T.I. featuring Mary J. Blige - Remember Me

Random Lyric:

When the world needed Tip

Ask where he was at 

But we he need something back 

Fade to black

The image makeover of T.I. continues. It actually started before he started serving his one year bid. As evidenced by songs like "Dead and Gone," Tip has been showing contrition over the machine gun charges. In his most recent songs, he mentions that he's going to be away for a while and he hopes his fans will be there when he gets out.

Now that he's in the pen, out comes a song with one of music's biggest guns (so to speak) Mary J. Blige. He's been hinting about his circumstances at various times, but this one is as specific as it comes and probably timed to come out just as he went in. Now that Mr. Harris is in, he urges us to remember him.

We all know, though, that a year is a long time in hip hop, which is still very much a "what have you done for me lately" genre of music. Perhaps T.I. can overcome that. After all, rap's biggest stars have shown that it can be done. Jay-Z takes time off and still comes back hard. LL Cool J used to put CDs out with space in between. And it can be argued that T.I. is a big star.

The flip side is this. When was the last time we had a hit from Dem Franchize Boyz or The Game? They were big one moment and gone the next. Hopefully he's got a pen and a pad and we get another banger a year and a day from now.

Banger or booty: banger

Previously by T.I.:

    Dead and Gone (with Justin Timberlake)

    Live Your Life (with Rihanna)

    Ain't I (with Yung L.A.)

    Just Like Me (with Jamie Foxx)

    Swagger Like Us (with Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne)

    Wish You Would (with Ludacris) 

Previously by Mary J. Blige:

    Just Stand Up (with Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Ethridge, Natasha Beddingfield, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Keyshia Cole, Leann Rimes, Ashanti and Ciara)