Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. (born September 25, 1980), better known by his
stage nameA stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
T.I. or
T.I.P., is an American Grammy Award-winning rapper, producer, actor, songwriter, and co-
CEOA chief executive officer or chief executive is one of the highest-ranking corporate officers or administrators in charge of total management...
/founder of
Grand Hustle RecordsGrand Hustle Entertainment is an Atlanta, Georgia-based record label formed in 2003 by Clifford "T.I." Harris and Jason Geter. The label is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Discography:-Upcoming releases:-External links:*...
.
Early life and career beginnings
T.I. was born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. on September 25, 1980, in
BankheadBankhead is an Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood located west of downtown Atlanta. It's surrounded by Grove Park to the west, West End to the south, Vine City to its east, and with Berkely Park and Home Park to the north. At its center is MARTA's Bankhead station and the city's Maddox Park. Grove...
, Atlanta,
GeorgiaGeorgia is a state in the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution, it had been the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established, in 1733. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January...
. He was raised by his grandparents and was a
drug dealerThe illegal drug trade is a global black market consisting of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of illegal controlled drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug control laws...
as a teenager. He was at one time known as Rubber Band Man, a reference to the custom of wearing rubber bands around the wrist to denote wealth in terms of drugs or money. He was nicknamed "Tip" after his paternal great-grandfather. Kawan "KP" Prather, a record executive, discovered and signed T.I. when he was a teenager. Upon signing with
Arista RecordsArista Records is an American record label. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operates under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
subsidiary LaFace Records in 2001, he shortened his name to T.I. out of respect for label mate
Q-TipKamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from Queens, New York City, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest.-Personal life:...
.
In 2009, T.I. appeared as himself on an episode of
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-ListKathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List is a reality show starring Kathy Griffin and airing on Bravo. The show made its debut in August 2005. The show follows the struggle of self-proclaimed "D-list" celebrity Kathy Griffin to climb the Hollywood ladder. This often includes scheming for publicity with...
. On the episode, he took the comedienne to Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles in LA and gave her a lesson on how to "swagger."
2001–2002: Debut album
T.I. released his debut album,
I'm SeriousI'm Serious is rapper T.I.'s debut album. It was released on October 9, 2001.-History:His debut album features guests Pharrell of The Neptunes, Too Short, YoungBloodZ, Pastor Troy, Bone Crusher, Lil Jon, P$C, Beenie Man and Jazze Pha. Production by The Neptunes, Jazze Pha, and DJ Toomp...
, in October 2001 through
Arista RecordsArista Records is an American record label. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operates under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
. The album spawned the eponymous single, which featured
JamaicaJamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width, amounting to 11,100 km
2. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harboring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n
reggaeReggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s.While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady. Reggae is based...
entertainer
Beenie ManAnthony Moses Davis , better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Jamaican reggae entertainer and a well established dancehall artist.-Biography:Davis was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1973...
. His his debut single, "I'm Serious," was released on June 26, 2001. The single received little airplay and failed to chart. The album included guests appearances from
Pharrell WilliamsPharrell Williams , commonly known as Pharrell, is an American recording artist, producer, musician and fashion designer. Along with Chad Hugo, they make the record production duo The Neptunes, where they produce pop, hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of rock band...
of
The NeptunesThe Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for some successful Hip hop, R&B and Pop artists in the late-90s and 2000s....
(who called him "the
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name, Jay-Z is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $150 million, shipping over 30 million copies of his albums in the United...
of the South"),
Jazze PhaPhalon Anton Alexander, better known by his stage name Jazze Pha , is an American record producer, songwriter, singer and rapper.-Career:His trademark is hollering "Ladies and Gentlemen!" at the beginning of tracks he has contributed to....
, Too Short, Bone Crusher,
Lil JonJonathan Smith , better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American composer, producer, promoter, and rapper. He is best known as a pioneer of the hip hop sub-genre crunk...
,
Pastor TroyPastor Troy is an American rapper and record producer and a member of the hardcore rap group D.S.G.B....
,
P$CP$C is an American hip hop group from Atlanta, Georgia, formed by rapper T.I. and his longtime companions Big Kuntry King, C-Rod, AK, & Mac Boney. All of the members are signed on Grand Hustle Records, as well as the group. The name of the group "P$C" stands for Pimp Squad Click...
and
YoungbloodzYoungBloodZ are an American Southern rap duo from Atlanta, Georgia, comprised of members J-Bo and Sean P .The two met at Decatur's Miller Grove Middle School, where...
. The album featured production from The Neptunes,
DJ ToompAldrin Davis, better known as DJ Toomp, is an award-winning American record producer and DJ who works in Atlanta, Georgia. He rose to fame by working with southern rapper T.I. on his first four albums, and caught his first big break in 2006 for producing T.I.'s single "What You Know", which peaked...
, Madvac, and The Grand Hustle Team. Despite the album's guests appearances and production team, the album peaked at number 98 and only sold 163,000 copies in the United States. Critics pointed to the fact that many of the tracks sounded the same and that a few were blatant rip-offs. Other critics commented saying, "T.I. claims to be the king of the South, but fails to show and prove. He does, however, have potential. If his talent ever matches his confidence, he may be headed for stardom."
Due to the poor commercial reception of the album, T.I. was dropped from
Arista RecordsArista Records is an American record label. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operates under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
. He then formed
Grand Hustle EntertainmentGrand Hustle Entertainment is an Atlanta, Georgia-based record label formed in 2003 by Clifford "T.I." Harris and Jason Geter. The label is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Discography:-Upcoming releases:-External links:*...
and started releasing several mixtapes with the assistance of
DJ DramaTyree Cinque Simmons is an Atlanta, Georgia-based hip hop artist and the official DJ for Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I....
. He resurfaced in the summer of 2003 with fellow Atlanta rapper and former label-mate Bone Crusher's song "Never Scared." His mixtapes and mainstream exposure from "Never Scared" eventually recaptured major label attention and he signed a
joint ventureA joint venture is an entity formed between two or more parties to undertake economic activity together. The parties agree to create a new entity by both contributing equity, and they then share in the revenues, expenses, and control of the enterprise...
deal with
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
.
2003–2005: Trap Muzik and Urban Legend
T.I. released his second album
Trap MuzikTrap Muzik is the second album from hip hop artist T.I., released on August 19, 2003. in the United States.-History:After being dropped from Arista Records due to poor album sales from I'm Serious, T.I. formed Grand Hustle Records with his longtime business partner Jason Geter and released Trap...
on August 19, 2003 through
Grand Hustle RecordsGrand Hustle Entertainment is an Atlanta, Georgia-based record label formed in 2003 by Clifford "T.I." Harris and Jason Geter. The label is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Discography:-Upcoming releases:-External links:*...
