T.I., born Clifford Harris in Atlanta, Georgia, earned the moniker “the Jay-Z of the South” from Pharrell Williams, carving his own path to rap stardom during the early 2000s. While his debut album “I’m Serious” in 2001 didn’t catapult him to fame like Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt,” T.I. steadily built his career, achieving major hits with tracks like “24’s” in 2003. His albums, including “Trap Muzik,” “Urban Legend,” “King,” “T.I. vs. T.I.P.,” and “Paper Trail,” consistently dominated the charts, showcasing his smooth yet gritty style.
Despite his popularity as a musician, T.I. was not without controversy. He was frequently in the news for his legal issues and conflicts with other musicians. A shooting incident involving his team in 2006 led to a tragic loss of his personal assistant’s life. T.I. persevered in achieving success, producing hits that topped the charts and receiving nominations for Grammy Awards. Nevertheless, he served time in jail during his career, including an 11-month term for probation violations in 2010 and a year-long sentence for federal weapons charges in 2009.
After being released from jail, T.I. continued to pursue his musical career, appearing in TV series like “T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle” and putting out albums like “Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head” and “Paperwork,” the latter of which Pharrell Williams executive produced. He joined Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2016 and dropped the politically charged EP “Us or Else,” which tackled problems of power and race in America. With partnerships, movie roles, and a dedication to using his music to address social concerns, T.I.’s career is still evolving.