T.I. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T.I.
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T.I. in 2024
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Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.
September 25, 1980 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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| Years active | 1999–present |
| Agent | Jason Geter |
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| Title | Co-founder of A.K.O.O. Clothing, Grand Hustle, VisionMob, Club Crucial and V Live |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 6 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. (born September 25, 1980), who is known by his stage name T.I. or Tip, is an American rapper and songwriter. He was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with other Georgia rappers like Jeezy and Gucci Mane, T.I. is known for helping create a style of hip hop called trap music.
In the late 1990s, T.I. met a music executive named Kawan "KP" Prather. This led to him signing a record deal with LaFace Records in 1999. His first album, I'm Serious (2001), didn't sell as well as expected. After this, he signed with Atlantic Records. There, he started his own record label, Grand Hustle Records, in 2003.
T.I. became more famous after appearing on the 2003 song "Never Scared" by Bone Crusher. His second album, Trap Muzik (2003), was a big success. It included hit songs like "Rubber Band Man" and "Let's Get Away". His next albums, King (2006) and T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007), also reached the top of the charts.
His 2008 album, Paper Trail, was his most successful. It had two number-one hit songs: "Whatever You Like" and "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna. He also had a huge hit with Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams called "Blurred Lines" in 2013.
T.I. has won three Grammy Awards and many other awards. He is seen as a very important artist in hip hop, especially in the 2000s. He has also acted in movies like ATL, Takers, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Ant-Man and its sequel.
Contents
Early Life and Name
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. was born on September 25, 1980, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was raised by his grandparents in the Center Hill neighborhood. His father, who lived in New York City, passed away from Alzheimer's disease in 2002.
Harris started rapping when he was eight years old. His stage name "Tip" came from his childhood nickname, which was also his great-grandfather's name. When he signed with Arista Records, he changed his name to T.I. This was to show respect for another artist on the same label named Q-Tip.
Music Career
1999–2002: Starting Out
In 1999, T.I. signed with LaFace Records, a part of Arista Records. He released his first album, I'm Serious, in 2001. The album featured artists like Pharrell Williams and Lil Jon. However, it did not sell very well, and T.I. was let go from the record label.
After leaving Arista, T.I. started his own label, Grand Hustle Entertainment. He released several mixtapes, which are like unofficial albums, to build his popularity. In 2003, he was a guest on the hit song "Never Scared" by Bone Crusher. This performance got him a new record deal with Atlantic Records.
2003–2004: Rise to Fame
T.I.'s second album, Trap Muzik, came out in 2003. It was a huge success, reaching number four on the music charts. The album included popular songs like "24s" and "Rubberband Man". Many critics said it was much better than his first album.
In 2004, he released his third album, Urban Legend. It also did very well, selling 193,000 copies in its first week. The song "Bring Em Out" became his first top-ten hit. That same year, he was featured on the Destiny's Child hit song "Soldier" with Lil Wayne.
2005–2007: Becoming the 'King'
..... The album's song "I'm a King" was featured in the movie Hustle & Flow.
T.I.'s fourth album, King, was released in 2006. It went straight to number one on the charts, selling over 522,000 copies in its first week. The album's main song, "What You Know", was a huge hit. It also helped promote the movie ATL, which T.I. starred in. "What You Know" won a Grammy Award.
His fifth album, T.I. vs. T.I.P., came out in 2007. It also debuted at number one. The album featured famous artists like Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, and Eminem. The main song, "Big ... Poppin' (Do It)", was very popular.
2008–2009: The Success of 'Paper Trail'
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T.I.'s sixth album, Paper Trail, was released in 2008. The album was named Paper Trail because he wrote down all the lyrics on paper, which he hadn't done since his first album. It sold 568,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number one.
The album had several massive hits. "Whatever You Like" became his first solo number-one song. Then, his song "Live Your Life" with Rihanna also reached number one. Another hit, "Dead and Gone" with Justin Timberlake, reached number two on the charts. At the 51st Grammy Awards, T.I. won a Grammy for the song "Swagga Like Us".
2010–2013: New Music and Projects
After taking a break, T.I. returned to music in 2010. He released his seventh album, No Mercy. The album reached number four on the charts and sold over 159,000 copies in its first week. It featured the songs "Get Back Up" with Chris Brown and "That's All She Wrote" with Eminem.
In 2012, T.I. released his eighth album, Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head. The album was inspired by the music of Marvin Gaye. It debuted at number two on the charts and featured artists like André 3000, CeeLo Green, and Lil Wayne. The song "Ball" with Lil Wayne was a popular single from the album.
In 2013, T.I. was featured on Robin Thicke's song "Blurred Lines" with Pharrell Williams. The song was a global sensation, reaching number one in over 20 countries, including the United States.
2014–Present: Recent Work
In 2014, T.I. signed with Columbia Records for his ninth album, Paperwork. The album was executive produced by Pharrell Williams. It debuted at number two and featured the hit song "No Mediocre" with Iggy Azalea.
In 2015, he formed the group Bankroll Mafia with other rappers. He also released an extended play (EP) called Da' Nic as an independent artist, using his old nickname, Tip.
In 2016, T.I. signed a deal with Jay-Z's company, Roc Nation. He released a political EP called Us or Else to support the Black Lives Matter movement. His tenth album, Dime Trap, was released in 2018. His eleventh album, The L.I.B.R.A., was released independently in 2020. T.I. has announced that his next album, Kill the King, will be his final one.
Other Work
Acting Career
T.I. is also a successful actor. In 2006, he starred in his first movie, ATL, which was based on his own life. He played a high school student named Rashad Swann.
He has appeared in many other films, including:
- American Gangster (2007)
- Takers (2010), which he also helped produce.
- Identity Thief (2013) with Melissa McCarthy.
- Get Hard (2015) with Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart.
- Ant-Man (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), where he played Dave.
Television and Business
T.I. has starred in several reality TV shows. T.I.'s Road to Redemption aired on MTV in 2009. His most famous show is T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle, which showed his life with his family. He was also a judge on the Netflix show Rhythm + Flow.
He is also a businessman. He started his own clothing line called A.K.O.O., which stands for "A King Of Oneself." He also opened a popular nightclub in Atlanta called Club Crucial. In 2016, he became a co-owner of the music streaming service TIDAL.
Personal Life
T.I. began dating Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, a member of the music group Xscape, in 2001. They got married in 2010 and have three children together. T.I. also has three other children from previous relationships and one stepdaughter. In 2019, T.I.'s older sister, Precious Harris, passed away after a car accident.
Discography
Studio albums
- I'm Serious (2001)
- Trap Muzik (2003)
- Urban Legend (2004)
- King (2006)
- T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007)
- Paper Trail (2008)
- No Mercy (2010)
- Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head (2012)
- Paperwork (2014)
- Dime Trap (2018)
- The L.I.B.R.A. (2020)
- Kill the King (TBA)
Collaborative albums
- 25 to Life (with P$C) (2005)
- Bankroll Mafia (with Bankroll Mafia) (2016)
Images for kids
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T.I.'s logo, used since 2004
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T.I. in a 2019 interview
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See also
In Spanish: T.I. para niños
- Pharrell Williams v. Bridgeport Music
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Rhythmic chart
- List of hip hop musicians
- List of people from Atlanta
- Music of Atlanta
