The Evolution of T.I.

Follow the highs and lows of the king.

T.I. - Clifford Harris Jr. will officially be finished serving his one-year jail stint in March 2010, although he’s expected to be released to a halfway house by Christmas. If 2008’s “Paper Trail” is any indication of what the King of the South can do while on lockdown, than we can expect fire. Oh, and he’s set to star in the upcoming crime thriller, “Takers,” alongside Matt Dillon, Idris Elba and Chris Brown.
False Start - Then signed to Arista Records, T.I. released I’m Serious. Bold and cocky, the rapper proclaimed himself “King of the South” before his debut album even hit stores. Despite receiving good reviews, the album tanked commercially.
Square One - After getting dropped from Arista, Tip went back to work on the mixtape circuit and generated a buzz big enough to spark bidding wars between several labels. In the end, he signed with Atlantic Records.Told You So - Capitalizing on his own momentum, Tip next dropped Trap Muzik, an album many consider to be his best work, in 2003. Led by singles like “24,” “Let’s Get Away” and “Rubberband Man,” the LP went platinum.

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The Evolution of T.I. - T.I. is a long way from "the trap." Since bursting onto the scene in 2001, the rapper has released five platinum albums, launched his Grand Hustle imprint and become a movie star (ATL, American Gangster, Takers). To celebrate his birthday today [September 25], we take a look at the evolution of T.I.’s career.

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