; it debuted at number four and sold 109,000 copies in its first week. It spawned the singles "
24s24S may refer to:* "24's", a single by rapper T.I.* 24s, the FAA identifier for Pinehurst State Airport in Jackson County, Oregon...
", "
Be Easy"Be Easy" is the second single off T.I.'s album Trap Muzik. The song is about the life of a man in the projects. The song peaked at #55 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.-Video:...
", "
Rubberband Man"Rubberband Man" is the third single released from T.I.'s album Trap Muzik. The high-quality production of David Banner's was noted by music reviewers, particularly the ascending organ riff that has been described as 'hypnotic' and 'pure halftime show'. Upon release, it charted reasonably well,...
", and "
Let's Get Away"Let's Get Away" is the fourth single released from T.I.'s album Trap Muzik. It was produced by T.I. and Jazze Pha, who appears on hook with a woman, and outro of the song. It peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song interpolates Aretha Franklin's 1972 song "Day...
". The album featured guest appearances by Eightball & MJG,
Jazze PhaPhalon Anton Alexander, better known by his stage name Jazze Pha , is an American record producer, songwriter, singer and rapper.-Career:His trademark is hollering "Ladies and Gentlemen!" at the beginning of tracks he has contributed to....
,
Bun BBernard Freeman , better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK.-UGK and Mddl Fngz:...
and Macboney and was produced by Jazze Pha,
Kanye WestKanye West is an American singer/rapper. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, and his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008. His first three albums have received numerous awards and critical acclaim...
,
David BannerLavell Crump, better known by the stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, occasional actor, record producer, record label executive, and philanthropist. His stage name is taken from the lead character of the 1970s and 1980s CBS television series The Incredible Hulk.-Early life:Banner was...
, Madvac and
DJ ToompAldrin Davis, better known as DJ Toomp, is an award-winning American record producer and DJ who works in Atlanta, Georgia. He rose to fame by working with southern rapper T.I. on his first four albums, and caught his first big break in 2006 for producing T.I.'s single "What You Know", which peaked...
. The success of the album was followed by some controversy. While on tour, T.I. was charged with violating his
probationProbation is a sentence which may be imposed by a court in lieu of incarceration. A criminal who is "on probation" has been convicted of a crime but has served only part of the sentence in jail, or has not served time at all...
over a 2003 drug charge. He was sentenced to three years in
prisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Other terms are penitentiary, correctional facility, and jail , although in the United States "jail" and "prison" refer to different subtypes of correctional facility...
. While there, he was granted rights to film the
music videoA music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music/song. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. Although the origins of music videos go back much further, they came into their own in the...
for "Let's Get Away", which sold over one million copies in the U.S. and was certified Platinum by the
RIAAThe Recording Industry Association of America is a group which represents the recording industry distributors in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA say "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legitimate sound recordings...
.
T.I. released his third studio album
Urban LegendUrban Legend is the third album by the rapper T.I., released on November 30, 2004, and instantly generated crossover success with the hit single "Bring Em Out." -History:...
on November 30, 2004. The album's official
lead singleA lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band from a given album. Sometimes, the lead single is not the first single . The first single could be a radio promotion that ends up being part of an EPK...
, "Bring 'Em Out", was released on January 18, 2005 and became his first top ten hit, peaking at number nine on the U.S .Hot 100, while the second single "
U Don't Know Me"U Don't Know Me" is a 2004 rap song recorded by T.I. from his third album, Urban Legend. It made it to #23 in the United States. T.I. here addresses individuals who claim to be the author of his success or else wish to leech off of it. T.I...
" peaked at number twenty-three on the U.S .Hot 100. His third single "ASAP" reached number 75 on the U.S. charts, number 18 on the U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop charts and number 14 on the Rap chart. T.I. created a video for "ASAP"/"Motivation". However, "Motivation" only made it to number 62 on the U.S. R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart. He was featured in
Destiny's ChildDestiny's Child was a Grammy-Award winning American R&B girl group comprising lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. The group achieved four major studio albums and four US number-one singles, and sold over 50 million records worldwide becoming one of the...
's 2004 single "Soldier" along with
Lil WayneDwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American Grammy Award-winning rapper. Formerly a member of the rap group the Hot Boys, he joined the Cash Money Records collective as a teenager...
, peaking at number three on the U.S. Hot 100 and the U.S. R&B Charts.
In 2006, T.I. received two
Grammy AwardThe Grammy Awards —or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry...
nominations for
Best Song CollaborationThe Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration has been awarded since 2002. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.- 2000s :-Category Records:*Most Wins:**1. Jay-Z – 3 Wins**2...
("Soldier" w/ Destiny's Child & Lil Wayne) and
Best Rap Solo PerformanceThe Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance was awarded from 1991 to 2002, alongside the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance. In 2003 this award was split into separate awards for Best Female Rap Solo Performance and Best...
for "U Don't Know Me" at The 48th Grammy Awards. That same year he won Rap Artist of the Year, Rap Album Of The Year, Rap Album Artist Of The Year, Rap Song Artist of the Year and Video Clip Artist of the Year on the
Billboard Music AwardThe Billboard Music Awards, sponsored by Billboard magazine was one of several annual United States music awards shows . It had been held annually in December until they went dormant in 2007...
and Best Male Hip-Hop Artist on the
BET AwardsThe BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
.
2006–2007: Breakthrough success and federal weapons charges
In 2006, T.I. starred in his first film,
ATLATL is a 2006 American comedy-drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne...
. The film also starred
Lauren LondonLauren Nicole London is an American film and television actress, model, and occasional music video actress. Beginning her career in music videos and later transistioning into film and television, London earned recognition for her performances in the film ATL as well as the television shows 90210...
,
Big BoiAntwan André Patton , better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer, actor, and one half of the alternative hip hop duo Outkast.-Outkast:...
,
Evan RossEvan Olav Ross is an American actor. He is the son of recording artist Diana Ross and Norwegian businessman and mountaineer, Arne Næss, Jr.. He is the brother of actresses Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Tracee Ellis Ross, and of singer Leona Naess...
,
Mykelti WilliamsonMykelti Williamson is an American actor, best known for his role in the 1994 film Forrest Gump.-Early life:Williamson was born Michael T. Williamson in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the son of Elaine, a certified public accountant, and a father who was an Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer.Williamson...
,
Jason WeaverJason Michael Weaver also known by his stage name J-Weav, is an American actor and singer. He is perhaps best known for his roles as a pre-teenage Michael Jackson in the Emmy Award-winning 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, and as high school student Marcus Henderson on the WB sitcom...
and
Keith DavidKeith David Williams , better known by the stage name Keith David, is an American film, television, and voice actor. He is perhaps most known for his live action roles in such films as Crash, There's Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work...
, and was written by Tina Gordon Chism and
Antwone FisherAntwone Quenton Fisher is an American author, screenwriter, and film producer. His 2001 autobiographical book Finding Fish was the basis for the 2002 motion picture Antwone Fisher, directed by Denzel Washington.-Early life:Antwone Fisher was placed in foster homes weeks after he was born and...
, produced by Timothy M. Bourne,
Tionne WatkinsTionne Tenese Watkins , better known by her stage name T-Boz, is an American R&B singer, song-writer, and a member of the group TLC. Watkins is also an occasional actress.-Early life:...
, and
Will SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. is an American actor, film producer and rapper. He has enjoyed success in music, television and film. Newsweek has called him the most powerful actor on the planet...
, and directed by
Christopher RobinsonChris Robinson is a film director working mostly with music videos and commercials. He has directed commercials for brands such as iPod, Coca Cola and Verizon and music videos for songs like "Fallin'" and "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys, "Roc Boys" by Jay Z, the grammy nominated video for...
. T.I. played the character Rashad Swann, an orphaned high school senior. In its opening weekend, the film grossed a total of $11.5 million, ranking third in the United States box office, and went on to gross $21.2 million.
T.I.'s fourth album,
KingKing is a Grammy-nominated album from hip hop artist T.I. It was released on March 28, 2006 in the United States.-History:It features guest appearances by Young Buck, Pharrell, Common, B.G., UGK, Jamie Foxx, Young Jeezy, P$C, Governor and Young Dro and production by Just Blaze, Pharrell Williams,...
, debuted at number one on the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart in the first half of 2006, selling 522,000 copies in its first week. T.I. released "
Front Back"Front Back" is the first promo and official single released from T.I.'s fourth album, King. It featured Port Arthur's own UGK. It had small attention and has helped promote the album....
" and "Ride with Me" as a
promotional singlesA promotional recording, or promo , is a recording issued on vinyl, CD, cassette tape, VHS, or DVD and distributed free in order to promote a commercial recording...
prior to the release of the album. The singles garnered little attention, but helped to promote not only the album, but also T.I.'s debut movie
ATLATL is a 2006 American comedy-drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne...
. The album also included the singles, "
What You Know"What You Know" is a Grammy Award-winning multi platinum hip-hop song by the Southern hip-hop artist T.I., and the second single from his 2006 album King.-Song information:...
," "
Why You Wanna"Why You Wanna" is the third single from American rapper T.I. from his fourth album King. It was released in 2006. It samples a slowed down keyboard chord from Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman ". The chorus also interpolates Q-Tip's vocals from Got 'Til It's Gone with Janet Jackson and Find a Way with...
," and "
Live in the Sky"Live in the Sky" is the fourth single released by T.I. from his album King. It features Jamie Foxx. The song is mainly about T.I.'s deceased family members and friends who have died in violence, drugs, and even tuberculosis. An alternate version exists with varied lyrics, due to the explicit...
," plus a remix of "
Top Back"Top Back" is the fifth and final single by hip-hop artist T.I., from his album King. It was produced by Mannie Fresh and released as a single in a remixed version from the album Grand Hustle Presents: In Da Streetz Volume 4...
."
King earned numerous awards and nominations including a
Grammy AwardThe Grammy Awards —or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry...
nomination for
Best Rap AlbumThe Grammy Award for Best Rap Album has been awarded since 1996. Grammy Awards of one year are presented for works released between October 1 two years previously and September 30 of the preceding year.*2009 – Lil Wayne for Tha Carter III...
. He was also featured in the single "
Shoulder Lean"Shoulder Lean" is the debut single by Young Dro from his debut album Best Thang Smokin. The song features Grand Hustle rapper T.I. for the hook. Productions come from Grand Hustle producer Lil C. The song has massive hit inside US, although majority among critics are quite narrow...
" by
Young DroD'Juan Hart better known by his stage name Young Dro is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia and a protégé of T.I.. He performed as Dro from 2000 until he signed to T.I.'s label in 2006, when he became known as Young Dro....
reaching the top ten on the U.S. Hot 100 and #1 on the U.S.
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsR&B/Hip-Hop Songs, formerly the Black Singles Chart, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues...
and
Hot Rap TracksRap Songs, formerly Hot Rap Tracks, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was...
.
"What You Know" won a
Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo PerformanceThe Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance was awarded from 1991 to 2002, alongside the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance. In 2003 this award was split into separate awards for Best Female Rap Solo Performance and Best...
and was nominated for
Best Rap SongThe Grammy Award for Best Rap Song was first awarded in 2004. It is a songwriting award given to all who wrote the lyrics and music of the song. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year...
at the 49th Grammy Awards. Also that year, T.I. collaborated with
Justin TimberlakeJustin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician. He has won six Grammy Awards as well as two Emmy Awards. He got his big break when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate...
for "
My Love"My Love" is a song by American singer–songwriter Justin Timberlake from his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds . It was released on September 12, 2006, by Jive Records as the second single from the album...
," which proved to be a worldwide hit, and won a
Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung CollaborationThe Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration has been awarded since 2002. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.- 2000s :-Category Records:*Most Wins:**1. Jay-Z – 3 Wins**2...
with Justin Timberlake at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards and also won Best Male Hip-Hop Artist at the BET Awards for the second straight time. He then served as a featured performer on "
We Takin' Over"We Takin' Over" is the first single from DJ Khaled's second album, We the Best. Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman and Lil Wayne are all featured on this track. The song, produced by Danja, was released through the iTunes Store on March 27, 2007 and debuted at number 51 on Billboards Hot...
" by
DJ KhaledKhaled Khaled , better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is a Palestinian American hip hop musician and radio personality. He is the DJ for the group Terror Squad and a record producer. Khaled also is a radio host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR...
also featuring
AkonAliaune Badara Akon Thiam, better known by his middle and stage name Akon , is a Senegalese-American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, businessman, and philanthropist. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up”, the first single from his debut album Trouble...
,
Fat JoeJoseph Cartagena, better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper signed to Imperial Records, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
,
Rick RossWilliam Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, sometimes written as Rick Ro$$ is an American rapper. He took his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
, Birdman and
Lil WayneDwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American Grammy Award-winning rapper. Formerly a member of the rap group the Hot Boys, he joined the Cash Money Records collective as a teenager...
.
T.I. released his fifth album,
T.I. vs. T.I.P.T.I. vs. T.I.P. is the fifth studio album released by Atlanta rapper T.I. The album was released on July 3, 2007. In the first week of sales, the album went nearly gold, selling 468,000. The album received Fairly positive and mixed reviews. However, it was nominated for a Grammy. This is the first...
, on July 3, 2007. The first single from the album was "
Big Things Poppin' (Do It)"Big Shit Poppin' " is a song by T.I., and is the first single from his fifth album, T.I. vs. T.I.P.. The song was written by T.I. and produced by Mannie Fresh. This is his third Top 10 solo hit, and fifth overall. The single was released on May 29. The clean version of the song is called "Big...
," which was produced by
Mannie FreshByron O. Thomas, better known by his stage name Mannie Fresh, is currently an artist and hip-hop producer who records for Def Jam South. From 1993-2005 he was the in-house producer for Cash Money Records.-Biography:...
and was released to radio stations on April 17, 2007. The second single, "
You Know What It Is"You Know What It Is" is the second single off T.I.'s 5th album T.I. vs. T.I.P. It is a T.I.P. song. The song was written by T.I., produced by Wyclef Jean.The official retail version of the single was leaked to the internet on June 13, 2007....
" featuring
Wyclef JeanWyclef Neluset Jean is a multiplatinum Haitian-American musician, actor, producer and former-member of the hip hop trio The Fugees...
, was released June 12, 2007.
T.I. vs. T.I.P. sold 468,000 copies in the United States, according to
Nielsen SoundScanNielsen SoundScan is an information system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett that tracks sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
, and debuted at number one on the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was T.I.'s second chart-topper in a row:
KingKing is a Grammy-nominated album from hip hop artist T.I. It was released on March 28, 2006 in the United States.-History:It features guest appearances by Young Buck, Pharrell, Common, B.G., UGK, Jamie Foxx, Young Jeezy, P$C, Governor and Young Dro and production by Just Blaze, Pharrell Williams,...
opened at number one on the Billboard 200 with 522,000 copies in late March 2006. The album included guest performances by
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name, Jay-Z is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $150 million, shipping over 30 million copies of his albums in the United...
,
Busta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known as Busta Rhymes , is a Grammy-nominated Jamaican-American rapper, songwriter, and actor...
, Wyclef Jean,
NellyCornell Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is a rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly made his solo debut in 2000 with Country Grammar, the title track of...
, and
EminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , known by his primary stage name Eminem, or by his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer and actor. Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album...
, and production by Eminem,
Jeff BassBass Brothers is the professional name for the team of Mark and Jeff Bass, the Detroit producers responsible for grooming rapper Eminem in his early days and collaborating on much of his subsequent music. Before that they worked with George Clinton...
, Mannie Fresh, Grand Hustle,
The RunnersThe Runners is a hip hop production duo from Orlando, Florida, consisting of Andrew "Dru Brett" Harr and Jermaine "Mayne Zayne" Jackson. They came together to form the team in 2000, but they have known each other since they were in kindergarten. They are best known for producing the hit singles "Go...
,
Just BlazeJustin Smith, better known as Just Blaze, is an American hip hop music producer from Paterson, New Jersey. Blaze is also the CEO of Fort Knocks Entertainment.-Production career:Smith began producing for well known musicians in the late 1990s...
, Wyclef Jean and
DanjaFloyd Nathaniel Hills , better known as Danja , is an American Grammy winning record producer, composer and songwriter.-History:Hills, born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, took up drums and piano in his early teens...
. Absent from this album's production lineup were T.I.'s longtime producer DJ Toomp and The Neptunes. In October 2007, T.I. released his third single, "
Hurt"Hurt" is the third official single from T.I.'s fifth studio album T.I. vs. T.I.P. It features Busta Rhymes and newcoming Grand Hustle artist Alfamega. Production comes from Danja, which utilized horns for the song structure.-Song information:...
," featuring Busta Rhymes and Alfamega.
T.I. also appeared in the
Ridley ScottSir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer known for his stylish visuals and an obsession for detail. His films include Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, American Gangster and Body of Lies...
film
American Gangster alongside
Denzel WashingtonDenzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director and film producer. He has garnered much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures, such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin Carter, Melvin B...
and
Russell CroweRussell Ira Crowe is an Australian actor and musician. His acting career began in the early 1990s with roles in Australian TV series such as Police Rescue and films such as Romper Stomper. In the late 1990s, he began appearing in US films such as the 1997 movie L.A. Confidential...
with fellow rappers Common and
RZARobert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy winning music producer, author, rapper, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in hip hop music, he is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan...
. and was featured on the soundtrack. He also teamed up with Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for a TV commercials.
On October 13, 2007, federal authorities arrested T.I. four hours before the
BET Hip-Hop AwardsThe BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
in Atlanta. He was charged with two felonies —
possession of three unregistered machine guns and two silencersThe National Firearms Act , 73rd Congress, Sess. 2, ch. 757, , enacted 1934-06-26, currently codified as amended as ) is an Act of Congress passed in 1934 that, in general, imposes a statutory excise tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms and mandates the registration of those NFA....
, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The arrest was made in the parking lot of a downtown shopping center, which a witness identified as the
WalgreensThe Walgreen Company , d/b/a Walgreens , is the second largest drugstore chain in the United States. The company operates about 7,000 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico...
drug store at the corner of North and Piedmont Avenues. Harris was arrested after allegedly trying to purchase the guns from a "cooperating witness" with the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and ExplosivesThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a specialized federal law enforcement agency and regulatory organization within the United States Department of Justice...
. According to federal officials, the witness had been cooperating with authorities since Wednesday, when he was arrested on charges of trying to
purchase guns from a federal agentA straw purchase is any purchase whereby the purchaser is knowingly acquiring an item or service for someone who is, for whatever reason, unable to purchase the item or service themselves....
. The witness had been working as Harris' bodyguard since July, authorities said.
T.I. walked out of the Atlanta United States District Court after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge
Alan J. BavermanAlan J. Baverman is a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. Alan J. Baverman is known for having presided over the pretrial proceedings of the criminal case of rap star T.I.,, for having been Roy Cicola's criminal attorney in the Gold Club Case, for his judicial involvement...
on October 26, 2007. Judge
Alan J. BavermanAlan J. Baverman is a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. Alan J. Baverman is known for having presided over the pretrial proceedings of the criminal case of rap star T.I.,, for having been Roy Cicola's criminal attorney in the Gold Club Case, for his judicial involvement...
required T.I. post a $3 million bond, $2 million in cash and $1 million in equity on property he owns. The rapper was required to remain at home except for medical appointments and court appearances. The only people allowed to live with him were his girlfriend and children. Visitors were required to be approved by the court.
2008–present: Paper Trail
T.I.'s suppression hearing was originally stated for January 3, 2008; however, U.S. Magistrate
Alan J. BavermanAlan J. Baverman is a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. Alan J. Baverman is known for having presided over the pretrial proceedings of the criminal case of rap star T.I.,, for having been Roy Cicola's criminal attorney in the Gold Club Case, for his judicial involvement...
pushed back the suppression hearing until February 19, 2008. The performer later pleaded guilty to U.S. federal weapons charges. He was sentenced to an undefined prison sentence, a year of
house arrestIn justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
and 1,500 hours of
community serviceCommunity service is an act by a person that benefits the local community. People become involved in community service for many reasons: for some, serving community is an altruistic act, for others it is a punishment....
. In an interview with
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs...
about serving jail time, T.I. stated, "Presumably, while I'm there, I'll be able to strategize my comeback." He went on to say that he would not "just be sitting still doing nothing". Apart from the federal weapons charges, T.I. found the time to collaborate with
Mariah CareyMariah Carey is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart...
on the "
I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time"I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" is a song written by Mariah Carey, DJ Toomp, Mark DeBarge, Johnson and Etterlene Jordan for Carey's eleventh studio album, E=MC², and is the third single from the album. The single was produced by DJ Toomp and Carey...
" remix, peaking at number 58 on the U.S. Hot 100 and number 36 on the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsR&B/Hip-Hop Songs, formerly the Black Singles Chart, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues...
.
While under
house arrestIn justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
, T.I. began writing lyrics down on paper for his following album. The first
promotional singleA promotional recording, or promo , is a recording issued on vinyl, CD, cassette tape, VHS, or DVD and distributed free in order to promote a commercial recording...
from the album, "
No Matter What"No Matter What" is a song by rapper T.I. off his album Paper Trail. It was released as a promotional track for the album on April 29, 2008, with its eventual release onto the iTunes store on May 6. The song was nominated at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video. The song ranked at...
," was released in April 2008. The music video was released on June 2008 on MTV's
FN PremieresFNMTV was a music video program on MTV focused on premiering new music videos and airing viewers' instantaneous feedback from its website. F N is branded to stand for "Friday Night" to signify when the premiere block airs...
. The second promotional single was "
Swing Ya Rag"Swing Ya Rag" is the second promo single from T.I.'s sixth studio album Paper Trail. It features vocals and production by Swizz Beatz.The song was released on iTunes on August 26, 2008 and peaked at number 18 on the iTunes top songs chart....
" which was produced by and featured
Swizz BeatzKasseem Dean better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer and rapper. Swizz, wife R&B singer Mashonda, and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records.-Personal life:...
. The official
lead singleA lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band from a given album. Sometimes, the lead single is not the first single . The first single could be a radio promotion that ends up being part of an EPK...
was "
Whatever You Like"Whatever You Like" is a song by American recording artist T.I., released as the first single from his sixth studio album, Paper Trail. The song was written by T.I., James Scheffer and David Siegel and produced by Jim Jonsin...
," was released on July 2008, and became his most successful single of his career so far, breaking the record for the highest jump to number one on the
Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, jumping from number 71 to number one. Also becoming T.I.'s first solo number one on the chart. He released his sixth album,
Paper TrailPaper Trail is the sixth studio album by hip hop artist T.I., released on September 30, 2008. He began to write songs for the album as he awaited trial for federal weapons and possession charges...
, in September 2008. The title of the album refers to the lyrics he had written down on paper. Like many other rappers, T.I. abandoned this style of rapping after his debut album
I'm SeriousI'm Serious is rapper T.I.'s debut album. It was released on October 9, 2001.-History:His debut album features guests Pharrell of The Neptunes, Too Short, YoungBloodZ, Pastor Troy, Bone Crusher, Lil Jon, P$C, Beenie Man and Jazze Pha. Production by The Neptunes, Jazze Pha, and DJ Toomp...
by just memorizing lyrics. His representative explain that T.I. wanted to "take more time to really put something down [this time]". The album debuted at number one on the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
selling 568,000 copies in the United States.
The second single, "
Swagga Like Us"Swagga Like Us" is a song by rappers T.I. and Jay-Z, released as the second single from T.I.'s sixth studio album, Paper Trail. It was slated to appear on Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3, however he later confirmed all songs with Auto-Tune are being called off the album. It was released on September 6,...
", featuring
Kanye WestKanye West is an American singer/rapper. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, and his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008. His first three albums have received numerous awards and critical acclaim...
,
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name, Jay-Z is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $150 million, shipping over 30 million copies of his albums in the United...
and
Lil WayneDwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American Grammy Award-winning rapper. Formerly a member of the rap group the Hot Boys, he joined the Cash Money Records collective as a teenager...
, debuted and peaked at number five on the
Billboard Hot 100. With the third single "
Live Your Life"Live Your Life" is a song by American rapper T.I. off his sixth album Paper Trail and released as the third single. The song features Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna, and was produced by Just Blaze and Canei Finch. It was released as the third single from the album. It officially premiered at the...
" featuring
RihannaRobyn Rihanna Fenty , known as Rihanna, is a Barbadian singer and model. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
, T.I. broke his own record on the
Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday; while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
when it jumped from number 80 to the number one. The fourth single "
Dead and Gone"Dead and Gone" is a song by American rapper T.I., featuring singer Justin Timberlake. It was released as the fourth official and final single of T.I.'s sixth album, Paper Trail. The single charted on Billboard Hot 100 even before its official release. They performed this song at the 51st Grammy...
", featuring
Justin TimberlakeJustin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician. He has won six Grammy Awards as well as two Emmy Awards. He got his big break when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate...
, peaked at number two for five weeks on the
Billboard Hot 100. During the
51st Grammy AwardsThe 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on February 8, 2009. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, with five wins, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Lil Wayne won four awards, including Best Rap Album....
, he was nominated for four Grammy Awards, eventually winning Best Rap Performance by a Duo Or a Group for "
Swagga Like Us"Swagga Like Us" is a song by rappers T.I. and Jay-Z, released as the second single from T.I.'s sixth studio album, Paper Trail. It was slated to appear on Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3, however he later confirmed all songs with Auto-Tune are being called off the album. It was released on September 6,...
".
Producing
T.I. was co-executive producer of
B.G.'sChristopher Dorsey, better known by his stage name B.G., is an American rapper in the group Hot Boys and founder of record label Chopper City Records. He began his solo career with Cash Money in 1993 with Lil' Wayne as 1/2 of the duo "The BG'z", and joined the Hot Boys in 1997.-Biography:Dorsey's...
upcoming album and making beats for artists like
Mariah CareyMariah Carey is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart...
, Cassidy,
Rick RossWilliam Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, sometimes written as Rick Ro$$ is an American rapper. He took his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
,
MainoJermaine Coleman, better known by his stage name Maino, is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City, New York.-Musical career:After several mixtape releases and key guest features, Maino was offered a recording contract by Universal Records. Maino split with the label in 2007, feeling that...
,
B.o.B.Bobby Ray Simmons , also simply known as Bobby Ray, formerly B.o.B, is an American recording artist and producer from Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently signed under the labels of Grand Hustle and Atlantic Records...
,
Yung JocJasiel Robinson, better known by his stage name Yung Joc is a Grammy Award-nominated American rapper who resides in College Park, Georgia....
,
Young DroD'Juan Hart better known by his stage name Young Dro is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia and a protégé of T.I.. He performed as Dro from 2000 until he signed to T.I.'s label in 2006, when he became known as Young Dro....
, and himself. He also executive produced the
soundtrackHustle & Flow is the soundtrack album for the motion picture of the same name. P$C, Mike Jones, Trillville, Juvenile, and other hip hop artists contributed tracks to the album which was released on July 12, 2005....
to the film
Hustle & FlowHustle & Flow is a 2005 independent film written and directed by Craig Brewer about a Memphis hustler called DJay, played by Terrence Howard, who experiences a midlife crisis and is compelled to face his aspiration to become a rapper...
and released the collection through his record label.
Television producing
Late 2007, T.I. linked up with Los Angeles based production company 828 Entertainment to executive produce a new reality show titled
Life on Mars which chronicles the life of young prodigy music producer LaMar "MARS" Edwards. T.I. partnered 828 Entertainment with his company
Grand Hustle RecordsGrand Hustle Entertainment is an Atlanta, Georgia-based record label formed in 2003 by Clifford "T.I." Harris and Jason Geter. The label is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Discography:-Upcoming releases:-External links:*...
to produce a slate of both television and film projects. He also created a reality show on
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs...
called "
T.I.'s Road to RedemptionT.I.'s Road To Redemption is an American reality television show that premiered on February 10, 2009, on MTV. The show is produced by T.I., Michael Hirschorn, Stella Stolper and Chris Choun of Ish Entertainment. The series focuses on the 45 days before rapper T.I.'s March sentencing, hoping to...
".
According to HHNLive.com T.I. revealed that he is launching Grand Hustle Films. The first project from the movie division of his Grand Hustle brand is titled
Once Was Lost. T.I. will star in the film alongside veteran Hollywood actor
Danny GloverDanny Lebern Glover is an American actor, film director, and political activist. Glover is best known for his role as Mr. Albert Johnson in The Color Purple and as Detective Roger Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon film franchise....
, who will also act as producer. Filming is scheduled to begin in October 2008.
Ludacris
G-UnitG-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mixtapes. The name of the group is short for Guerilla Unit as well as Gangsta Unit.-Early days:...
artist
Young BuckDavid Darnell Brown , better known by his stage name Young Buck, is an American rapper who is signed to G-Unit Records and Cashville Records...
asked fellow
Southern rapSouthern hip hop, is a form of American hip hop music that emerged from a late-1990s club-oriented vibe in southern U.S. cities, including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Nashville, Atlanta, Memphis, Birmingham, New Orleans, Charlotte, Virginia, Miami, Orlando, Shreveport, Little Rock,...
pers T.I. and
LudacrisChristopher Brian Bridges better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
to appear on his new record on the track "Stomp" but later T.I. was replaced by
The GameJayceon Terrell Taylor , better known by his stage name The Game, is an American rapper. He rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, and his two Grammy nominations...
on the original version. T.I. then recorded a disrespectful verse against Ludacris. Ludacris heard it and decided to fire back at T.I. The beef originally started when T.I. saw
Disturbing Tha PeaceDisturbing tha Peace Records, LLC is a recording company and management company based out of Atlanta, Georgia, that specializes in hip hop and rap. The label was founded by Ludacris and his manager, Chaka Zulu.-Beginnings:...
rapper I-20's video. In the video, a guy was wearing a shirt with the words "Trap House." The guy was getting beat up and stomped in the video. T.I. thought it said "Trap Muzik."
On June 24, 2007 at the Sunset Tower Hotel in
West Hollywood, CaliforniaWest Hollywood, a city in Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984. The latest residential population estimate was 34,675. The city is well-known for its nightlife, celebrity culture, and diverse atmosphere. The city has large gay, Jewish and eastern European populations...
, T.I. was involved in a brawl. During a luncheon held by Kevin Liles of Warner Music Group (parent company of T.I.'s label, Atlantic Records), the MC got into a fight with
LudacrisChristopher Brian Bridges better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
' manager Chaka Zulu. According to witnesses, T.I. punched Zulu in the face and choked him and a small, brief melee ensued.
T.I. brought home the award for Best Hip-Hop Artist at the
BET AwardsThe BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
, and took the opportunity to apologize for his scuffle with Disturbing tha Peace executive Chaka Zulu earlier in the week. While accepting his award, he expressed regret over the situation. "They say it's a fine line between brilliance and insanity," he said, in an apparent reference to his troublesome alter ego, T.I.P. During the broadcast, cameras showed his onetime rival
LudacrisChristopher Brian Bridges better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
smiling in the audience. The audience stood up and clapped for T.I.
The two rappers have resolved the beef and have collaborated on two songs: "
Wish You Would"Wish You Would" is the first promo single off Ludacris' album, Theater of the Mind. The song features T.I.. The song was released on iTunes on September 2, 2008...
" off Ludacris's sixth studio album,
Theater of the MindTheater of the Mind is the sixth studio album by American hip hop rapper Ludacris. It was released on November 24, 2008.-Background:The album was slated for release on October 21, but was pushed back to November 24. In April 2008, a song named "Let's Stay Together" appeared on xxlmag.com;...
, and "On Top of the World" off T.I.'s sixth studio album,
Paper TrailPaper Trail is the sixth studio album by hip hop artist T.I., released on September 30, 2008. He began to write songs for the album as he awaited trial for federal weapons and possession charges...
. The original version of the latter had
Kanye WestKanye West is an American singer/rapper. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, and his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008. His first three albums have received numerous awards and critical acclaim...
.
Lil' Flip
According to
AllHipHopAllHipHop.com is a hip hop news website. It was founded in 1998. At five million visitors a month, it is the world's most popular hip hop website. Essence magazine has dubbed it "the CNN of hip-hop". In 2006, AllHipHop won the Rising Stars Award from Black Enterprise magazine. In 2007, PC Magazine...
, T.I. and
Lil' FlipWesley Eric Weston, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil' Flip, is a Grammy Award Winning American rapper. Lil' Flip is known for his freestyle ability and claims to have been on 1000 mixtapes. He is one of the first southern and Houston rappers to become nationally known in mainstream play...
had an altercation in Lil' Flip's neighborhood, the
CloverlandCloverland is a neighborhood located on the southside of Houston, Texas, United States.Cloverland was the home neighborhood for Lil Flip and many other Houston rappers. In 2005, Cloverburger, a hamburger joint in the neighborhood located at 4515 Mowery Road, was the site of the T.I./Lil Flip...
section of Houston. It has been said that T.I. went there to create a
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
exposing Lil' Flip to be a fraud. When T.I. went to Cloverland with his entourage, he was met by Flip and his people. Then it was said a fight broke out with the two sets with Lil' Flip swinging on T.I. until one of T.I.'s bodyguards started shooting. The same day T.I. went on a
Houston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2008 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.2 million within an area of 600 square miles . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of...
radio station talking about the altercation. He revealed that he had the tape and he was going to release it with an upcoming mixtape, but that didn't happen due to the fact that J. Prince stopped him from distributing the tape. It is unknown whether T.I. still has the tape or not. The feud was squashed by Rap-A-Lot's J. Prince after having them sit down and resolve their feud. The feud was documented by the
Houston PressThe Houston Press is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in Downtown Houston....
