T.I. On 'VH1 Storytellers' [Full Episode]

T.I.'s VH1 Storytellers episode aired last night showcasing the music and the man behind it. T.I. offered up stories behind the lyrics that helped put his name in lights.

This is why I love VH1 Storytellers and why I was so happy it was brought back. It's one thing to like a song but it's another thing to know how it came to be and what the inspiration was behind its composition.

Some Yummy-Facts:

• There are no name changes in T.I.'s songs. According to the ATL rapper, he uses real names when it comes to the characters in his lyrics.
• When T.I. first heard "Bring Em Out" he was convinced that the track was supposed to go to Jay-Z.
• I may be mistaken, but I think that Fantasia's brother, Ricco Barrino, was the back-up singer for T.I. during the show.

Check out the full episode of T.I.'s VH1 Storytellers when you...

T.I. Says He's 'Sick And Mother F**king Tired Of Going To Jail'

It seems rapper T.I. has had somewhat of an epiphany while behind bars. As we already know, T.I. is serving out his 11 month sentence at the same Arkansas prison he served his sentence for his gun charge.

Judging from a new letter penned by the rapper, he's fed up with jail and is looking to make his recent stint his very last.

In a letter, T.I. writes...

[NEWS] T.I. Dropped From AXE Promotional Campaign

According to reports, T.I. has officially been dropped from AXE body spray's promotional campaign.

[NEWS] T.I. and wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle arrested for drug possession, SMH

They really have been cracking the whip in law enforcement these past few days. Newlyweds T.I. and Tiny were arrested in West Hollywood late Wednesday night after police smelled marijuana "emanating" from their vehicle during a traffic stop.

After their car was searched, the two were placed under arrest by officers and charged with alleged possession of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $10,000 each

According to TMZ, both T.I. and Tiny were released early this morning at 4:00 am. The chances of them telling anybody anything today is pretty slim considering the situation and what affect it could have on T.I.'s probation.

SMH...

That's really all I could do in regards to this news. Though T.I. said that he doesn't like jail, he sure has a way of showing his dislike of it.

I, on the other hand, am petrified of prison, lets keep it authentic. So petrified, I am willing to take anyone's opinion of what jail is because I am not curious in the least bit to validate if their clams are true. If you told me there were pigs dressed in full-body fishnets that roamed the cells every now and again, I'll believe that ish, but I digress.

We'll have to see how this works out for T.I.; but from the looks of things, it doesn't look good...

[NEWS] Hip-Hop Gets Bitten By The Love Bug: Swizz Beatz/Alicia Keys and T.I. Jump The Broom

Gone are the days when we as fans would drop our jaws at the news that a rapper we thought we knew was actually married and happy. I can recall the shock I experienced when I found out that LL Cool J was married with kids. That shock was on the same level of when I found out that Ice Cube had the same scenario going on behind closed doors.

Swizz Beatz and T.I. are definitely not secretive about their boos. Nothing made that more clearer than the weddings these two Hip-Hop gems held this weekend.

VIdeo Premiere: T.I. (feat. Keri Hilson) 'Got Your Back'

Here is the new video from T.I. for his song "Got Your Back" featuring Keri Hilson. This song will appear on T.I.'s new album King Uncaged slated to hit stores September 28th.

I love the video and the fact that it had scenes that closely relate to the lyrics. Jill Marie, Tiny and Lance Gross make cameos in the video. I was especially happy to see Jill Marie (Girlfriends). I was watching a batch of Girlfriends episodes on You Tube the other day just reminiscing <---off topic I know, but can you blame me?!

Not too crazy about this song but it is catchy so I'm sure it will grow on me.

NEWS // T.I. To Appear On 'Larry King Live' In First Interview Since Release

T.I. will be appearing on Larry King Live this Thursday in his first interview since being released from prison.

T.I., who has been making his rounds at parties and sports games, will speak for the first time after his incarceration for attempting to purchase a slew of illegal firearms in October 2007.

So excited to see T.I. come back and release an album that will surely address his past and current situation. That is one thing T.I. knows how to do, create an album that not only he can identify with but that his fans can relate to. His album King Uncaged is scheduled for release August 17, 2010.

CNN.com is reportedly going to be taking fan questions that will be asked during his interview so if you have a question that you are dying to ask, head over to CNN and get the typing. [Submit questions]

T.I's interview will air this Thursday @ 9pm EST.

New T.I. Album Coming In August + Releases New Single 'I'm Back'

As Lil Wayne is starting his one year bid at NYC's Rikers Island, T.I. is tagged in and is preparing to make a comeback

T.I. who is currently finishing up his time at a halfway house in Atlanta has announced that he will be releasing a new album in as little as 5 months.

