Urban Legend (album)

Urban Legend is the third studio album by American rapper T.I., released on November 30, 2004, through Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200, selling 195,000 copies in its first week of release. It also debuted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and the Top Rap Albums charts.[1]

Urban Legend
Studio album by
T.I.
ReleasedNovember 30, 2004
Recorded2003-2004
Genre
Length71:35
Label
Producer
T.I. chronology
Trap Muzik
(2003)		 Urban Legend
(2004)		 King
(2006)
Singles from Urban Legend
  1. "Bring Em Out"
    Released: October 19, 2004
  2. "U Don't Know Me"
    Released: January 11, 2005
  3. "ASAP"
    Released: May 24, 2005

The album's official lead single, "Bring Em Out", was released on October 19, 2004 and became T.I. first's top 10 hit, peaking at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the second single, "U Don't Know Me", peaked at number 23 on the chart. The third single, "ASAP", reached number 75 on the chart,[2] number 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[2] and number 14 on the Hot Rap Tracks charts.[2] T.I. created a video for "ASAP"/"Motivation". However, "Motivation" only made it to number 62 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart music chart.[2]

The album features production provided by longtime collaborating producers DJ Toomp, Jazze Pha, Lil Jon, The Neptunes, Nick "Fury" Loftin, David Banner and Sanchez Holmes. New producers contributing to the album include Daz Dillinger, Kevin "Khao" Cates, KLC, Mannie Fresh, Scott Storch and Swizz Beatz. Featured guests on the album include Trick Daddy, Nelly, Lil Jon, B.G., Mannie Fresh, Daz Dillinger, Lil Wayne, Pharrell Williams, P$C, Jazze Pha and Lil' Kim.

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.[3] He was sentenced to three years in prison.[4] While imprisoned in Cobb County, Georgia, he filmed an unauthorized music video.[5]

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.[6] Recording sessions took place at P.S. West Studios, Silent Sounds Studios, and 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.[7]

Release and promotion

Singles

"Bring Em Out" was the first official single to be released from Urban Legend. The single entered the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number nine, it also charted at number six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number four on the Hot Rap Tracks music chart. In the United Kingdom the single entered the UK Singles Chart music chart at number 59.[8] "Bring Em Out" became T.I.'s first top-ten single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Bring Em Out" was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000 copies in the US.

"U Don't Know Me" was the second official single from the album. It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 23. It charted at number six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number four on the Hot Rap Tracks chart, and number 65 on the Pop 100 music chart.[9] The song was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards, Best Rap Video at the MTV Video Music Awards and Street Anthem of the Year at the Vibe Awards.[10] It was certified platinum by the RIAA for selling over a million copies in the US.

"ASAP" was the third and final official single from the album. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart 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.[9] It was certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 copies in the US.[11] On the B-side of the single the song "Motivation" appeared, which charted at number 62 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs music chart.[9]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[12]
Baltimore City Paper(mixed)[13]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[14]
Prefix(7/10)[15]
RapReviews(8/10)[16]
Rolling Stone[17]

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."[12] Chuck Mindehall of Entertainment Weekly, in his review of the album, wrote, "when [T.I.] declares "I'm the King," you just about believe him."[18] 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."[13] 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."[16]