.
Shawty Lo
In 2008, T.I. was involved in a highly publicized feud with
Shawty LoCarlos Walker , better known by his stage name Shawty Lo, is an American rapper and CEO of D4L Records Inc. His debut album, Units in the City, was released on February 26, 2008...
. The feud was characterized by Shawty Lo's track
Dunn Dunn"Dunn Dunn" produced by Sunny Beatz is the second single from Shawty Lo's debut solo album, Units in the City.It is a direct diss toward T.I.....
, and T.I.'s reply What Up, What's Haapnin. The song
Dunn Dunn"Dunn Dunn" produced by Sunny Beatz is the second single from Shawty Lo's debut solo album, Units in the City.It is a direct diss toward T.I.....
appears to question T.I.'s roots in Bankhead. The music video for What Up, What's Haapnin was shot in Shawty Lo's housing project Bowen Homes, an apparent diss towards Shawty Lo. In an interview, T.I. insisted that his song
No Matter WhatNo Matter What may refer to:*"No Matter What" , a song by Badfinger*"No Matter What" , from the musical Whistle Down the Wind by Andrew Lloyd Webber, famously covered by Boyzone*"No Matter What" , a song by T.I....
was only partially aimed at Shawty Lo.
The beef reached its climax at the November 2008
Dirty Awards where the entourages of both artists clashed during the ceremony, forcing it to be shut down. Two incidents forced police to use pepper-spray and evacuate the audience.
The beef was publicly squashed on March 7, 2009, when Shawty Lo and T.I. appeared on-stage together at Club Crucial in
BankheadBankhead is an Atlanta, Georgia neighborhood located west of downtown Atlanta. It's surrounded by Grove Park to the west, West End to the south, Vine City to its east, and with Berkely Park and Home Park to the north. At its center is MARTA's Bankhead station and the city's Maddox Park. Grove...
, for T.I.'s farewell concert. After this performance, T.I. gave an interview to
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs...
, in which he stated that the feud with Shawty Lo was exaggerated by the media, and was not a 'beef'.
Personal life
T.I. has been in a relationship with former Xscape member Tameka "Tiny" Cottle since 2001. It was reported that both of them married. Together, they have two sons: Clifford 'King' Joseph III and Major Philant. Their daughter, Llayah Amour, was
stillbornA stillbirth occurs when a fetus which has died, in the uterus or during labor or delivery, exits a woman's body. The term is often used in distinction to live birth or miscarriage. Most stillbirths occur in full term pregnancies....
six months into a complicated pregnancy. He has two sons with ex-girlfriend Lashon Dixon: Domani Uriah and Messiah Ya'Majesty. T.I also has a daughter named Deyjah Imani from another relationship.
Legal issues
T.I. was on probation stemming from a 1998
convictionIn law, a conviction is the verdict that results when a court of law finds a defendant guilty of a crime.The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal...
for violating a state controlled substances act and for giving false information. After being released on
probationProbation is a sentence which may be imposed by a court in lieu of incarceration. A criminal who is "on probation" has been convicted of a crime but has served only part of the sentence in jail, or has not served time at all...
, he earned a litany of probation violations in several counties around Georgia for offenses ranging from possession of a
firearmA firearm is a device which projects either single or multiple projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion. The firing is achieved by the gases produced through rapid, confined burning of a propellant. This process of rapid burning is technically known as deflagration...
to possession of
marijuanaCannabisalso known as marijuana or marihuana, and ganja , among many other namesrefers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug...
.
In 2006, after appearing in an Atlanta court on (May 10) and having charges that he threatened a man outside a strip club last year dropped for lack of evidence, T.I. was arrested on an outstanding probation violation warrant from Florida. The warrant claimed that T.I. did not complete the required number of community service hours he was sentenced for a 2003 assault of a female sheriff deputy at University Mall in
TampaTampa is a Gulf Coast city in Hillsborough County, on the west coast of the state of Florida in the United States. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. The population of Tampa in 2000 was 303,447...
. T.I. was detained by several mall Security Guards at the time of the incident. According to
WSB-TVWSB-TV 2.1 is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia, formerly broadcasting on analog channel 2 and now on digital channel 39 and cable channel 3. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises and is co-owned alongside the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the WSB radio stations...
Atlanta, the rapper’s attorney said that the problem was nothing more than a "technical matter" between
GeorgiaGeorgia is a state in the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution, it had been the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established, in 1733. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January...
and
FloridaFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
. The confusion arose because T.I. was also sentenced to community service in Georgia for driving with a suspended license, for which he did complete 75 hours of community service in his home state. The rapper was released on bail shortly after being arrested, and was expected to surrender to Florida state authorities the following week to resolve the matter.
On November 21, 2008, T.I. testified in the murder trial of a member of his entourage and a close friend, Philant Johnson (1980-2006), who was murdered in a shooting that occurred after a post-concert party at a club. T.I. has dedicated several songs to Johnson, from the single version of "
Live in the Sky"Live in the Sky" is the fourth single released by T.I. from his album King. It features Jamie Foxx. The song is mainly about T.I.'s deceased family members and friends who have died in violence, drugs, and even tuberculosis. An alternate version exists with varied lyrics, due to the explicit...
" to his more recent hit "
Dead and Gone"Dead and Gone" is a song by American rapper T.I., featuring singer Justin Timberlake. It was released as the fourth official and final single of T.I.'s sixth album, Paper Trail. The single charted on Billboard Hot 100 even before its official release. They performed this song at the 51st Grammy...
".
On March 27, 2009, U.S. District Judge
Charles A. Pannell, Jr.Charles A. Pannell, Jr. is a United States federal judge.Born in DeKalb County, Georgia, Pannell received a B.A. from the University of Georgia in 1967 and a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1970. He was in the United States Army Reserves, JAG Corps, from 1970 to 1998. He was...
sentenced T.I. to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay $100,300 for federal weapons charges; T.I. had his sentence reduced from a maximum 10 years and a $250,000 fine with a
plea bargainA plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case where by the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain gives criminal defendants the...
. On May 26, 2009, T.I. began serving his
sentenceIn law, a sentence forms the final act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence generally involves a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...
in
Forrest City, ArkansasForrest City is a city in and the county seat of St. Francis County, Arkansas, United States. It was named for General Nathan Bedford Forrest, who used the location as a campsite for a construction crew completing a railroad between Memphis and Little Rock, shortly after the Civil War...
. He is to be released on March 26, 2010 When released from
FCC Forrest CityFederal Correctional Institution, Forrest City is a federal low and medium security prison in Forrest City, Arkansas. It is in the Judicial district of United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.-External links:...
