T.I. (born Clifford Joseph Harris, 25.9.1980)
T.I. is an American rapper and head of Grand Hustle Records. T.I. featured with Pharrell Williams on the 2013 chart-topping Robin Thicke single 'Blurred Lines'.
Net Worth: According to Celebrity Net Worth in 2013, T.I. has a net worth of 50 million USD.
Childhood: T.I. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and was brought up by his grandparents. He began rapping at the age of eight, and became a drug dealer as a child. When his great grandfather, a record executive, discovered his rapping talent, he signed T.I. to Arista Records, a subsidiary of LaFace Records, despite him having been arrested on multiple occasions for drug dealing. When he joined the label, he changed his stage name from Tip to T.I. as Arista Records was already the home of rapper Q-Tip.
Career: T.I. released his debut studio album, 'I'm Serious', on 9th October 2001, to fair critical praise. The album failed to connect with listeners, however, and reached only number 98 in the US charts. This led to Arista dropping T.I. from the label. He subsequently founded his own Grand Hustle Records through Atlantic Records, and released his second studio album 'Trap Muzik' 19th August 2003. Not only did this album receive more critical praise, but it also charted higher - reaching number two on Billboard's 200 list. T.I. was sentenced to three years in prison in 2004, due to a violation of his parole from a case in 1998 for drug dealing. While in prison, T.I. was given a chance to work within the prison, and was able to write, record and release his third album while in prison. 'Urban Legend' was released on 30th November 2004, receiving mixed to poor reviews. While it only reached the seventh spot on Billboard's 200 list, it reached the top spot of Billboard's Top Rap Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. On 28th March, 2006, T.I. made released the tremendously successful album 'King'. The album debuted at the top of Billboard's 200, with overwhelmingly favourable reviews from critics, going on to receive a Grammy nomination for 'Best Rap Album'. While his fifth studio album, 'T.I. vs. T.I.P', would receive the same level of success, it only received moderate reviews from critics upon its release on 7th July, 2007. Again, the album was nominated for 'Best Rap Album' at the Grammy Awards, however it lost to Kanye West's album 'Graduation'. On October 13, 2007, T.I. was arrested on charges of possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers, as well as possessing firearms as a convicted felon. He was sentenced to time in prison, a year of house arrest and 1,500 hours of community service. While under house arrest, T.I. began working on his sixth studio album, 'Paper Trail'. Released on 8th September 2008, 'Paper Trail' received moderate reviews and once again debuted at the top of Billboard's 200 list. Following the release, T.I. received his prison sentence in early 2009, and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison in Forrest City, Arkansas. Leaving prison in early 2010, T.I. got to work on his seventh studio album, 'No Mercy'. On 1st September 2010, T.I. was arrested for parole violation and drug possession yet again, and sentenced to eleven months in jail. The album, 'No Mercy', was released on 7th December 2010, receiving moderate reviews again, yet only reaching number four on Billboard's 200 list. The album was released while he was serving time in jail. Following his release from prison, T.I. announced on 1st March 2012 that he had signed Iggy Azalea, Chipmunk and Trae Tha Truth to his record label. On 18th December, he released his eighth studio album, 'Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head'. The album received mixed reviews, and peaked at the number two spot on Billboard's 200 list. On 22nd November, 2013, T.I. revealed that his ninth studio album was going to be released through Columbia Records. On 16th December 2013, T.I. announced that his upcoming ninth studio album was going to be called 'Paperwork'. The album was later released on 21st December 2014, to fair critical praise and once again came second on Billboard's 200 list.
Personal Life: T.I. has two children with Lashon Dixon: Messiah Ya' Majesty Harris was born on 2nd February 2000, and Domani Uriah Harris was born on 19th March 2001. The couple soon broke up. T.I. began a relationship with R&B singer Ms. Niko, resulting in the birth of Deyjah Imani Harris on 17th June, 2001. In 2001, T.I. began a relationship with Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, who gave birth to Clifford "King" Joseph Harris III on 25th August 2005. They had a second child, Major Philant Harris, on 16th May 2006, and a daughter, Lelah Amore Harris, who was stillborn three months early on 22nd March 2007. T.I. and Cottle were married on 30th July, 2010, in Miami, Florida.
Biography by Contactmusic.com
