What up, Whats Happening?
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. born September 25, 1980, better known by his stage name T.I. or T.I.P., is an American recording artist, producer and actor. He is the founder and co-chief executive officer (CEO) of Grand Hustle Records.
TI was 11 years old when he had his first dream of becoming a rapper. Since then TI was working towards his goal and it was not
a easy path to walk on. Being raised by his grandparents in Bankhead, Atlanta, Georgia. Like every other people from hood TI also went after the easy money(drug money) and was also called "Rubber Band Man" for wearing rubber bands around his wrist. These were used to hold the cash in bundles.
TI was just a hood member till he got into the rap game. In 2001 he released his first album "I'm Serious" even though it did not have much success he continued to follow his only dream. In mid 2003 he released his second album "Trap Muzik" compared to his first album this was a major development. Trap Muzik sold over 100,000 copies in its first week. It had many singles like 24's, Rubber Band Man, Be Easy, and many more... In 2004 he released his third album "Urban Legend" by this time TI had catch the worlds attention was a popular rapper. TI's third album almost sold about 200,000 copies in its first week and it was number seven on the Billboard 200. From this album "Bring'em Out" reached number 7 on the charts and a few other singles made the chart. After this he released 2 more albums called KING and TI Vs TIP.
The improvement in his career kept groping day by day and
by every album. His latest album "Paper Trail" was released in 2008 and shocked the whole world. The official lead single was "Whatever You Like" became his most successful single of his career so far, breaking the record for the highest jump to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, jumping from number 71 to number one. Also becoming T.I.'s first solo number one on the chart. The second single, "Swagga Like Us", featuring Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, debuted and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. With the third single "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna, T.I. broke his own record on the Billboard Hot 100 when it jumped from number 80 to the number one. The fourth single "Dead and Gone", featuring Justin Timberlake, peaked at number two for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
Even with all this success he had legal issues to deal with, in fact he has been arrested about 30 times in his life and the most threatening one was the one he was sent to prison recently for weapon charges. The sentence was reduced to an Year and a day
and will be released in March 26th of 2010.
Every story has two sides likewise while his popularity rose the people started to take advantage and some even started to criticize. The main is "Shawty Lo" claiming the hes the real "Bankhead" and TI is just making things up. But this was never brought up before TI started to represent "Bankhead". lot of hits were released towards each other. "Dunn Dunn" by Shawty Lo was the main diss and the best from TI was "What up, Whats Happening and No Matter What". The other was Lil Flip this started when TI was called "KING OF THE SOUTH". This was never enough to stop or ruin TI's career hes continuing his path and making it improve day by day.
After all this it proves who the real KING of the SOUTH is...
