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
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEVON PARKIN – NEW BELIEFS ON LAYAWAY
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SHANNON JAE RIDOUT – TWO BUSTED BOOTS AND A BROKEN HEART
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BIG BRAVE – IN GRIEF OR IN HOPE
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SISTER GEMINI – SCREAMING CRYING LAUGHING SIGHING
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AMELIA DAY – EGO TRIP
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AUDIOSLAVE – OUT OF EXILE (REMASTERED)
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KIT MAJOR – MISS EGO
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PUBLIC IMAGE LTD – ALIVE
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ANGINE DE POITRINE – VOL. II
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: YES – AURORA
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JON SPENCER – SONGS OF PERSONAL LOSS AND PROTEST
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SWEET – LIVE AT THE CAPITOL (HANNOVER 1991)
SPILL NEW MUSIC: WAR ANNOUNCES 50th ANNIVERSARY REISSUE OF ‘GREATEST HITS’
SPILL NEW MUSIC: KEEGAN POWELL – “LONG WAY THROUGH DOOM”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: AWAKE & DREAMING – “ANTIDOTE”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MIDGE URE – A MAN OF TWO WORLDS
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
369
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
 
6.0
Devon Parker

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEVON PARKIN – NEW BELIEFS ON LAYAWAY

by Gerrod Harris on June 12, 2026
DEVON PARKIN NEW BELIEFS ON LAYAWAY MYSTERYBOX RECORDS Vancouver-based producer, Devon Parkin, has returned with his second full-length album, New Beliefs On Layaway. The album follows a string of singles and the 2023 release of his debut, Sit [...]
 
8.0
Shannon Jae Ridout

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SHANNON JAE RIDOUT – TWO BUSTED BOOTS AND A BROKEN HEART

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 12, 2026
SHANNON JAE RIDOUT TWO BUSTED BOOTS AND A BROKEN HEART ANTI-CORP MUSIC Back in the mid-s60s, when Vanguard Records were all the rage on the folk scene, it was practically an honour to get a chance to record a solo folk/singer-songwriter album [...]
 
8.0
Big Brave

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BIG BRAVE – IN GRIEF OR IN HOPE

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 12, 2026
BIG BRAVE IN GRIEF OR IN HOPE THRILL JOCKEY The emotional element was never missing from BIG|BRAVE’s music, but for its latest album, in grief or in hope, the Montreal/Berlin trio turn that emotional level a few notches further up (or more [...]
 
8.0
Sister Gemini

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SISTER GEMINI – SCREAMING CRYING LAUGHING SIGHING

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 12, 2026
SISTER GEMINI SCREAMING CRYING LAUGHING SIGHING DANGER COLLECTIVE RECORDS Sister Gemini is one Remy Jean, supported on her debut album Screaming Crying Laughing Sighing by a quite select collaborative crew, with musicians and producers that have [...]
 
8.0
Amelia Day

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AMELIA DAY – EGO TRIP

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on June 12, 2026
AMELIA DAY EGO TRIP INDEPENDENT It is true that the number of artists covering that currently popular ground between Americana and pop/rock. Yet the key there is how distinctive their music is – whether they separate themselves from the rest and [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEVON PARKIN – NEW BELIEFS ON LAYAWAY
6.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SHANNON JAE RIDOUT – TWO BUSTED BOOTS AND...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BIG BRAVE – IN GRIEF OR IN HOPE
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SISTER GEMINI – SCREAMING CRYING LAUGHING...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: AMELIA DAY – EGO TRIP
8.0

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 ALBUM REVIEW: SOCIAL DISTORTION – BORN TO KILL
1213
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: TENILLE TOWNES @ RICHMOND HILL CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, RICHMOND HILL
935
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BRIAN WILSON – ON TOUR 1999-2007
797
 
SPILL NEWS: THE AFGHAN WHIGS RELEASE NEW SINGLE “HOUSE OF I” | THEIR FIRST NEW MUSIC SINCE 2022
759
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TORI AMOS – IN TIMES OF DRAGONS
738
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOE JACKSON – HOPE AND FURY
649
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CODEFENDANTS – LIFERS
589
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: IAMX – “INFINITE FEAR JETS {MIMETIC HEXES REWORK}”
587
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NOAH KAHAN – THE GREAT DIVIDE
569
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NINA HAGEN – HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN
563
 
SPILL FEATURE: WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THINGS INTERESTING FOR OURSELVES – A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN LINNELL OF THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
533
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER – I’M PEOPLE
481
 
SPILL NEWS: WIDOWSPEAK ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, HEADLINE TOUR, AND SHARE LEAD SINGLE “IF YOU CHANGE”
452
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES