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Paper Trail Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 83 Ratings

  • Summary: The sixth album for the rapper features guest artists such as Ludicris, Rihanna, Usher, Jay-Z, kayne West, Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake, and John Legend.

Top Track

Whatever You Like
Hey, Jim You know the old suga daddy They be tripin when they tell them girls I said you can have whatever you like (you like) I said you can have... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. If you can't get with this expediently excessive piece of rich-get-richer, commercial rap albums are beyond your ken.
  2. Despite his often earnest lyrics, the radio-friendly party anthems, flirty come-ons, collaborations with A-list pals (Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Justin Timberlake), and outstanding production prove this beleaguered bad boy still knows how to have a good time.
  3. He's embodied literature's most popular archetype--the survivor--by transforming his woes into a reflective, enjoyable album.
  4. Blender
    70
    T.I. boats one of gangsta rap's most mellifluous voices and more polysyllabic lexicons, and when he combines the two, he's dazzling, hypnotic, virtuosic. [Dec 08/Jan 09, p.82]
  5. More lyrical than Lil' Wayne and catchier than Young Jeezy, T.I. has once again proved the fact that he represents an excellent blend of lyrical talent and pop sensibility.
  6. Paper Trail more often succeeds when the positivity sounds more earned than court-ordered.
  7. The Wire
    60
    Though you'd be justified in hanging this writer for conflating person and persona, you're asked to contemplate the uneasy positivity that chacterizes Paper Trail's three mot popular songs. [Dec 2008, p.74]

See all 19 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Nov 23, 2010
    10
    While not excessively deep, this album is a collection of clever rhymes and excellent high profile guests such as Justin Timberlake, Usher,While not excessively deep, this album is a collection of clever rhymes and excellent high profile guests such as Justin Timberlake, Usher, Ludacris, and Rihanna. While much of the album focuses on "The King of the South", when he actually gets deeper, it's really something extraordinary. Expand
  2. Jul 11, 2013
    9
    Paper Trail is a reflective album for T.I. Lyrically he reflects on his career so far and focuses on his merits and the fact that honestlyPaper Trail is a reflective album for T.I. Lyrically he reflects on his career so far and focuses on his merits and the fact that honestly nobody currently in the game compares nor have they made it very competitive. This holds as solid material based on what he's previously accomplished and how he's blessed hip hop with the realest and best  material the past 7 years. The production in this album is something new for T.I. and isn't exactly what fans of his have come accustom to hearing from him, but then again neither is the lyrical content. The beats are more high pitched and slowed down which somewhat diminishes the quality of the album along with the lyrical content lacking the direct realness that his previous albums contained, but not by much. Not to mention what he is saying is true seeing as how no one in the game really compares. Overall this is another very good album by an artist who is on track to be the greatest and has now shown his ability to significantly diversify his music and make it a success. Expand
  3. Mar 10, 2015
    9
    I have to admit, I never thought of T.I. as that great of a rapper, but this album shows he has truly become one. Lyrically, this is by farI have to admit, I never thought of T.I. as that great of a rapper, but this album shows he has truly become one. Lyrically, this is by far the best album T.I. has come out with. That, along with amazing beats makes this a great album throughout. Expand
  4. May 23, 2017
    9
    For me personally this album is a classic. It's what turned me into such a big T.I. fan. I personally don't think there's a bad song on here,For me personally this album is a classic. It's what turned me into such a big T.I. fan. I personally don't think there's a bad song on here, but a couple are kinda meh.

    Best songs: You Ain't Missin' Nothing / Dead and Gone / Ready For Whatever
    Expand
  5. Mar 22, 2015
    8
    8.2/10................................................................................................................................................
  6. Nov 13, 2017
    8
    Excellent lyricism, entertaining beats, an impressive list of features, all packed together with a number of brilliant tracks makes this T.I'sExcellent lyricism, entertaining beats, an impressive list of features, all packed together with a number of brilliant tracks makes this T.I's best project to date. One of the very best albums from the tail end of the 2000's Expand
  7. Mar 7, 2013
    6
    T.I. makes some good and some bad in this extrememly confusing album by T.I. His slow paced scruffy raps get irratating but once he's at it he's good.

See all 8 User Reviews