The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
    • Portraits
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: CHRIS CONNELLY – “HOUSE OF 70’s”
SPILL NEWS: RISE AGAINST RELEASE TWO NEW SINGLES “KATY BAR THE DOOR” AND “LIVING UNDERCOVER”
SPILL FEATURE: THE QUIET POWER OF ROARING WAVES – A CONVERSATION WITH STEVE HACKETT & STEVE ROTHERY
SPILL CONTEST: WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE MINYO CRUSADERS AT LEE’S PALACE ON SEPTEMBER 29!
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: STRANGE LOT – “ALL I KNOW”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CIRCUIT3 – METANOIA: MUSIC FROM THERAPY
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JAH WOBBLE AND TIAN QIYI – MYSTIC LIVERPOOL: THE BEATLES’ PSYCHEDELIC PSONGBOOK
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JETHRO TULL – J-TULL DOT COM: ANOTHER CAST OF THE NET (DELUXE EDITION)
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WOMACK SISTERS – THE WOMACK SISTERS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JUNGLE – SUNSHINE
SPILL NEW MUSIC: DRAGGED UP – “RAPUNZEL”
SPILL NEWS: DJ SHADOW ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF HIS MUCH-ACCLAIMED DEBUT ALBUM ‘ENDTRODUCING’ | OUT SEPTEMBER 18 VIA MO’WAX/[PIAS] RECORDINGS
SPILL NEWS: SIGNALS FROM THE FUTURE: INTRODUCING THE LUCY DREAMS PERFUME
SPILL NEW MUSIC: KMFDM – “ENEMY (INHALT GELD ’88 REMIX)”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: RUSH CONTINUE ‘FIFTY SOMETHING’ CELEBRATION WITH ‘2112 (50TH ANNIVERSARY)’ AND ‘THE SPIRIT OF RADIO: GREATEST HITS 1974-1987’
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE MOUNTAIN GOATS – DAYS
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
    • Portraits
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
      • Portraits
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
386
previous article
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: MADNESS w/ THE LIGHTNING SEEDS @ MANCHESTER ARENA, MANCHESTER
next article
SPILL TRACK OF THE DAY: FREJA FRANCES - "BREATHE"

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: T.I. – US OR ELSE: LETTER TO THE SYSTEM

T.I.

T.I.
Us Or Else: Letter To The System
Grand Hustle/Roc Nation

Us or Else: Letter to the System emerged from Us or Else, the six-track EP released in September of 2016.

T.I. is a high-profile advocate of Black Lives Matter. His album Us or Else: Letter to the System is a clear illustration of what’s been in the news and alerts black people who are wrongfully labeled when they are just trying to live their own day-to-day lives.

The first track, “I Believe,” was on repeat for about 3 to 4 times, it was just that catchy and made me listen to it over and over again. Immediately I had a feeling this album would be my on-repeat playlist.

The third track, “Black Man,” was bold, strong and chilling. It features Meek Mill, Quaro and Rara and was brutally honest, but in a good way, and I hope it makes White America, (even Canada) uncomfortable.

When I first heard the song, “Warzone,” in September-2016 (track 5,) and watched the music video, I had a strange feeling, where I felt proud of T.I. for speaking up on a topic that needs more cognizance. Whether it makes white folk uncomfortable or not, he sure did make a powerful statement with this track. Listening to it again now, it still catches me the same way making me furious at the idea of people turning a blind-eye to such venomous situations.

This album is selfless, dominating and powerful. It is definitely going to be a timeless album that’s going to be on repeat for a very long time.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016 youtube_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: T.I. – US OR ELSE: LETTER TO THE SYSTEM

Author

Jaii K. Bhamra

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
—
6.0
Total Spill Rating
—
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewsgrand hustleroc nationt.i.us or else: letter to the system
album reviews, grand hustle, roc nation, t.i., us or else: letter to the system
About the Author
Jaii K. Bhamra
The Spill Magazine is a Toronto-based online publication dedicated to covering the independent music scene with a strong focus on our thriving hometown talent. Our writers bring you up-to-date news, in-depth features on musicians and reviews for the latest CD releases. We also travel to the front lines for all local festivals including Canadian Music Week and North by Northeast. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for all daily Spill updates.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviews
 
9.0
Circuit 3

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CIRCUIT3 – METANOIA: MUSIC FROM THERAPY

by Aaron Badgley on August 14, 2026
CIRCUIT3 METANOIA: MUSIC FROM THERAPY MORTALITY TABLES Circuit3 is Dublin-based musician Peter Fitzpatrick, and Metanoia: Music From Therapy is the first Circuit3 release since 2022’s Technology For The Youth. This primarily instrumental album [...]
 
