T.I. cuts off dreads and reunites with Pharrell for new song
T.I. has returned with new music shortly after cutting his dreads, returning to his look from the 2000s.
On January 18th, the Atlanta rapper released a new song called ‘Let Em Know’, the first taste of his upcoming album, Kill the King.
The track is produced by one of his longtime collaborators, Pharrell. In the first verse, T.I. raps, “Runnin’ ’til the checkered flag, ride up through the red light/ 12 catch me gunnin’, won’t pull over ’til I’m dead, right/ Ridin’ ’til the sun rise, care none ’bout no bedtime/ Ain’t gon’ catch no bitch that’s ridin’ with me ‘less they head fire, better know.”
T.I. also revealed he had cut his dreadlocks in a video posted to his Instagram account.
In 2023, T.I. explained to TMZ why he decided to name his new album Kill the King.
“I feel like the King of the South moniker is very egotistical, self-gratuitous, and it’s a persona that kind of enters the room before I do physically,” he said. “Big Boi cautioned me of [the title] back when I was coming onto the scene. Big Boi said, ‘It sounds cool. I like it. But understand when you are the king, you put a big bullseye on your back.’”
He added, “You can’t look for no favours. Life is a game of chess, and the name of the game is called Kill the King. That’s what you’re setting yourself up for.”
Pharrell previously executive-produced T.I.’s 2014 album, Paperwork, producing and featuring on several songs, including ‘G Shit’, ‘Oh Yeah’, ‘Paperwork’, and ‘Light ‘Em Up (RIP Doe B)’.
As half of The Neptunes, P also produced ‘I’m Serious’ and ‘What’s Yo Name’ for T.I.’s first album, I’m Serious, in 2001. He also produced and featured on ‘Freak Though’ from 2004’s Urban Legend and ‘Good Life’ from his 2006 album, King. He then worked on ‘Amazing’ and ‘Get Back Up’ on his 2010 album, No Mercy.