T.I.'s 'Behind The Music' episode set to premiere 10/8

T.I. was clearly a very busy man before he stepped into the Arkansas prison to serve his time. When he wasn't recording tracks for his mixtape, he sat down for an episode of "Behind The Music."

His episode will air next Thursday, October 8th at 10 pm. The "Behind The Music" episodes has me feeling nostalgic. I have been recaping the episodes for Starpulse.com and have been loving every last one of them.

I don't want them to ever end.

Make sure you tune in to learn all the things you know about the ATL rapper and all the things you didn't know.

Video Premiere: T.I. ft. John Legend-Slide Show

Here is the new video from T.I. for his song "Slide Show" that features John Legend.

I love the song and I love the video even more, very detailed and theme appropriate. What I love most of all is John Legend's voice...can we get another album John your voice is like a drug I don't want to get off!

Dang it..I miss T.I. :-( I felt a little water form in my tear ducts watching that video.

Video Rating: A yummy A.

Video Premiere: T.I. ft. Mary J. Blige-Remember Me

T.I. - New Music - More Music Videos

Here is the official video for T.I.'s song "Remember Me" featuring Mary J. Blige.

I love the fact that T.I. was smart enough to record material and a video before he left to serve his time, that is how you are suppose to conduct your business, minus the serve time part.

The video is straight to the point and relative to the song. I do however rebuke who ever it was that cut that mullet into Mary's head, though she is wearing that mullet out.

On another note, how long are we going to pretend that Maino's "All The Above" (hot song by the way) is not the exact same beat from T.I. and Rihanna's song "Live Your Life"?

Video Rating: A yummy B.

Do you want to send T.I. a letter?

Send it here

CLIFFORD J HARRIS

REGISTER NUMBER: 59458-019

FCI FORREST CITY LOWFEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

P.O. BOX 9000

FORREST CITY, AR 72336

M.Y.'s open letter to T.I.

T.I. is scheduled to report to prison today at 12PM.

Dear T.I.,

Today is the day I am sure you have been dreading from the day you were arrested for trying to purchase illegal weapons. In any other circumstance with any other rapper that has done said actions and saw no error in their ways, I would have taken this time and made it a priority to roast them; however with you, I have to say you have made some of us proud.

Using that event to make a much needed change in your life and to make an effort to preach the gospel cross country, going above and beyond in saving the lives of younger adults and to help in preventing them from taking the same road you did, is a reason to be commended. Yes, I've heard a few people say that you should not be celebrated because it is the very thought and actions like yours that is occurring in inner cities in America, but it is like I always say, we all make mistakes some small and others large, the most important thing is to take from it a valuable lesson and avoid repeats.

A year and a day is a longtime; It is time that you can not get back, it is a year from your life. Instead of looking at all of the negatives, I hope that you will see the positives. See that with this year off you will have time to think. Think about your future, the well being of your family, and think about mentally growing as a person. Be grateful for the time that you were given and understand that it could always be worst.

You have made a difference in lives as a result of your actions. And although it could have been avoided remember that in life nothing happens by chance, there is always an underlining blueprint. When you come out, hopefully you will be a new person and would have learned a wealth of knowledge that you would not have learned while free. Sometimes to be grateful we have to be stripped from the one thing we take for granted, and in that we learn because experience gives light to knowledge. Good luck and remember to always keep your head up.

Sincerely,

M.Y.

T.I. wants to appeal

T.I. is quite the determined character. According to All Hip Hop.com, T.I. wants to appeal his prison location and get locked-up closer to home. As I reported on my column, T.I. is scheduled to start serving his time next week Tuesday (05.26) for his stint in buying illegal weapons in a Walmart parking lot (there is something about a Walmart parking lot that adds insult to injury). After entering a plea bargain after said incident, he was sentenced to completing 1000+ hours in community service and serving a year and a day in prison.

Well, Mr. Harris is still not OK with having to serve his time in Arkansas and has filed an appeal to be placed in a prison closer to home. Keep in mind that when they sentenced T.I. they did it under the pretence that he had a history of violence. This was of course prior to his hit reality scared-straight-show and all of the preaching he has been doing all over the country to inner city youths.

I understand where T.I. is coming from. He would like to be closer to home because then it wouldn't be so much of a hassle to see his children and mother of his kids whenever the time saw fit and if he were located far away from home, it would limit them visiting him ever so often. However, we can all agree that had it been anyone else who were arrested for purchasing illegal firearms after having a long criminal record and lacked the funds and celebrity of T.I., the law would have thrown the friggin book at them. Plus, they gave him a huge break. A year and a day is practically unheard of for someone to serve after committing a crime...for the upteenth time. Plus, it is being said that he will only serve 10 months of his sentence.

T.I. has been able to get his way thus far, maybe there really is no limit to his negotiating skills. I wish him good luck.