9.0
Jah Wobble

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JAH WOBBLE AND TIAN QIYI – MYSTIC LIVERPOOL: THE BEATLES’ PSYCHEDELIC PSONGBOOK

by Aaron Badgley on August 14, 2026
JAH WOBBLE AND TIAN QIYI MYSTIC LIVERPOOL: THE BEATLES’ PSYCHEDELIC PSONGBOOK CHERRY RED RECORDS/30 HERTZ Since 1964, there have been numerous interpretations of The Beatles’ music. Stax, jazz, classical, Motown, country, Bing Crosby, [...]
 
9.0
Jethro Tull
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JETHRO TULL – J-TULL DOT COM: ANOTHER CAST OF THE NET (DELUXE EDITION)

by Aaron Badgley on August 14, 2026
JETHRO TULL J-TULL DOT COM: ANOTHER CAST OF THE NET (DELUXE EDITION) INSIDE OUT MUSIC Released in 1999, J-Tull Dot Com was Jethro Tull’s 20th studio album. Anderson and company navigated the 1980s well, but the 1990s proved to have new [...]
 
9.0
The Womack Sisters
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WOMACK SISTERS – THE WOMACK SISTERS

by Gerrod Harris on August 14, 2026
THE WOMACK SISTERS THE WOMACK SISTERS DAPTONE RECORDS Zeimani, BG, and Kucha are The Womack Sisters. The granddaughters of Sam Cooke, the daughters of Cecil and Linda Womack of Womack & Womack, and the nieces of Bobby Womack, their lineage [...]
 
8.0
Jungle
7.4

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JUNGLE – SUNSHINE

by Sanjeev Wignarajah on August 14, 2026
JUNGLE SUNSHINE AWAL RECORDINGS British indie soul collective Jungle have been on a generational run, record after record, creating soul-jazz fusion, atmospheric vibes, and creative music videos with meticulous choreography. Most recently, they [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CIRCUIT3 – METANOIA: MUSIC FROM THERAPY
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JAH WOBBLE AND TIAN QIYI – MYSTIC LIVERPO...
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JETHRO TULL – J-TULL DOT COM: ANOTHER CAS...
9.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WOMACK SISTERS – THE WOMACK SISTERS
9.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JUNGLE – SUNSHINE
8.0
7.4

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Newsletter
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Month
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2026 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ONES: THE BEATLES #1 HITS @ PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE, TORONTO
1038
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: SHAMUS – “SORCERESS”
779
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEEP PURPLE – SPLAT!
759
 
SPILL FEATURE: I AM OK WITH BEING OPTIMISTIC – A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN DOUGLAS OF TRASHCAN SINATRAS
758
 
SPILL NEWS: SUGAR SHARE NEW SINGLE “KEEP LOOPING”
731
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: THE GUESS WHO w/ DON FELDER @ SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME, CALGARY (AB)
686
 
SPILL FEATURE: LET’S JUST START AGAIN – A CONVERSATION WITH NICK HEYWARD & LES NEMES OF HAIRCUT 100
658
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DOUBLESPEAK – DOUBLESPEAK
560
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KELZ – A SWEET PASSERBY
546
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WOMACK SISTERS – THE WOMACK SISTERS
533
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MODEST MOUSE – AN ERASER AND A MAZE
532
 
SPILL FEATURE: AFTER THE ASTRONAUT – A CONVERSATION WITH KING COFFEY OF BUTTHOLE SURFERS
494
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SAINT AGNES RELEASE VISUALISER FOR NEW SINGLE “THE BEAST”
452
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES