No Mercy revealed T.I.’s “expression of regret” – a man whose altercations with the law continued to jeopardize his seemingly untouchable career. It’s a surprise, then, that the multi-platinum rapper decided to release “I’m Flexin’” as his first off-hiatus single, which turns out to be his brawniest track in years. Fans who speculated that the rapper would foray into a prolonged self-pity can take a moment of relief: this is self-assured music in every sense of the word.
Nevertheless, you can’t shake off the feeling that “I’m Flexin’” sounds more accustomed than it does new – a track that wouldn’t have a hard time landing a spot on the drum-heavy Urban Legend or the subsequent King. This is easily the track’s most disappointing aspect – the fact that it sounds so akin to his previous material that it ultimately leaves a bitter aftertaste of familiarity. The best thing that can be said about “Flexin’” is the rapping itself, with T.I.’s self-possessed swagger back at full-force (“My top is down and my pockets fat / And my diamonds clearer than HD”) and Big K.R.I.T.’s foreseeably strong appearance making a great case for mainstream success. However, on a musical level, it doesn’t so much evolve T.I.’s sound as it does stick to the safest approach.
