Originally published 12.25.09
by Jesse Muhammad
This week I read online as Hip-Hop fans got excited about the recent news regarding rapper T.I., the self-proclaimed “King of the South”.
On December 22 it was confirmed that T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., was released from a U.S. federal prison and moved to a halfway house.
Back in May, the platinum recording artist started serving a one year and a day sentencing after being found guilty for illegal firearms possession and possessing a gun as a convicted felon.
According to T.I.’s attorney, he will be in the halfway house for about three months and that T.I. is “looking forward to getting back to his family and being as productive as he can be.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported T.I. is expected to be released from Bureau of Prisons custody on March 23, after serving 85 percent of his sentence and could spend the last month of his sentencing at home.
I have been reading a lot of comments on websites such as Global Grind and of course Twitter. Some fans believe that T.I.’s return “is needed for Hip-Hop”. Another person commented “Wow T.I.’s coming home and wayne is leaving…interested to see who will take over the south next year.”
Well I love T.I.’s music too but more importantly I am happy for his family who has had to endure this as well. I love this brother’s spirit. On March 14 of this year, I had the honor of helping to organize Houston’s Responsibility is a Lifestyle Day along with T.I.’s K.I.N.G. Foundation, Political Swagger, the C.H.A.N.G.E. Initiative and others.
This was part of T.I.’s national effort to reach a million youth before he enter the prison walls. His message that day was summed up in the words, “Instead of walking with guns, I now have to walk with God.”
T.I. is a good brother. We all make mistakes. It’s how we bounce back that shows us what we’re truly made of. Much success to you brother.
On his classic album Urban Legend, T.I. says “Small thing to a giant, I can overcome this” on one my favorite songs titled Motivation.
Matter of fact, excuse me while I pop it into the tape deck….I’m mean the I-Pod. (smile)