While the self-proclaimed best rapper alive finally starts his oft-delayed prison sentence, another hip-hop king returns to the scene. After a stint behind bars, T.I. today released his first new single, the aptly titled “I’m Back”. With just a few weeks remaining on his sentence (to be served in a halfway house), T.I. is clearly ready for a big comeback. He told a collection of DJs that he plans to release a new album this August. Check “I’m Back” and decide for yourself — has he lost a step while serving time?

T.I. - I'm Back

T.I. (aka Clifford Harris) comes hard with the predictable (but still credible) dismissal of other rap artists, saying “You ain’t got a pimp bone in your body / I can tell you ain’t never bought a key or caught a body.” Sounds to us like he can deliver rhymes as fiercely as ever, though it would be nice to skip ahead to see if he can pick up where he left off with 2008’s Paper Trails, which included two incredibly hooky tracks in the “Whatever You Like” (which went to #1 on the Hot 100 while earning tributes from both Lil Wayne and “Weird Al” Yankovic) and the smash “Dead And Gone”.

T.I. points out that “I’m Back” isn’t really intended to be a successor to those radio blockbusters. The new track, produced by T.I. associates The Trackslayerz, is “not an official first single, just something to keep the streets warm,” he told a conference call of DJs today. (Hear audio of the call here). He said that his full album — his seventh — will be released August 24.

He said he expects to start making public appearances and winding up to promote the album this summer. “Middle of April, beginning of May. Y’all gonna start seeing me. Y’all already know, once again it’s on. Like we always do this time.”