T.I. has been crafting out his icon status for some time. He is easily one of the best rappers to do it. Some have credited Tip for introducing rap to the world. He is truly one of the pioneers of the genre. Now, trap music is leading the way for Hip Hop. It’s no wonder they called him the “Jay-Z of the South” as he spearheaded Atlanta’s dominance in the scene.
With decades in the industry, there are more than enough T.I. songs to choose a handful of favorites. We’ve highlighted 17 tracks, solo and collaborative, that stand out. Whether he’s partnering with R&B songbirds and giving hard-hitting hits, T.I. has you covered. Read through our list and let us know if your favorite T.I. song is on the list.
17. “Got Your Back” ft. Keri Hilson (2010)
T.I. called upon Keri Hilson for his mixtape single, “Got Your Back.” The Atlanta rapper dropped Fuck a Mixtape before his seventh studio album, No Mercy. Both projects were released in 2010. The song did well and peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100.
16. “About The Money” ft. Young Thug (2014)
Two Atlanta greats link up in “All About the Money.” Young Thug assisted Tip on the lead single from his Paperwork album. At the song’s end, T.I. shows off his poetry skills, which is a surprise. T.I. scores another gold plaque with this one. A few months later, T.I. released the remix featuring Lil Wayne and Jeezy. Young Thug and Tip also have new verses on the remix.
15. “Trap Back Jumpin’”(2012)
T.I. put his acting skill to the test in this mini-movie. “Trap Back Jumpin” comes from his eighth studio album, Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head. The video is 10 minutes long and shows the rapper moving around his city. T.I. reminds us why he is one of the originators of trap music.
14. “Family Connect” ft. Domani (2020)
On an album filled with stars like Lil Baby, 21 Savage, and Jadakiss, Tip’s son, Domani, has one of the best features. T.I. gives his son some game on “Family Connect.” The track appears on the Atlanta rapper’s eleventh studio album, The L.I.B.R.A. Domani shares his feelings with his dad about where he’s headed while Tip schools his son on the ins and outs of this thing we called life. Domani has crafted a career outside of his father’s spotlight. His fans believe he’s up next for superstardom.
13. “Memories Back Then” T.I. ft. B.O.B. & Kendrick Lamar (2013)
T.I. tells a story on “Memories Back Then.” His first verse is a vivid tale about a young woman. The song features B.O.B. and Kendrick Lamar. It samples the popular song “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Goyte. Because of clearance issues, the single could not make T.I.’s album.
12. “Private Show” ft. Chris Brown(2014)
T.I. is no stranger to making songs for the ladies. He calls on Chris Brown for “Private Show,” a single from Paperwork. This is the second time the two artists have collaborated. In 2014, they came together on “Get Back Up” from his album, No Mercy.
11. “What Up, What’s Haapnin”(2008)
Tip didn’t hold back on this one. In “What Up, What’s Haapnin’,” he directs his lyrics to Shawty Lo, another ATL rapper. The part atmosphere music video had several noteworthy cameos. Future, Lil Duval, Rocko, and a young Meek Mill were seen. The video was even shot in Shawty Lo’s hood.
10. “Big Things Poppin’ (Do It)”(2006)
In one of his bigger hits, T.I. delivers on “Big Shit Poppin’ (Do It).” It was one of the best songs in 2007 off his fifth studio album, T.I. vs T.I.P. The song was nominated for two Grammy awards in 2008. T.I. lost both the Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song to “Good Life” and “Stronger” by Kanye West. ”Big Shit Poppin” made its way tot he Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
9. “You Know What It Is” T.I. ft. Wyclef Jean (2007)
After dropping the lead single to T.I. vs T.I.P., T.I. drops “You Know What It Is.” The song features Wyclef Jean as he is heard throughout the track. Though it did not win a Grammy, the song still saw success on the charts. It remained on the charts for over four months.
8. “Whatever You Like” (2008)
“Whatever You Like” was yet another No. 1 hit for T.I. On the track, he boasted about all of the things he would give to his woman. This is a song about his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, a singer from the legendary R&B group Xscape. The pair couple has seen its ups and downs, but they’re hip hop royalty in the industry.
7. “Swagga Like Us” ft. Kanye West, Lil Wayne, & Jay-Z(2008)
Four juggernauts collaborated on “Swagga Like Us” and didn’t disappoint. T.I. nabbed a Grammy with this one for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The song was very popular as many other artists freestyled over it. They even performed it at the awards show. There’s always talk of who had the best verse.
6. “Live Your Life” ft. Rihanna(2008)
“Live Your Life” took over the airwaves and continues to be a fan favorite. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts giving Tip his third No. 1 song. Rihanna can certainly stand alone when it comes to making hits, but her collaborations with rappers catapult up the charts. She belts her way through the catchy chorus which complements T.I.’s smooth verses.
5. “ASAP”(2004)
“ASAP” is one of Tip’s bigger hits. From his third studio album, Urban Legend, T.I. scored another gold plaque. Rumor is that this song is a diss to Houston rapper Lil Flip. For those who don’t remember, the two had an altercation in Houston, but they reportedly met behind closed doors and ended their feud.
4. “Dead & Gone” T.I. ft. Justin Timberlake (2008)
After collaborating on “My Love,” T.I. and Justin Timberlake do it again on “Dead and Gone.” Tip gets vulnerable on this song as he discusses the death of his bodyguard and best friend, Philant Johnson. Also, around this time, he was dealing with legal troubles. The duo performed the song at the Grammys and was nominated at the following year’s ceremony. “Dead and Gone” was up for Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, ultimately losing both awards to “Run This Town” by Jay-Z.
3. “Bring Em Out” (2004)
“Bring Em Out” is still a song you can hear in 2023. It’s hailed as a sports team anthem, as it could be played before the game, during warmups, and even at halftime. With this hit, T.I. saw another Top 10 track on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rumor is that this beat was intended for Beanie Sigel, but he went to jail. Then, it was meant for Joe Budden, but he didn’t want to pay to clear the Jay-Z vocals. This allegedly just fell into Tip’s lap.
2. “What You Know”(2006)
In 2006, T.I. took the game by storm with “What You Know.” You heard this song everywhere, and it received many accolades. At the Grammys, “What You Know” won Best Rap Solo Performance and was nominated for Best Rap Song, losing out to “Money Maker” by Ludacris ft. Pharrell. Several publications had it as one of the top songs of the year. “What You Know” was also the lead single to promote T.I. ‘s movie, ATL. This is one of T.I.’s best songs, as it spent over five months on the Billboard charts.
1. “Rubber Band Man”(2003)
T.I. is the rubber band man. He came on the scene declaring this and was known for wearing his infamous bands around his wrist. Arguably the biggest hit in his discography, Tip called upon fellow rapper David Banner to produce the song. It’s off his second studio album, Trap Muzik.
T.I. lets us know he rubs shoulders with some of Hip Hop’s finest, as there are many stars in the music video. Usher, Jagged Edge, Jazze Pha, Diddy, Bow Wow, and Lil Duval make cameos. Ex-NFL Quarterback Michael Vick can also be seen. Though it did not win any awards, “Rubber Band Man” is regarded as one of Atlanta’s greatest songs.
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