Us or Else (2016)

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Us or Else is the fourth extended play (EP) by American hip hop recording artist T.I.. It was released through Tidal on September 23, 2016, by Grand Hustle Records and Roc Nation. The EP features guest appearances from Quavo, Meek Mill, RaRa, Big K.R.I.T. and Killer Mike, as well as production handled by Mars of 1500 or Nothin' and Mike & Keys, among others. The EP serves as the prequel to his long play (LP) record, titled Us or Else: Letter to the System, which was released in December 2016.[1]

Background

On July 22, 2016, during an interview with Ebro in the Morning on Hot 97, T.I. announced an EP, titled Us or Else.[2] The EP was described to "be aimed at supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and will speak explicitly about the twisted road race relations took in America to arrive at its current precarious state."[3] The EP is also in response to the turmoil caused by the injustices going on in America, namely police brutality following the deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling.[4]

T.I. said he was "compelled" to write the EP "after the repeated deaths of unarmed black citizens at the hands of police."[5][6]

Reception

Us or Else received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Aaron McKrell of HipHopDX wrote, "It's [the] conviction that keeps the EP from being just a collection of obligatory anthems. When Clifford Harris flirts with being self-righteous, it's his self-awareness that keeps him grounded. Us or Else is a commanding assortment of protest tunes strengthened by the passion of its composer."[7]

In Vice, Robert Christgau named "40 Acres" and "Black Man" the EP's highlights and wrote, "Intelligent black man goes straight conscious while wisely ceding the EP's most intelligent rhyme to Killer Mike".[8]

Reference

  1. Us or Else. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  2. "T.I. Is Releasing an Entire Project Dedicated to #BlackLivesMatter | T.I. | Music". 22 July 2016. BET. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  3. [3]Khari. "T.I. Announces New Mixtape, 'Us or Else,' Aimed at Supporting the #BlackLivesMatter Movement". 22 July 2016. The Source. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  4. Edwin Ortiz. "T.I. Takes a Stand for Justice in New Video for "We Will Not"". 20 August 2016. Complex. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  5. Noah Yoo. "T.I. Shares New EP Us or Else Feat. Meek Mill, Killer Mike: Listen". 23 September 2016. Pitchfork. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  6. Adam Fleischer. "T.I. Talks Protest and 'Us or Else' EP". 29 September 2016. Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  7. Aaron McKrell. "T.I. - Us or Else". 25 September 2016. HipHopDX. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  8. Robert Christgau. "Flyover Drawl: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". 14 October 2016. Vice. Retrieved February 5, 2021.