T.I. Talks About 'Swagger Like Us,' Leaked Single

J-Banks · 08-23-2008, 07:57 PM

T.I. Talks About 'Swagger Like Us,' Leaked Single Featuring Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West -- MTV News Exclusive

Tip's forthcoming LP, Paper Trail, also features Usher, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna.

By Shaheem Reid

On Friday, thousands of hip-hop fans might have felt just like the Geto Boys' Bushwick Bill: "Ah man, homie, my mind's playin' tricks on me!" A song called "Swagger Like Us" -- featuring the rap dream team of T.I., Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West -- leaked onto the Internet. How could a song so big -- a real song, too, not something a DJ patched together by extracting verses from other records -- just appear out of nowhere?

One of the record's stars has some questions of his own: T.I. would like to know how the song leaked. It's one of the premier records from his forthcoming LP, Paper Trail. The album -- which Tip previewed for MTV News back in May -- isn't due out until September 30, and the King of the South said the cut wasn't supposed to be debuted so soon.

"That's some bullsh--," a disappointed Tip told MTV News Saturday afternoon (August 23) via phone. "I'm beating down the Internet as we speak."

The MC -- who will perform a song from Paper Trail at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 7 -- obviously isn't upset with how well "Swagger Like Us" (or "S.L.U.") turned out or even the immediate positive reaction it's gotten. He just had planned on presenting his song properly rather than having it just thrown out there. He said it could have been "that much bigger" if he'd had the chance to roll it out in grand fashion.

"Don't ruin the event," he lamented. "Wait till the cake comes out the kitchen before you eat it. That's like a kid who sees his toys before Christmas; it takes away from me and I think it takes away from the fans as well. When it's time, I'mma give it to you. They leaked my record with me and The-Dream ["Like I Do"] too. Leakage is never a problem I have had. I'm not used to it."

Tip theorized that the high anticipation for Paper Trail may be the reason why songs such as "S.L.U.," "Like I Do" and "Life of the Party" (the latter isn't even slated to be on the LP) have found their way onto the Internet without his permission, but he quickly said "that's neither here nor there" and moved onto discussing the creation of "S.L.U."

"It's been done about a month," he said. "It was a song that Kanye and I had done first; me featuring Kanye. An idea had presented itself -- 'What if we included these people and made it an event record?' -- and I was like, 'That's a very ambitious idea but a lovely one.' "

Soon after, Hov and Weezy submitted verses. Jay liked the song so much that Tip said it will also appear on Jay's The Blueprint 3 album later this year. He did note that Paper Trail is where it will officially be released first.

"Swagger Like Us" was produced by Kanye West and features a sample of M.I.A.'s ubiquitous "Paper Planes," where she declares "No one on the corner got swagger like us." Kanye, who compares his swagger to singer Mick Jagger, starts off with punchlines aplenty: "I know I got it first/ I'm Christopher Columbus, y'all just the Pilgrims/ How it feel to wake up and be the sh--and the urine?/ Nah-na-na, trying to get that Kobe number, one over Jordan."

Jay follows -- "You can pay for school, but you can't buy class" -- Weezy bats third and Tip is the cleanup hitter. T.I. raps about his real-life controversies and how he doesn't worry about other rappers. "Sell a lot of records, I respect it and salute that/ But spitting real life on hot beats, I'm the truth at/ When you kick it like me, no exaggeration necessary."

In addition to the aforementioned trio of guests, Paper Trail has even more A-list guests: Usher has been added to "My Life, Your Entertainment," Rihanna appears on "Living My Life" and Justin Timberlake joins him on "Dead and Gone."

"I really appreciate it, man," Tip said humbly about the support he's gotten from his peers. "It's definitely an honor, man, to be among the elite in the game. To have as much respect from them as they have for me is also a privilege. I just wanna live up to all the expectations."

He talked a bit about "Dead and Gone," the Timberlake collaboration. "Basically, man, it's about the lessons I've learned in life, the old me being dead and gone. How I've changed, how my life has taken new meaning."

Surprisingly, a Kanye West cameo has been removed from a song on the album: "Sitting on Top of the World," which features B.O.B. from T.I.'s Grand Hustle label.

"Kanye's verse has been swapped," Tip said. "I still have Kanye's verse so maybe we'll do a remix down the line."

T.I.'s current video and single is "Whatever You Like." Videos have also been shot for "Swing Your Rag" and "What Up."

