Urban Legend (album)

Background

In March 2004, a warrant was issued for T.I.'s arrest after a violation of probation that resulted from a 1997 arrest on cocaine distribution and the manufacturing and distribution of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to three years in prison. While imprisoned in Cobb County, Georgia, he filmed an unauthorized music video.

Recording

After T.I. received his sentence, he was granted a work release program that allowed him to continue making music and proceeded to record several albums worth of material. Recording sessions took place at P.S. West Studios, Silent Sounds Studios, and at Stankonia Studios, all located in T.I.'s native Atlanta, Georgia. One recording session took place at The Orange Grove Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Singles

"Bring Em Out" was the first official single to be released from Urban Legend. The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 9, it charted at number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number 4 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. In the United Kingdom the single entered the UK Singles Chart at number 59. "Bring Em Out" became T.I.'s first top 10 single to enter the Billboard Hot 100.

"U Don't Know Me" was the second official single from the album. The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 23, it charted at number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, it charted at number 4 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart, and at number 65 on the Pop 100 chart. The song was nominated on several awards such as "Best Rap Solo Performance" on the Grammy Awards, "Best Rap Video" on the MTV Video Music Awards and "Street Anthem of the Year" on the Vibe Awards. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single Platinum.

"ASAP" was the third and final official single from the album. The single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at Number 75. It charted at Number 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at Number 14 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. The official remix features Big Kuntry King and Mac Boney of P$C. The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single Gold. On the B-side of the single the song "Motivation" appeared and it charted at number 62 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Commercial performance

Urban Legend debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling over 193,000 copies in its first week of release, it charted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and at number one on the Top Rap Albums chart. The album has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of one million copies in the United States.

Critical response

Upon its release, Urban Legend received generally favorable reviews from most music critics. Allmusic writer Andy Kellman opined that, "With all that chaos surrounding T.I., it's disappointing to hear him retracing his steps, rewriting old lines, developing with little progress. Perhaps it's asking too much to expect T.I. to show as much growth here as he did on Trap Muzik, but -- as is the case with Jadakiss -- remaining patient for that classic album (and you know he has one in him) is getting tough." 'Chuck Mindehall of Entertainment Weekly, in his review of the album, opined that, "when [T.I.] declares "I'm the King," you just about believe him." Tom Breihan of the Baltimore City Paper stated that although, "T.I.’s flow is more focused and confident than it was on his 2003 breakthrough, Trap Muzik [...] the new album feels like a thrown-together collection instead of a unified work." Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews stated that "If [T.I.] can stay clean and out of prison [...] there seems to be no limit to how far he can go."

Samples

"Tha King"

"Prayin for Help"

"Why U Mad at Me"

"Bring Em Out"

"Limelight"

Personnel

Credits for Urban Legend adapted from Allmusic.