Following recent performances from Jorja Smith, Rakim, GoldLink, and Erykah Badu, T.I. is the latest artist to Join NPR for an intimate Tiny Desk Concert. Though DJ Toomp was unfortunately not around to lead the band, Tip recruited a talented mini-orchestra of musicians from the non-profit Atlanta Music Project, who provided strings brass, and keyboard. The Atlanta rapper began with his classic "Rubber Band Man," off his breakthrough project Trap Muzik, an album that celebrated its 15th anniversary this month and played a crucial role in creating the trap rap subgenre.
Throughout the performance, T.I. shared anecdotes from his career, recalling a call he got while he was filming the "Rubber Band Man" video with Diddy, where he was told police were raiding his home. "That was a very bittersweet moment for me, but that's all in the essence of trap music," he said. "This music was about the elements that people have to endure in their lives every day and find a brighter side and make a way out of no way, and that's what this music represents."
Tip went on two of his biggest hits, King's "What You Know" and Paper Trail's "Live Your Life." Watch the full performance above.