T.I. & Kevin Gates Stay Solid On "Active"

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T.I. collides with Kevin Gates on their new collab, "Active."

In the midst of his fallout with Boosie Badazz, T.I. is currently gearing up for the release of his final album with a new single alongside Kevin Gates. Tip recently began the rollout for his forthcoming project, Kill The King, which will mark the end of his era in rap. Though it’s unclear if he’ll commit to comedy full-time, the “Whatever You Like” rapper plans to dethrone himself as the self-proclaimed “King Of The South” – a title he’s carried for the last two decades.

While T.I. dished out a few singles over the past year, he began teasing a collaboration with Kevin Gates in 2022. The song leaked online after Tip began teasing the record on Instagram, though it seemed like the unofficial version terminated the possibilities of an official release. However, earlier this week, T.I. began to tease the single with Kevin Gates again, as fans anticipated two Southern giants connecting on wax for a commanding street banger.

T.I. Flexes Hard On "Active" Ft. Kevin Gates

This morning, T.I. unveiled the single with Kevin Gates in full.  Javar Rockamore of The Loopholes delivers a menacing production with ghostly synths sweeping through the enchanting guitar strings. Tip and Gates evidently bring out the best in each other throughout the record as they both reflect on the spiritual crossroads. Gates opens his verse with a passage from the Qu’ran before spilling an emotionally potent verse that details the intersection between his spirituality and his street deeds.

Though Gates holds down both the hook and his verse, the record intends to showcase their lyrical swords. T.I. similarly opens up his verse with a passage from Psalm 91 before bearing his soul in one of his most impressive verses in a while. Tip looks back at the hardships he’s faced throughout his life, from the streets to rap, detailing how he overcame adversity to prosper. Hopefully, a release date for Kill The King arrives shortly. Peep T.I.’s latest collaboration with Kevin Gates above.

Quotable Lyrics
Treat 'em like a clown in a nightgown
Catch 'em slippin', get his nose wipe down
Pullin' up in those Goose so clean, still politickin' with some dope fiend
Probably tellin' me to keep my nose clean, lookin' like I'm droppin' off a whole thing
But I ain't touched the shit since the 90's

About The Author
Aron A.
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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