T.I. |
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 T.I. in 2022 |
| Born | Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.
September 25, 1980(age 44)[1]
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| Other names | |
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| Occupations | - Rapper
- songwriter
- record executive
- record producer
- actor
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| Years active | 1999–present |
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| Agent | Jason Geter[2] |
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| Works | |
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| Title | Co-founder of A.K.O.O. Clothing, Grand Hustle, VisionMob, Club Crucial and V Live |
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| Spouse | |
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| Children | 6 |
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| Awards | Full list |
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| Musical career |
| Genres | |
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| Labels | |
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| Member of | |
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| Website | officialti.com |
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Harris gained recognition following his high-profile guest appearance on fellow Atlanta-based rapper Bone Crusher's 2003 single "Never Scared". His second album, Trap Muzik (2003), peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Rubber Band Man" and "Let's Get Away" (featuring Jazze Pha). The following year, Harris guest appeared alongside Lil Wayne on Destiny's Child's hit single "Soldier", and capitalized on this with the release of his third album, Urban Legend(2004). His next three studio albums each debuted atop the Billboard 200; his fourth and fifth, King (2006) and T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007) were met with continued success and led by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten singles, "What You Know" and "Big Shit Poppin' (Do It)", respectively.
Harris' sixth album, Paper Trail (2008), yielded his furthest commercial success. Earning gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for 500,000 in first-week sales, it also spawned two Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Whatever You Like" and "Live Your Life" (featuring Rihanna); the latter replaced the former atop the chart, and made Harris the first rapper to do so while occupying its top two positions. Following an eleven-month incarceration, he released his seventh studio album, No Mercy (2010) to mixed reviews and a commercial decline. His eighth album, Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head (2012) was met with a dual rebound. Harris guest appeared alongside Pharrell Williams on Robin Thicke's 2013 single "Blurred Lines", which peaked atop the BillboardHot 100, and did so in 22 other countries.
The following year, his contract with Atlantic expired; he signed with Columbia Records and enlisted Williams as executive producer for his ninth studio album, Paperwork (2014). As with his previous, it reached number two on the Billboard200 and saw positive critical reception. The following year, he worked further with album collaborator and then-upcoming hometown native Young Thug to form the short-lived hip hop collective, Bankroll Mafia. He then signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2016 to release his politicalUs or Else (2016–2017) extended play series and compilation album, We Want Smoke (2017); he later signed with Epic Records in 2018 to release his long-delayed tenth album, Dime Trap, in October of that year. His eleventh album, The L.I.B.R.A. (2020) was his first to be released independently. His twelfth album, Kill the Kingwas announced as his final, although its release slate remains unclear.
Harris, a three Grammy Award winner, has been described as a leading figure in hip hop and Southern hip hop during the 2000s. He has received 19 nominations for the award, as well as 12 Billboard Music Awards, three BET Awards, and two American Music Awards. Prominent industry artists have signed to T.I. through his Grand Hustle Records label since its formation, including Travis Scott, B.o.B, and Iggy Azalea. In his acting career, Harris has starred in the films ATL, Takers, Get Hard, Identity Thief, and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Ant-Man and its sequel, as well as the reality television series T.I.'s Road to Redemption, T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle, and The Grand Hustle. As an author, he has published two novels: Power & Beauty (2011) and Trouble & Triumph (2012). By the end of the decade, Billboard ranked him the 27th best artist of the 2000s.[6]
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. was born on September 25, 1980,[1] in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Clifford "Buddy" Harris Sr. and Violeta Morgan.[7] He was raised by his grandparents in Atlanta's Center Hillneighborhood just off Bankhead Highway and lived in Bankhead.[8][9] His father lived in New York City, and he often went there to visit. Buddy suffered from Alzheimer's disease and died from the disease.[10]
Harris began rapping at age eight.[11] His stage name originally came from his childhood nickname "Tip", after his paternal great-grandfather.[12] He was once 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.[13]
1996–2000: Career beginnings
In 1996, T.I. befriended local rapper Big Kuntry King. Together they sold mixtapes out of the trunk of their car. Kawan "KP" Prather, a record executive, discovered T.I. and then signed him to his record label Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment.[14]Upon signing with Arista Records subsidiary LaFace Records in 1999, he shortened his name from Tip to T.I., out of respect for Arista label-mate Q-Tip.[15] T.I. relays the situation as:
"We were both on Arista and we was trying to release my first album. The people who had to market, promote, and, you know, just spread the word on it communicated that it was somewhat difficult or confusing to have two Tips in one building. So out of respect and just the legendary reputation and career that preceded that situation, I definitely conceded. My problem, or conflict, at the time, was now this is what I've been called all my life, what do I change my name to? So, I guess, that began to hold my project up. 'What are we gonna call him?' You know what I'm saying? So at that point we had to come to some sort of a resolution. And KP, who signed me to LaFace, he just said, 'OK, look man, how about T.I.?' Cause on this one record I had, it was like, 'T-I-P.' I was like, 'Wait a minute, wait a minute. No. That was — you left out a letter still!' You know what I'm saying? He was like, "Well, listen man. You got something better?', 'No, I don't have — I don't have anything better.' 'Well, that's what we going with, man.' So it's kinda how it came about."[16]
2001–2002: Atlantic Records deal and I'm Serious
T.I. released his debut album, I'm Serious, in October 2001 through Arista Records.[17] The album spawned the single of the same name featuring Jamaican reggae artist Beenie Man on June 26, 2001. The single received little airplay and failed to chart. The album features guest appearances from his Southern hip hop group P$C, Jazze Pha, Too Short, Bone Crusher, Lil Jon, Pastor Troy and YoungBloodZ, as well as Pharrell Williams of American record production team The Neptunes, who called him "the Jay-Z of the South".[18]
The production for I'm Serious, was handled by The Neptunes, DJ Toomp, 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.[19] Critics pointed to the fact that many of the tracks sounded the same and that a few were blatant rip-offs.[20]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."[21]
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Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.
