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
14
new
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PAINT – BLACK PAINT
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MELISSA AUF DER MAUR – BASS WOMB ROOM: MY ’90S 4-TRACK DEMOS X FIELD RECORDINGS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: A. LEE EDWARDS – INTERPRETING HEART SOUNDS VOL. II
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS – LOVE
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SOFT LOFT – THROW THE DICE
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE CRANBERRIES – LIVE AT THE LONDON ASTORIA II, 1994
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BEN FOLDS FIVE – BEN FOLDS FIVE (30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)
SPILL NEW MUSIC: RAYMOND J. LUSTIG – “THAT’S THE MOMENT”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: THE HOUSE FLIES – “DERELICT CRAWL”
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: THE ROOM – DOOM POP!
SPILL NEWS: THE KENSINGTON MARKET JAZZ FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR ITS 11th YEAR SEPTEMBER 18 TO 20 WITH FIRST ARTISTS CONFIRMED
SPILL FEATURE: THE STORIES BEHIND THE IMAGES – A CONVERSATION WITH PHOTOGRAPHER BOB GRUEN
SPILL NEW MUSIC: THE WHO’S CLASSIC ALBUM ‘THE WHO BY NUMBERS’ TO BE REVISITED AS A SUPER DELUXE EDITION FOR ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY
SPILL TRACK OF THE MONTH: BLACK DOLDRUMS – “COMPULSION”
  • 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
389
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
Black Paint

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PAINT – BLACK PAINT

by Gerrod Harris on September 4, 2026
BLACK PAINT BLACK PAINT INDEPENDENT For years, Black Paint has established themselves among the most exhilarating up and coming bands to emerge from the Greater Toronto Area. Blending aggressive blues rock with monstrous riffs, the power trio is [...]
 
8.0
Melissa Auf der Maur
8.2

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MELISSA AUF DER MAUR – BASS WOMB ROOM: MY ’90S 4-TRACK DEMOS X FIELD RECORDINGS

by Trish Melanson on September 4, 2026
MELISSA AUF DER MAUR BASS WOMB ROOM: MY ’90S 4-TRACK DEMOS X FIELD RECORDINGS ENVISION RECORDS Melissa Auf der Maur has been quite busy of late. Six months ago, she released Even the Good Girls Will Cry, her self-written memoir of her [...]
 
9.0
A. Lee Edwards
9.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: A. LEE EDWARDS – INTERPRETING HEART SOUNDS VOL. II

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on September 4, 2026
A. LEE EDWARDS INTERPRETING HEART SOUNDS VOL. II YOU KNOW WHAT…?  RECORDS When you are a true songwriter (in both heart and mind) it is something, any discerning listener can hear instantly. It says that Interpreting Heart Sounds Vol. II [...]
 
8.0
Dexys Midnight Runners
6.1

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS – LOVE

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on September 4, 2026
DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS LOVE HEAVENLY RECORDINGS Kevin Rowland and his Dexys Midnight Runners have been around for decades now, and have gone through quite a number of changes, both in musical styles covered, as well as the number of members in [...]
 
8.0
Soft Loft
6.8

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SOFT LOFT – THROW THE DICE

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on September 4, 2026
SOFT LOFT THROW THE DICE PIAS Quite a few listeners will shy away from any type of music that has that pop label somewhere in its description. Yet, there should be no shying away from it, particularly if such an epithet is actually suitable. [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PAINT – BLACK PAINT
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MELISSA AUF DER MAUR – BASS WOMB ROOM: MY...
8.0
8.2
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: A. LEE EDWARDS – INTERPRETING HEART SOUND...
9.0
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS – LOVE
8.0
6.1
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SOFT LOFT – THROW THE DICE
8.0
6.8

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 TRACK OF THE MONTH: BLACK DOLDRUMS – “COMPULSION”
1789
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ONES: THE BEATLES #1 HITS @ PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE, TORONTO
1062
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WARNING – EVERYTHING’S FALLING
943
 
SPILL FEATURE: I AM OK WITH BEING OPTIMISTIC – A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN DOUGLAS OF TRASHCAN SINATRAS
818
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JETHRO TULL – J-TULL DOT COM: ANOTHER CAST OF THE NET (DELUXE EDITION)
816
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: SHAMUS – “SORCERESS”
793
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEEP PURPLE – SPLAT!
791
 
SPILL NEWS: SUGAR SHARE NEW SINGLE “KEEP LOOPING”
740
 
SPILL NEWS: BUTCHER BABIES ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘NIGHTBLOOM’ | UNVEIL NEW VIDEO FOR “BLAME IT ON THE WIND”
738
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE WOMACK SISTERS – THE WOMACK SISTERS
731
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: THE GUESS WHO w/ DON FELDER @ SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME, CALGARY (AB)
729
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: COR DE LUX – “BLIND SMILE”
697
 
SPILL FEATURE: LET’S JUST START AGAIN – A CONVERSATION WITH NICK HEYWARD & LES NEMES OF HAIRCUT 100
675
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES