T.I. Makes Another Remarkable Accomplishment

T.I. turned his retirement lap into a victory lap as “Let ’Em Know” earned an RIAA Platinum plaque while the Atlanta rap heavyweight prepared to close his recording career with “Kill the King.”

“Maaaan in all the touring,traveling and vacationing wit the family… I forgot to tell yall that this happened!!!! #LetEmKnow #Platinum S/O all the DJs the PDs & Da Dopest fans in the world who made this possible,” he said on Instagram.

The song is a defining hit of the year as it has crossed generations in popularity.

In April, the Recording Industry Association of America certified the Pharrell Williams-produced single Gold after it reached the equivalent of 500,000 units in the United States. The achievement gives T.I. another commercial milestone more than two decades after his rise.

“Let ’Em Know” arrived Jan. 18 as the lead single from Kill the King, the album T.I. has positioned as his final studio project.

The record also marked a return to familiar territory, pairing Tip with Pharrell for a muscular track designed to remind listeners that retirement does not necessarily mean retreat.

The timing makes the platinum plate certification especially notable. T.I. is not quietly exiting through a nostalgia campaign. He’s presently touring with his children, who are also musicians.

The song’s creation was considerably less conventional than the typical studio session.

“On a yacht in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. That’s where we recorded this record. But it can happen anywhere,” he told People magazine. “I mean, the things I write are inspired by life experiences, memories, interactions, epiphanies.”

“It’s a blessing. I just think when you put positive energy out, positive energy returns,” T.I. told AllHipHop

T.I. acknowledged the people behind that resurgence after the Gold certification.

“Humbled and want to express my gratitude to my family, my team, all the radio stations and DSP’s supporting the record and most importantly all of the fans,” he said.

“Kill the King” carries additional intrigue beyond Pharrell. T.I. previously revealed to AllHipHop that Dr. Dre contributed music to the project, adding another heavyweight producer to what has been positioned as the rapper’s farewell album.

The Gold plaque therefore arrives at an intriguing point in T.I.’s career. Retirement usually suggests an artist looking backward. Tip’s final stretch has him doing almost the opposite.