T.I.

Watching his buzz slowly fade following flop albums and consecutive prison sentences, T.I. attempts to return to his mixtape roots with Fuck Da City Up. Tip sounds revitalized by A-list collaborators like B.O.B., Young Jeezy, Dr. Dre and Nelly, yet the mixtape lacks the emotional intensity that distinguished his best work. It's still a joy to hear T.I. go for it dolo; he swerves through Mannie Fresh's siren horns and creeping keys on "The One," snarling terse threats with a SAT-level vocabulary. Chemistry with his guests keep things moving, as T.I., Travis Porter and Young Dro blaze their verses over T-Minus's triumphant synth horns on "Hot Wheels." The piping horns on "I'll Show You" light a fire under Pusha T, and Trouble and T.I. complement each other perfectly on "On Purpose." Detox leftover "Popped Off" is a celebratory knocker topped with Dr. Dre's lush samples. If T.I. can maintain this intensity until his next album drops, he'll be in rare form.