“I’m officially the realest,” T.I declared from the stage at Highline Ballroom last night — but the beads of sweat he mopped from his brow and flung into an adoring front row were purely imaginary. The man does not perspire! Impressive, considering that onstage, T.I. is a bit of a spaz. Celebrating the release of his excellent new disc, Paper Trail, the King romped through his hit parade, pairing his stanzas with an endless daisy chain of hyperkinetic gesticulations. And of course, no rap show would be complete without a parade of guests — and T.I. brought out some biggies: Lupe Fiasco, Swizz Beatz, and — Hov! — Jay-Z. See ‘em all in our slideshow.
A hundred camera phones flash; a hundred manicures reach toward the heavens.
Remember when Lupe just wore hoodies with cartoons on them? Now look: The tape on dude’s microphone matches his weird pleather jacket.
After copping new frames at Moscot, a bespectacled Swizz Beatz gets ready to challenge T.I. to a friendly game of “Who’s Got the Bigger Swag Rag?”
Overzealous fans each try to take home a “Souvenir Hova Finger.”
Disappointed that Kanye, Weezy, and M.I.A. didn’t post, DJ Drama glowers from behind the turntables.
Fans reach out for one last touch before hearing “the pelvis has left the building.”
