T.I. - Live in the Sky (feat. Jamie Foxx) (Atlantic)

T.I.'s latest single Live in the Sky is the fourth taken from his album 'KING' (out now), and is a slow, contemplative track showing a sensitive side to the US rapper. Featuring the smooth vocals of Jamie Foxx on the chorus, T.I. reflects on friends who've died, and how he hopes they're now up in heaven. This is a very mellow track, and although dealing with a sensitive subject, T.I. still manages to rap about the ghetto, guns and drugs, making the track stereotypical, adding nothing to the reams of hip-hop verse dedicated to these subjects. This will no doubt please the fans of commercial, US style hip-hop. However, it does not mess with the formula. His vocal style is reminiscent of 50 Cent, and although he refers to himself as: "The king of the South," he's got a long way to go before he's recognised as true hip-hop royalty. He needs to bring out more original material before he earns his throne. [Karen Taggart]