The "King" is back and "Uncaged." T.I., who was released from a halfway house in March, gave his first full performance at New York City's Capitale venue on Monday night (Aug. 16) -- as part of AXE Music's "One Night Only" concert series -- and the Atlanta-bred rapper did not disappoint. The BoomBox had the pleasure of chopping it up with the rapper prior to his show and checking out his hour-long sound-check, where it was clear that Tip wanted to put on the best show possible for his New York fans. Fans piled in the hall and after an hour wait, Tip took the stage, setting things off with his signature "boxer entering the ring"-esque entrance. Backed by a five-piece band, T.I. would use up every inch of the stage as he bounced through 'I'm Back,' 'Top Back,' and 'Rubberband Man.' "I don't care where you're from ... the North, South, East, West. You gotta be real if you wanna ride with me," T.I. proclaimed before launching into 'Ride Wit Me' off his 2006 'King' album.
As expected, Tip brought some friends along. Cam'ron hit the stage, who then summoned Vado and the pair powered through 'Speak in Tongues.' Maino followed Cam and Vado, as did ATL emcee B.o.B., who rocked out with Tip the longest, including the numbers 'On Top of the World' and 'Bet I.' T.I. left the stage and let B.o.B. run through his hits 'Airplanes' and 'Nothin' on You,' which delighted the primarily female audience.
Just when the crowd thought they'd been properly entertained, Tip slowed things down a bit -- and stalled -- as Mary J. Blige made her way to the stage. MJB's presence threw the audience into a frenzy as Blige and T.I. performed the 2009 stand alone track 'Remember Me' -- which never made it onto the official 'Paper Trail' release -- before jumping into 'Good Love' off of Blige's recent 'Stronger With Each Tear.'
"T.I. killed his 16 bars," Blige professed before letting loose and dancing across the stage. After 90 minutes of multiple wardrobe changes, T.I. gave it one last go bringing Swizz Beatz on stage for Drake's 'Fancy' (sans Drake) and 'Swing Ya Rag' before wrapping things up with 'Whatever You Like,' his most successful song to date; the 'King Uncaged' single 'Got Your Back,' featuring Keri Hilson, and 'Live Your Life.'
T.I.'s seventh studio album, and first since being released from prison, 'King Uncaged' is due online and in stores on September 28.
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