T.I. does not condone disloyalty

After the truth came to light that Alfamega use to spill the beans in his past, T.I. has officially removed him from the equation known as Grand Hustle. The Smoking Gun.com published an article outing Mr. Alfa as being an informant for the drug enforcement administration during a trial trying a heroin trafficker, and T.I. was not too pleased with the fact that he wasn't the first to know.

T.I., still feeling a little sensitive about being "snitched" on by his bodyguard who opted to cooperate with authorities during T.I.'s bout with the law via buying illegal guns, said that he was unaware of Alfa's past and because the organization (Grand Hustle) is built off of trust, Alfa has got to go,

"Even though all our artists and employees are asked by us to be honest and open about their past history, at no time did Alfa disclose to me or Grand Hustle what has now appeared in the media. He essentially deceived us by failing to fully disclose the truth about his past, and there is no place in our organization for dishonest and misleading behavior. As I have always said, you must take responsibility for your own actions. We at Grand Hustle can not support or condone the blaming of others for our own mistakes. I hope and pray to God, bless his savings plans, but I don't foresee me or my company playing a role in his personal or professional business." -via Miss Info.

I am on the fence with this decision. In one light, I can totally understand where T.I. is coming from. Plain and simple, he does not like disloyal people in his circle no matter what the cause of disloyalty is. He obviously is preparing to head out to jail and one of the minor reasons why he is going is because his bodyguard decided to roll over on him and cooperate with the same people (in an effort to save his own tail) looking to put T.I. away. Plus, Alfa was not upfront about his past from the jump.

But in another light, I feel this is the reason why inner city neighborhoods that suffer from the availability of weapons and drugs fail to prosper because of this thing called loyalty. Heroin is a very deadly drug and has killed and ruin lives for years, why get mad at a person who (though I am sure did it to protect themselves from also serving time) decides to tattle-tell on something that is already not a good thing?

Either way, it's T.I.'s company and his personal decision; all's well that ends well.

T.I.'s Singles Go Platinum 4X!

T.I. will be headed to jail in all smiles...well...maybe not all smiles, but with some great news!

According to Atlantic Records, T.I.'s singles "Dead And Gone" featuring Justin Timberlake and "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna has been recognized by the RIAA as going platinum not once, not twice, but 4 times.

"Live Your Life" has been certified platinum 3 times on the Digital Sales Chart while "Dead And Gone" has been certified platinum as a Digital Single.

Kudos to T.I. ! Both songs are fire and the public just can't get enough of it. That's how you make music folks.

T.I. covers Vibe + Jay-Z covers Best Life

T.I. is on the cover of Vibe's April issue, channeling his Malcolm X. Check out my article on the cover.



Jay-Z graces the cover of Best Life magazine looking like a grown @$$ man as he should. I can't believe how much his swag has changed. He looks like he enjoys the occasional caviar after playing cricket at the country club.

Side Order: Jay...pardon me, would you happen to have any Grey Poupon?

T.I. on the Chelsea Lately Show

T.I. recently did the Chelsea Lately Show where he discussed his teen intervention show on MTV and also spoke about a possible farewell tour before he heads out to the big house.

That Chelsea is crazy and I love it!

Side Order: I really do like me some T.I. and I hope that just maybe he can get a chance not to go to jail. I don't know, I just feel he learned his lesson and has definitely straighten up his act.

T.I. brushes off 50 Cent

50 Cent, the new bully of Hip Hop, has taken many shots at T.I. including his recent cartoon released last weekend along with his song "You So Tough" off of G-Units Terminate On Sight; but T.I. is paying no mind to 50 Cent's in your face ways.

Here's what T.I. told XXL about why he ignores 50,

"I haven’t seen it but, we all know dude. We all know his intentions, we all know his motives. We’ve seen this too many times before. You know, I play chess, not checkers, you dig? I ain’t even trippin’ off of that. At the end of the day, I’m more worried or concerned about what a man says to me or what a man does to me, not what he says or does in the eyes of the public."

I can respect T.I. on his decision to not bother with 50's attempt to slaughter everyone in the industry. Plus, 50's jabs are the least of his worries because he has bigger fish to fry; that and the fact that he is "the opposite of moderate, immaculately polished with the spirit of a hustler and the swagger of a college kid." a.k.a. not the one.

T.I. is scheduled to serve his time in jail for a year next month as a part of his felony weapon charges sentencing.

Video: T.I. ft. Justin Timberlake-Dead And Gone

T.I. - New Music - More Music Videos

Hmmm...this might just be my favorite video from T.I. It has a very Western feel with flashes of the hood.

It's a very personal video and song and I love both of them. Although I could have done without the dark feel to the video it was real and it held true to the title of the song.

I give this video a yummy A- for reminding us that all that glitters really isn't gold.

Side Order: Isn't it funny how Justin is now down after he let Timbaland produce his album (that I happen to love by the way)?!