T.I. is three singles deep into his recent album “T.I. vs. T.I.P.,” but he’s already recording new material, according to Jason Geter, CEO of T.I.’s Grand Hustle label.
Geter says T.I. “would like to work with” longtime collaborator, producer DJ Toomp, this time around. Toomp produced songs on each of T.I.’s prior albums but was noticeably absent from “T.I. vs. T.I.P.”
In other Grand Hustle news, DJ Drama is eyeing a December release for his long-anticipated album, “Gangsta Grillz” (Grand Hustle/Atlantic). The first single is “5000 One’s,” featuring T.I., Diddy, Twista, Yung Joc, Young Dro and Willie the Kid. Drama is slated to shoot the song’s video in mid-October in Atlanta.
After a January 2007 racketeering arrest, the master files for “Gangsta Grillz” were seized by authorities, so Drama has spent most of this year reassembling the album. “We’re really focusing on capitalizing on Drama’s brand,” Geter says. “He’s built a solid brand with his core audience and that’s who we’re targeting.”
Meanwhile, Grand Hustle MCs Big Kuntry and Young Dro are also looking to drop albums in spring 2008. Kuntry’s first single is “That’s Right” featuring T.I., and will appear on his debut album, “My Turn To Eat.” Young Dro’s next album will be titled “Young and the Restless,” but doesn’t have a first single just yet.
