T.I. Closes Out More Than Two Decades of Music With Kill the King

After more than two decades of helping shape Atlanta hip-hop, T.I. is closing one chapter of his career with what he says will be his final album.

Kill the King arrived June 26 as T.I.'s 12th studio album and his first full-length project since The L.I.B.R.A. in 2020. The 18-track project brings together names including Young Dro, Anderson .Paak, T-Pain, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, Summer Walker, Usher, NBA YoungBoy and The-Dream.

But for Atlanta, this one means a little more.

T.I. has been part of the soundtrack of this city for more than 20 years.

From Trap Muzik and Urban Legend to King and Paper Trail, Tip helped take a sound coming out of Atlanta and the South to the rest of the world. “What You Know,” “Bring Em Out,” “Whatever You Like” and “Live Your Life” became records that stretched far beyond the city.

And then there was ATL.

For an entire generation, the movie, music, fashion and culture surrounding that era became part of how people outside of Atlanta saw the city.

Now, at 45, T.I. says he's ready for something different.

The title Kill the King itself represents that transition. T.I. has explained that the project is about letting go of the ego connected to the “King of the South” identity he carried throughout his career and choosing more peace as he gets older.

He kicked off this final run with the Pharrell-produced “LET 'EM KNOW,” before delivering an album that reconnects him with different generations of Southern music.

And retirement apparently doesn't mean disappearing.

T.I. has already moved into stand-up comedy, film and other business ventures, while also putting more attention toward the next generation of his family. He recently toured alongside his sons Domani and King, who are building music careers of their own.

There's something fitting about that.

One generation steps back while another gets its opportunity to step forward.

Whether Kill the King actually ends up being the last T.I. album forever remains to be seen — even his sons have publicly questioned whether he'll really stay retired.

But if it is?

T.I. leaves behind something much bigger than a catalog.

He helped build an era of Atlanta music that changed hip-hop.

And that's one hell of a way to hang up the crown