, he will be subject to an
auditThe general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. Audits are performed to ascertain the validity and reliability of information; also to provide an assessment of a system's internal control...
of his finances, drug counseling, DNA testing, and random searches of his property. Two days prior to being imprisoned, T.I. performed a farewell concert at the
Philips ArenaPhilips Arena is an indoor arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Completed in 1999 at a cost of $213.5 million, it is home to the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League, the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association, and the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association...
in Atlanta,
GeorgiaGeorgia is a state in the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution, it had been the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established, in 1733. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January...
.
Community work
In addition to helping with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, T.I. worked with troubled youths at Paulding Detention Center in Atlanta, provided scholarships for single parent families at Boys and Girls Clubs, and headlined the
Boost MobileBoost Mobile is a division of Sprint Nextel. It was originally launched in Australia in 2000 and in New Zealand in 2001.-History:Boost Mobile was founded in Australia and New Zealand in 2000 by Peter Adderton...
RockcorpsRockCorps is a production company that promotes volunteering in exchange for concert tickets. RockCorps uses the slogan: “Give 4 Hours, Get 1 Ticket. ”-About:...
concert at New York's
Radio City Music HallRadio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
, which featured such performers as
Fat JoeJoseph Cartagena, better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper signed to Imperial Records, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
,
Slim ThugStayve Jerome Thomas , better known as Slim Thug, is an American rapper. He gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the popular single from rapper Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'". He began his rap career with Swishahouse in the late 1990s...
, and
Kanye WestKanye West is an American singer/rapper. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, and his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008. His first three albums have received numerous awards and critical acclaim...
, and was held exclusively for community service volunteers. As part of his community service time, T.I. has come to a number of middle-grade and high schools in Georgia, where he speaks with the students in an assembly holding a positive message, while maintaining a philathropic view about morals and growing up in the same areas as himself. In June 2005, The Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes Foundation, named for the deceased member of multi-platinum female group TLC, and Atlanta's V-103 honored T.I. with the 2005
Lisa LopesLisa Nicole Lopes , better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American rapper, singer-songwriter, teen idol, and member of the popular Grammy Award-winning R&B group TLC....
Award for groundbreaking achievements in music and community service which was court ordered. With this steady list of growing accomplishments T.I. is being recognized as the "
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name, Jay-Z is an American hip hop artist and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $150 million, shipping over 30 million copies of his albums in the United...
of the South," according to
Pharrell WilliamsPharrell Williams , commonly known as Pharrell, is an American recording artist, producer, musician and fashion designer. Along with Chad Hugo, they make the record production duo The Neptunes, where they produce pop, hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of rock band...
of multi-platinum production team
The NeptunesThe Neptunes are a record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who are credited with contributing the sound for some successful Hip hop, R&B and Pop artists in the late-90s and 2000s....
.
T.I.'s night club, Club Crucial, hosted a giveaway of 200 bicycles to neighborhood children in the Boys and Girls Club with V-103 announcer Greg Street.
Discography
- I'm Serious
I'm Serious is rapper T.I.'s debut album. It was released on October 9, 2001.-History:His debut album features guests Pharrell of The Neptunes, Too Short, YoungBloodZ, Pastor Troy, Bone Crusher, Lil Jon, P$C, Beenie Man and Jazze Pha. Production by The Neptunes, Jazze Pha, and DJ Toomp...
(2001)
- Trap Muzik
Trap Muzik is the second album from hip hop artist T.I., released on August 19, 2003. in the United States.-History:After being dropped from Arista Records due to poor album sales from I'm Serious, T.I. formed Grand Hustle Records with his longtime business partner Jason Geter and released Trap...
(2003)
- Urban Legend
Urban Legend is the third album by the rapper T.I., released on November 30, 2004, and instantly generated crossover success with the hit single "Bring Em Out." -History:...
(2004)
- King
King is a Grammy-nominated album from hip hop artist T.I. It was released on March 28, 2006 in the United States.-History:It features guest appearances by Young Buck, Pharrell, Common, B.G., UGK, Jamie Foxx, Young Jeezy, P$C, Governor and Young Dro and production by Just Blaze, Pharrell Williams,...
(2006)
- T.I. vs. T.I.P.
T.I. vs. T.I.P. is the fifth studio album released by Atlanta rapper T.I. The album was released on July 3, 2007. In the first week of sales, the album went nearly gold, selling 468,000. The album received Fairly positive and mixed reviews. However, it was nominated for a Grammy. This is the first...
(2007)
- Paper Trail
Paper Trail is the sixth studio album by hip hop artist T.I., released on September 30, 2008. He began to write songs for the album as he awaited trial for federal weapons and possession charges...
(2008)
Filmography
| Film |
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 2006 |
ATLATL is a 2006 American comedy-drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne...
|
Rashad Swann |
| 2007 |
American Gangster |
Stevie Lucas |
| 2008 |
For Sale |
Omar Burgess |
| 2010 |
Takers Takers is an upcoming crime thriller film directed by John Luessenhop from a screenplay written by Luessenhop, Gabriel Casseus, Peter Allen, and Avery Duff. It features an ensemble cast that includes Matt Dillon, Paul Walker and Hayden Christensen...
|
Ghost |
| Television |
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 2005 |
The O.C.The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
|
Himself |
"The Return of the Nana "The Return of the Nana" is the 48th episode of the FOX television series, The O.C.. The episode was written by Josh Schwartz and was directed by Ian Toynton. It originally aired on Thursday, May 5, 2005.-Guest Starring:-Plot:...
" (season 2, episode 21) |
Punk'dPunk'd is an American hidden camera practical joke television series on MTV, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher, which first aired in 2003. It bears a strong resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera, and to TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, which also featured pranks on...
|
Himself |
Season 5, episode 4 |
| 2008 |
EntourageEntourage is an American comedy-drama that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004. The series was created by Doug Ellin and chronicles the rise of Vincent Chase, a young A-list movie star, and his childhood friends from Queens, New York City, as they navigate the unfamiliar terrain of Hollywood,...
|
Himself |
"The All Out Fall Out" (season 5, episode 3) |
| 2009 |
T.I.'s Road to Redemption T.I.'s Road To Redemption is an American reality television show that premiered on February 10, 2009, on MTV. The show is produced by T.I., Michael Hirschorn, Stella Stolper and Chris Choun of Ish Entertainment. The series focuses on the 45 days before rapper T.I.'s March sentencing, hoping to...
|
Himself |
Starred in all episodes |
| 2009 |
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-ListKathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List is a reality show starring Kathy Griffin and airing on Bravo. The show made its debut in August 2005. The show follows the struggle of self-proclaimed "D-list" celebrity Kathy Griffin to climb the Hollywood ladder. This often includes scheming for publicity with...
|
Himself |
"Kathy at the Apollo" (season 5, episode 7) |
External links