personal for me,” T.I. said of the initially reaction to him labeling himself the king. “When people started telling me ‘You can’t call yourself that.’ I said, ‘Who the fuck are you to tell me what I can and can’t call MYSELF.’ And that’s when I began to feel more ownership; I felt like, ‘Well now, I got to stand on this.’”

Earlier this year, T.I. recalled DJ Drama’s reaction to calling himself the King of the South during an interview with Shannon Sharpe. “[DJ Drama] called me in to freestyle on a mixtape,” he said. “I said King of the South in the freestyle. He kind of raised his head like, ‘Whoa! What is that? What did you say?’ I said, ‘You heard what I said.’”

[Via]