Source: MTV

The Real K.I.N.G. · 08-23-2008, 08:08 PM

Yeah thats bogus as hell that a track like that could be leaked so early. It had to be a inside job. If he would've performed that at the MTV awards and premiere it there that would've sold his album like crazy. But now that has went down he drain. Now he just go his loyal fan base to count on to sell his album. Cause the biggest tracks on the album possibly so far has leaked.

dunson23 · 08-23-2008, 08:14 PM

there is more tracks on the album that are radio ready, but imo im not feeling the song but thats me

Clip$ · 08-23-2008, 08:18 PM

a bunch of songs has leaked that are BANGERS, and look at all the songs he got left, damn man this album is gon be BIGGG

The Real K.I.N.G. · 08-23-2008, 08:23 PM

Don't matter the quality the line-up would've brought attention to his project

ill plus matic · 08-23-2008, 08:25 PM

im really feelin this song props.

HoLLoW TiPZzZ · 08-23-2008, 08:26 PM

this song is hotter than a muuufucker

gunotkilla · 08-23-2008, 08:26 PM

aint feeling it as wel ......................

Tha Unit On Top · 08-23-2008, 09:25 PM

I didnt think the song is that hot, not as hot as I thought it would be, not really feeling it that much. But I agree, imagine if he debuted the song at the MTV awards, all of them got on stage, first time ever heard, that would have blown the roof of the place, still even if they did the song it still would be big just to see them all on stage, but its a very smart move for TI, you no the video is gonna be all over BET, I mean you have BETs 3 fav rappers, TI, Kanye, Wayne, not to mention Jay, thats a number 1 video on 106, all over the radio in the south, with Jay it will get that NY play, just a big line up.

The Real K.I.N.G. · 08-23-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha Unit On Top

I didnt think the song is that hot, not as hot as I thought it would be, not really feeling it that much. But I agree, imagine if he debuted the song at the MTV awards, all of them got on stage, first time ever heard, that would have blown the roof of the place, still even if they did the song it still would be big just to see them all on stage, but its a very smart move for TI, you no the video is gonna be all over BET, I mean you have BETs 3 fav rappers, TI, Kanye, Wayne, not to mention Jay, thats a number 1 video on 106, all over the radio in the south, with Jay it will get that NY play, just a big line up.

I see me and you got that same way of thinkin

Ashy Larry · 08-23-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Jay liked the song so much that Tip said it will also appear on Jay's The Blueprint 3 album later this year.

don't do it Hov

AKABIMBO · 08-23-2008, 10:37 PM

ive heard the song and its f***ing crazy

suss3it · 08-24-2008, 01:43 AM

Song is crazy, and it seems Kanye is addicted to auto-tune.

gangstabone23 · 08-24-2008, 01:54 AM

T.I and Jay killed it man, fuck!!! Weezy is trash and I wish Game could Jump on it, He'd kill it, he allways kills guest appearances man!

matrix · 08-24-2008, 04:48 AM

yall niggz buggin...thats the sickest fuggin track of this year...ti killed that shit 2....

Yuri Orlov · 08-24-2008, 11:33 AM

Didn't check the track yet , i'mma listen to it right now.props for the news tho , i c why he's disappointed.

young_v1t0_ · 08-24-2008, 01:28 PM

leave this song off your album jay
we need pure classics....not mixtape mash-ups

GMNRecordsCT3 · 08-24-2008, 02:47 PM

I think its a bad look for Tip... he got murdered on his own song...

----------------
Now playing: Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne & T.I. - Swagga Like Us
via FoxyTunes

