T.I. – American rapper and producer
T.I.’s real name is Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. He was born on 25 September 1980 in Atlanta. The aspiring rapper attended Douglass High School but dropped out to pursue a music career. Clifford’s pseudonym originates from the nickname he had in school. Initially, he called himself Tip but after signing a contract with LaFace Records, decided to shorten it to T.I.
In 2001, with LaFace Records, the musician recorded his first studio album, I’m Serious. It climbed to the 98th spot of Billboard 200 and the 27th position of Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In the USA, the album sold 165,000 copies. It was famous for such songs as "Still Ain't Forgave Myself", "What Happened?", "You Ain't Hard", and "Why I'm Serious".
In 2003, T.I. released his second studio LP, Trap Muzik. It reached the 4th spot on Billboard 200 and came in second on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In the first week of sales, the album sold over 110,000 copies. Later, it became platinum. The singles "Let's Get Away", "Rubber Band Man", and "24's" were popular in the clubs and on radio stations.
T.I. called himself a southern rapper. He didn’t just record his own music but wrote songs for other artists as well. Between 2003 and 2006, the rapper was in jail. He was convicted of drug possession.
