T.I.

From LoveToKnow Music

T.I. - Pharrel Williams calls him the “Jay-Z of the South.” T.I. prefers to think of himself as “King of the South.” Call him what you will, but if have been dining on any kind of hip hop pie since 2001, chances are this Atlanta based rapper has had his finger in it.

Rapper T.I., aka King of the South

Music Career

T.I. - better known to his mama as Clifford “Tip” Harris - hit the scene in 2001 with his solo debut record I’m Serious, on his own Grand Hustle imprint. The album performed reasonably well - well enough for T.I. to nail down a distribution deal with major label Atlantic Records for Grand Hustle. His second album, Trap Muzik, looked set to be at hit after its 2004 release, and the first single from the album, Rubber Band Man, was steadily climbing the charts, when trouble in the form of a probation violation began to loom on the horizon.

T.I. had been charged and convicted of distributing cocaine and manufacturing and distributing a controlled substance in 1997. The rapper served jail time and had been released on parole before getting his music career off the ground. Though the nature of the violation is unclear, T.I. found himself on the wrong side of the prison walls again in April, 2004, charged with breaking the terms of his probation. While in custody, he was further charged with possession of ecstasy and possession of a firearm. He was subsequently sentenced to three years in prison. And here is where it gets really interesting…

T.I. managed to leave jail to perform at a concert.

T.I. made international headlines in June, 2004, when it became clear that he had managed to shoot a video - while incarcerated. Inside the jail. Using fellow inmates and guards as extras. And…a female inmate had escaped during the video shoot (though this was later deemed to be simple coincidence). If that weren’t enough, the day after the video came to light, T.I. somehow managed to leave jail long enough to perform at Atlanta radio station Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash 9 concert and start a beef with fellow Atlanta rapper Lil Flip (a beef which T.I somewhat confusingly termed “filet mignon”).

Whatever happened between T.I. and the Georgia penal system during his second stay at their facility may never be known to anyone but them, but the rapper was released into a supervised work program later that summer, and soon finished his obligation altogether - freeing him up to promote his third release, Urban Legend.

Urban Legend propelled T.I. to the top of the game. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard R&b/Hip Hop chart and number seven of the Billboard Top 200. It eventually went platinum and earned T.I. a slew of award recognition, including:

2005 Grammy nomination - Best Solo Rap Performance - U Don’t Know Me.

2005 Teen Choice Award nomination - Choice Rap Track - Bring ‘Em Out.

2005 Vibe Street Anthem of the Year winner - U Don’t Know Me.

2005 Video Music Awards - Best Rap Video nomination - U Don’t Know Me.

2005 American Music Awards - Best Rap/Hip-Hop album nomination - Urban Legend.

In March, 2006, T.I. released King - an album which secured his place as one of the top selling hip hop artists. The album was produced by the Neptunes and Mannie Fresh and looks set to go platinum. The success of the album was tempered, however, by a shooting in Cincinnati after a show, which left the rapper’s friend and personal assistant dead.

Other Career Highlights

T.I. has never been content to just make music and has involved himself in the business side of the industry from the beginning. He also is very active in humanitarian causes. When he’s not expanding his corporate empire or taking part in a community action group, the artist has gotten more than a little attention for his looks and fashion sense. He even made his film debut in 2006.

Grand Hustle

T.I. secured a distribution deal for his label for not only himself, but other artists as well. He co-executive produced the hugely successful Hustle and Flow soundtrack, which was released on Grand Hustle/Atlantic. He recently expanded Grand Hustle to include a film development company to work on new ventures.

Humanitarian Work

T.I. worked tirelessly to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, donating $50,000 of his own money, and working with other musicians to set up fundraising concerts. He also works with youth at Georgia’s Paulding Detention Center and provides scholarships to single parent families through the Boys and Girls Club.

In 2005, T.I. was the recipient of the Lisa Lopez award for Groundbreaking Achievements in Music and Community Service. (The award is named for the deceased Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopez of TLC.)

Fashion

T.I. has graced the pages of GQ magazine and was nominated as the Most Stylish Male by BET in 2005. BET also included him in their special All Shade of Fine: 25 Hottest Men of the Last 25 Years. Teen People called him one of the 25 Hottest Stars Under 25. He has modeled for Reebok and Sean John clothing lines.