TJG-Unit · 08-24-2008, 06:58 PM

song is doppppeee

08-23-2008, 07:57 PM	#1
J-Banks Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 18,033 Thanks: 5,250 Thanked 48,133 Times in 6,236 Posts Blog Entries: 1	T.I. Talks About 'Swagger Like Us,' Leaked Single T.I. Talks About 'Swagger Like Us,' Leaked Single T.I. Talks About 'Swagger Like Us,' Leaked Single Featuring Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West -- MTV News Exclusive Tip's forthcoming LP, Paper Trail, also features Usher, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna. By Shaheem Reid On Friday, thousands of hip-hop fans might have felt just like the Geto Boys' Bushwick Bill: "Ah man, homie, my mind's playin' tricks on me!" A song called "Swagger Like Us" -- featuring the rap dream team of T.I., Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West -- leaked onto the Internet. How could a song so big -- a real song, too, not something a DJ patched together by extracting verses from other records -- just appear out of nowhere? One of the record's stars has some questions of his own: T.I. would like to know how the song leaked. It's one of the premier records from his forthcoming LP, Paper Trail. The album -- which Tip previewed for MTV News back in May -- isn't due out until September 30, and the King of the South said the cut wasn't supposed to be debuted so soon. "That's some bullsh--," a disappointed Tip told MTV News Saturday afternoon (August 23) via phone. "I'm beating down the Internet as we speak." The MC -- who will perform a song from Paper Trail at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 7 -- obviously isn't upset with how well "Swagger Like Us" (or "S.L.U.") turned out or even the immediate positive reaction it's gotten. He just had planned on presenting his song properly rather than having it just thrown out there. He said it could have been "that much bigger" if he'd had the chance to roll it out in grand fashion. "Don't ruin the event," he lamented. "Wait till the cake comes out the kitchen before you eat it. That's like a kid who sees his toys before Christmas; it takes away from me and I think it takes away from the fans as well. When it's time, I'mma give it to you. They leaked my record with me and The-Dream ["Like I Do"] too. Leakage is never a problem I have had. I'm not used to it." Tip theorized that the high anticipation for Paper Trail may be the reason why songs such as "S.L.U.," "Like I Do" and "Life of the Party" (the latter isn't even slated to be on the LP) have found their way onto the Internet without his permission, but he quickly said "that's neither here nor there" and moved onto discussing the creation of "S.L.U." "It's been done about a month," he said. "It was a song that Kanye and I had done first; me featuring Kanye. An idea had presented itself -- 'What if we included these people and made it an event record?' -- and I was like, 'That's a very ambitious idea but a lovely one.' " Soon after, Hov and Weezy submitted verses. Jay liked the song so much that Tip said it will also appear on Jay's The Blueprint 3 album later this year. He did note that Paper Trail is where it will officially be released first. "Swagger Like Us" was produced by Kanye West and features a sample of M.I.A.'s ubiquitous "Paper Planes," where she declares "No one on the corner got swagger like us." Kanye, who compares his swagger to singer Mick Jagger, starts off with punchlines aplenty: "I know I got it first/ I'm Christopher Columbus, y'all just the Pilgrims/ How it feel to wake up and be the sh--and the urine?/ Nah-na-na, trying to get that Kobe number, one over Jordan." Jay follows -- "You can pay for school, but you can't buy class" -- Weezy bats third and Tip is the cleanup hitter. T.I. raps about his real-life controversies and how he doesn't worry about other rappers. "Sell a lot of records, I respect it and salute that/ But spitting real life on hot beats, I'm the truth at/ When you kick it like me, no exaggeration necessary." In addition to the aforementioned trio of guests, Paper Trail has even more A-list guests: Usher has been added to "My Life, Your Entertainment," Rihanna appears on "Living My Life" and Justin Timberlake joins him on "Dead and Gone." "I really appreciate it, man," Tip said humbly about the support he's gotten from his peers. "It's definitely an honor, man, to be among the elite in the game. To have as much respect from them as they have for me is also a privilege. I just wanna live up to all the expectations." He talked a bit about "Dead and Gone," the Timberlake collaboration. "Basically, man, it's about the lessons I've learned in life, the old me being dead and gone. How I've changed, how my life has taken new meaning." Surprisingly, a Kanye West cameo has been removed from a song on the album: "Sitting on Top of the World," which features B.O.B. from T.I.'s Grand Hustle label. "Kanye's verse has been swapped," Tip said. "I still have Kanye's verse so maybe we'll do a remix down the line." T.I.'s current video and single is "Whatever You Like." Videos have also been shot for "Swing Your Rag" and "What Up." Source: MTV __________________ JBanksblog.com - check it out __________________

08-23-2008, 08:08 PM	#2
The Real K.I.N.G. Too Ill For Radio Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Windy City Posts: 1,928 Thanks: 583 Thanked 243 Times in 57 Posts	Yeah thats bogus as hell that a track like that could be leaked so early. It had to be a inside job. If he would've performed that at the MTV awards and premiere it there that would've sold his album like crazy. But now that has went down he drain. Now he just go his loyal fan base to count on to sell his album. Cause the biggest tracks on the album possibly so far has leaked. __________________

08-23-2008, 08:18 PM	#4
Clip$ Chris Breezy Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,439 Thanks: 840 Thanked 307 Times in 59 Posts	a bunch of songs has leaked that are BANGERS, and look at all the songs he got left, damn man this album is gon be BIGGG __________________

