T.I.
Biography
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. (born September 25, 1980), known professionally as T.I. or Tip, is an American rapper, actor, and record executive from Atlanta, Georgia. He is recognized as one of the pioneers of the trap music subgenre. Harris began his music career in the late 1990s and signed his first major-label record deal in 1999 with Arista's subsidiary, LaFace Records. To avoid confusion with Arista label-mate Q-Tip, he shortened his name from Tip to T.I.
Music Career
T.I.'s debut album, "I'm Serious," was released in 2001 but had lukewarm commercial success. After being dropped from Arista, he signed with Atlantic Records and launched his own label, Grand Hustle Records, in 2003. His second album, "Trap Muzik" (2003), brought him mainstream recognition and included the popular singles "24's," "Be Easy," "Rubberband Man," and "Let's Get Away." This album is often credited with popularizing the trap music genre. His subsequent albums, including "Urban Legend" (2004), "King" (2006), and "T.I. vs. T.I.P." (2007), were all commercially successful. "King" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
His sixth studio album, "Paper Trail" (2008), became his most successful project, selling over 568,000 copies in its first week in the United States. The album featured the number-one hit singles "Whatever You Like" and "Live Your Life" (featuring Rihanna). Throughout his career, T.I. has won three Grammy Awards and has sold over 14 million albums worldwide. He has released a total of eleven studio albums, including "No Mercy" (2010), "Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head" (2012), "Paperwork" (2014), "Dime Trap" (2018), and "The L.I.B.R.A." (2020).
Career Milestones
2003:
Gained significant recognition with the release of his second album, "Trap Muzik."
2004:
Featured on Destiny's Child's hit single "Soldier" alongside Lil Wayne.
2006:
Released the album "King," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
2008:
Released his best-selling album, "Paper Trail," which included two No. 1 singles.Acting and Other Ventures
In addition to his music career, T.I. has had a successful acting career. He has appeared in several films, including "ATL" (2006), "Takers" (2010), "Identity Thief" (2013), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe films "Ant-Man" and its sequel. He has also starred in reality television series such as "T.I.'s Road to Redemption" and "T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle." Furthermore, T.I. is a published author, having written two novels, "Power & Beauty" (2011) and "Trouble & Triumph" (2012).
Personal Life and Legal Issues
T.I. married Tameka "Tiny" Cottle in 2010, and they have three children together. Their family life was documented on the reality show "T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle." Over the years, T.I. has faced numerous legal issues, including weapons charges in 2007 that led to a prison sentence. In 2010, he was sentenced to 11 months in prison for violating his probation. In recent years, he and his wife have faced multiple allegations of sexual abuse, which they have denied.