Since it's about time we had another song titled "Stay," and "Stay With Me" isn't quite cutting it apparently, rapper T.I. has shared a new song titled "Stay," which you can hear below, featuring guest vocals from up-and-coming R&B singer Victoria Monet. Along with his current single "No Mediocre" featuring Iggy Azalea, "Stay" will be included on T.I.'s upcoming album Paperwork, which will be the rapper's ninth. Paperwork will feature collaborations with Timbaland, DJ Toomp, Young Thug, and Pharrell.
To match the song's romantic sentiments, "Stay" features appropriately sparse and sultry production, with some sped-up vocal samples that sound like they came straight from Kanye West circa 2003. Victoria Monet offers the song's soulful chorus hook, proving herself to be a powerful vocalist when she wants to be, though she also demonstrates considerable control and subtlety. As for T.I. himself, well, he might actually be the song's weakest point. His flow frankly comes off as careless, with seemingly little consideration to the beat, and his lyrics aren't really anything that haven't been done before. Promising to go to jail for someone you love might be a nice sentiment, but how much does it really mean when you've already been to jail?
Here are T.I.'s verses from the song:
I wonder would it matter much
If I never f**ked and I just fell in love
Or maybe if I never fell in love and I just f**ked
I swear man, s**t was simpler when I was sellin' drugs
You ain't know me then, though, ain't that what ya think
You was in the bed, I was trafficking the thing
Man after everything we will never be the same
Man I'm tired of tellin' lies, know you sick of playin' games
I remember you got a tattoo and put my name on it
Put you in a wedding dress with a train on it
I went and spent a whole mil just to go chill
In Miami, and I be damned if she don't know my love real
How dare you compare me to dude, girl chill
My piece so close up on it, you don't see what it is
Shawty, I die, kill, for you if you keep it real
Go to jail, even if I gotta kneel I will
I can't see you with no me
But, you left me and I'm just me
So, I'm gon' be what they gon' be
And I know he want you but they want me
Girl, together or apart
But you be forever in my heart, I swear
And even if we end up here, I know it hard
I never love that way again, I swear to God
I be breaking down, you be playin hard
She chose to bid it all, watch how you play your cards
Now you runnin' round town with education hatin' broads
Going at me, got me hot, but hold up, how is they involved?
And you can't say that I ain't changed
Your whole life since we met that day
And when we get it right, God bless that day
But until then shawty, I just pray
