T.I. Returns to Top 40
T.I. has re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 with his new track "LET EM KNOW." The Atlanta rapper called the experience "surreal" and expressed gratitude for maintaining relevance after years in the industry. He also hinted at plans for an 'ATL' sequel in a March 4 interview, though details remain under wraps.
"LET EM KNOW" currently sits at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking T.I.'s 58th entry on the chart. This is his first time back in the Top 40 since the 2014 single "No Mediocre." The track is the lead single for his upcoming and reportedly final album, "Kill the King." The resurgence is powered by significant radio airplay, with the track recently hitting #1 on the Mediabase urban radio chart after a substantial week-over-week increase in spins. The song, produced by Pharrell Williams, is described as having a nostalgic, mid-2000s feel, reminiscent of the duo's previous collaborations. T.I. and Pharrell previously worked together on the 2006 track "Good Life" and the massive Robin Thicke hit "Blurred Lines." This chart success coincides with renewed buzz around a sequel to T.I.'s 2006 film debut, *ATL*. The original movie, a coming-of-age story set in Atlanta's roller-skating scene, was loosely based on the real-life experiences of producers Dallas Austin and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins of TLC. *ATL* was a modest box office success, grossing $21 million on a $7 million budget, and has since become a cult classic. The film was the directorial debut for Chris Robinson and the acting debut for T.I. (credited as Tip Harris) and his co-star Lauren London. Talk of a sequel, reportedly titled *ATL 2: Homecoming*, has circulated for years, with T.I. and director Chris Robinson first hinting at it as far back as 2015. A trailer for the sequel featuring the original cast was shared by Robinson on Instagram in August 2021, and actress Lauren London confirmed in 2022 that the project was still in development.