08-23-2008, 08:23 PM	#5
The Real K.I.N.G. Too Ill For Radio Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Windy City Posts: 1,928 Thanks: 583 Thanked 243 Times in 57 Posts	Don't matter the quality the line-up would've brought attention to his project __________________

08-23-2008, 08:25 PM	#6
ill plus matic Resurrection Join Date: May 2004 Location: MONSTERS ISLE Posts: 21,721 Thanks: 775 Thanked 709 Times in 180 Posts	im really feelin this song props. __________________

08-23-2008, 08:14 PM	#3
dunson23 Hip-Hop We Won't Stop Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hip-Hop Posts: 2,620 Thanks: 541 Thanked 1,008 Times in 101 Posts	there is more tracks on the album that are radio ready, but imo im not feeling the song but thats me

08-23-2008, 08:26 PM	#7
HoLLoW TiPZzZ -- Free Prodigy -- Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: -- Sky -- Posts: 3,561 Thanks: 593 Thanked 1,508 Times in 183 Posts	this song is hotter than a muuufucker __________________ "I'm a handsome shooter, I simply clutch the Ruger, And blow ya bumbaclott rat face to Burmuda" - P "Free P"

08-23-2008, 08:26 PM	#8
gunotkilla Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Massacre, GUnit World Posts: 1,845 Thanks: 554 Thanked 190 Times in 34 Posts	aint feeling it as wel ......................

08-23-2008, 09:25 PM	#9
Tha Unit On Top BISD Dropping In 09 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,617 Thanks: 228 Thanked 1,996 Times in 117 Posts	I didnt think the song is that hot, not as hot as I thought it would be, not really feeling it that much. But I agree, imagine if he debuted the song at the MTV awards, all of them got on stage, first time ever heard, that would have blown the roof of the place, still even if they did the song it still would be big just to see them all on stage, but its a very smart move for TI, you no the video is gonna be all over BET, I mean you have BETs 3 fav rappers, TI, Kanye, Wayne, not to mention Jay, thats a number 1 video on 106, all over the radio in the south, with Jay it will get that NY play, just a big line up.

08-23-2008, 10:37 PM	#12
AKABIMBO Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MTL Posts: 235 Thanks: 102 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	ive heard the song and its f***ing crazy __________________

08-24-2008, 01:43 AM	#13
suss3it Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 914 Thanks: 173 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Song is crazy, and it seems Kanye is addicted to auto-tune.

08-24-2008, 01:54 AM	#14
gangstabone23 Banned Join Date: May 2008 Location: Whatever Posts: 1,140 Thanks: 2 Thanked 255 Times in 72 Posts	T.I and Jay killed it man, fuck!!! Weezy is trash and I wish Game could Jump on it, He'd kill it, he allways kills guest appearances man!

08-24-2008, 04:48 AM	#15
matrix Veteran Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: bk ny flatbush all day Posts: 6,281 Thanks: 5,746 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	yall niggz buggin...thats the sickest fuggin track of this year...ti killed that shit 2....

08-24-2008, 11:33 AM	#16
Yuri Orlov Yayo For Vice-President Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Back in the machine for the fuck of it. Posts: 2,316 Thanks: 1,320 Thanked 1,137 Times in 206 Posts	Didn't check the track yet , i'mma listen to it right now.props for the news tho , i c why he's disappointed.

08-24-2008, 01:28 PM	#17
young_v1t0_ I UsE BlUnTz 4 PeNz Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: --In ThE SmOkErZ NoTePaD-- Posts: 1,797 Thanks: 472 Thanked 765 Times in 152 Posts	leave this song off your album jay we need pure classics....not mixtape mash-ups __________________ "Rollin Blunts Is A "Art" And With That Said My "Masterpiece" Is Made Of Brown Leaf And Buds Thats Red (Hairs) - ArSoN

08-24-2008, 06:58 PM	#19
TJG-Unit MuFucken Boss Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 3,093 Thanks: 520 Thanked 513 Times in 60 Posts	song is doppppeee __________________ I change places, to prevent catchin' the cases Races, in the faces, hall at you laces This is a hit, let's see if homicide trace this

08-24-2008, 02:47 PM	#18
GMNRecordsCT3 Macaroni wit the Cheeesse Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wash Heights, NYC Posts: 13,948 Thanks: 4,797 Thanked 1,861 Times in 408 Posts	I think its a bad look for Tip... he got murdered on his own song... ---------------- Now playing: Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne & T.I. - Swagga Like Us via FoxyTunes __________________ myspace.com/bummydavis - soundclick.com/gmnproductions "The name on my car insurance is YOUR FUKIN FAULT!!"