T.I. is working with Pharrell on a new album, and he’s letting the Neptunes producer change his sound. It’s not too often that artists allow producers to make major changes to their sound, but T.I. believes it’s necessary to remain relevant:
“Aside from DJ Toomp, it’s the first time I’ve allowed a producer to come in and kind of shape my sound as he saw fit,” T.I. says in an interview with AllHipHop. “You must find ways to reinvent yourself in order to remain relevant. And who better to help me than someone as passionate and talented as Pharrell? He found a way to bring a colorful, left-field approach to my blue-collar celebrity. Between his wings and my anchor, we balance each other out. That duality is what makes this project unique.”
Pharrell’s advice has helped T.I. realize what he could do with his new album.
“When I first sat down with Pharrell, he told me to think ‘out of the stratosphere,’” T.I. explains. “What solidifies the resulting Paperwork is a unique blend of refreshing yet timeless material. As Pharrell would put it, we’re trying to rewrite history.”