Commercial performance

Urban Legend debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 193,000 copies in its first week.[1] This became T.I.'s second US top-ten debut and first to top the latter.[1] The album also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[1] On March 3, 2005, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for sales of over a million copies in the United States.[19]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Tha King"
Nick "Fury" Loftin3:24
2."Motivation"
DJ Toomp3:34
3."U Don't Know Me"
  • Harris
  • A. Davis
DJ Toomp4:03
4."ASAP"
  • Harris
  • M. Holmes
Sanchez Holmes4:44
5."Prayin for Help"
  • Harris
  • D. Wansel
  • C. Biggs
  • M. Holmes
Sanchez Holmes4:22
6."Why U Mad at Me"
  • I. Hayes
  • Harris
  • K. Cates
Kevin "Khao" Cates3:53
7."Get Loose" (featuring Nelly)
Jazze Pha4:12
8."What They Do" (featuring B.G.)
KLC3:48
9."The Greatest" (featuring Mannie Fresh)
Mannie Fresh4:22
10."Get Ya Sh*t Together" (featuring Lil' Kim)
Scott Storch4:05
11."Freak Though" (featuring Pharrell)
The Neptunes3:43
12."Countdown"
David Banner4:55
13."Bring Em Out"
Swizz Beatz3:36
14."Limelight" (featuring P$C)
  • K. Cates
  • A. Lawal
  • L. Sylvers
  • N. Josey
  • S. Merritt
  • C. Thomas
Khao5:03
15."Chillin with My B*tch" (featuring Jazze Pha)
  • Harris
  • P. Alexander
  • S. Storch
Scott Storch3:56
16."Stand Up" (featuring Trick Daddy, Lil Wayne & Lil Jon)
Lil Jon4:42
17."My Life" (featuring Daz Dillinger)
Daz Dillinger5:13
iTunes deluxe edition bonus tracks[20]
No.TitleLength
18."Drug Related"3:39
19."Hustlin' " (featuring Governor)3:21
20."Bring Em Out" (video)3:19
21."U Don't Know Me" (video)4:04
22."ASAP" (video) (edited version)4:17

Samples

"Tha King"

  • "King Of Rock" and "Hit It Run" by Run-DMC

"Prayin for Help"

"Why U Mad at Me"

Get Loose

  • "Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)" by The Delfonics

"Bring Em Out"

  • "What More Can I Say" by Jay-Z

"Limelight"

Personnel

Credits for Urban Legend adapted from Allmusic.[21]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[26] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Hasty, Katie (5 April 2006). "T.I. Rules As 'King' of Album Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  2. "Artist Chart History – T.I." on Billboard.com, Neilsen Business Media, Inc., 2008.
  3. Patel, Joseph (2004-04-19). "T.I. Hasn't Been Hiding Out Lately — He's Been in Jail". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  4. Patel, Joseph (2004-04-21). "'Rubber Band Man' Rapper T.I. Gets Three Years in Prison". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  5. Patel, Joseph (2004-07-09). "T.I. Video Fallout Continues as Control of Jail Is Wrested from Sheriff". MTV News. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  6. "For the Record: Quick News on Justin Timberlake and Usher, T.I., Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, The Vines & More". MTV News. 2004-05-28. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  7. "T I - Urban Legend CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 2004-11-30. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  8. Allmusic - T.I.Allmusic. Accessed on August 4, 2008
  9. allmusic ((( T.I. > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))
  10. 'U Don't Know Me' - AwardsBillboard. Accessed October 21, 2008
  11. RIAA T.I. gold & platinum data Archived 2012-07-13 at archive.todayRIAA. Accessed October 11.
  12. Kellman, Andy. Review: Urban Legend. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-12-12.
  13. Breihan, Tom (December 29, 2004). "T.I. / Urban Legend | Record Review". Baltimore City Paper. Times-Shamrock Communications. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  15. Martinez, Rafael. Review: Urban Legend. Prefix Magazine. Retrieved on 2010-12-12.
  16. Juon, Steve. Review: Urban Legend. RapReviews. Retrieved on 2010-12-12.
  17. Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone. "Review: Urban Legend". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved 2008-01-21.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-12-12.
  18. Mindenhall, Chuck. Urban Legend. Retrieved on 2022-06-02.
  19. "RIAA Certifications - T.I." Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  20. "Urban Legend (Deluxe Version) by T.I." iTunes. 30 November 2004.
  21. Credits: Urban Legend. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-12-12.
  22. "Urban Legend – Oricon". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  23. "T.I. Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  24. "Billboard 200 Year End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  25. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Year End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  26. "American album certifications – T.I. – Urban Legend". Recording Industry Association of America.
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