Will T.I. still reign after prison? (Photo: trapmuzik.com)
T.I.'s prison sentence for illegally purchasing machine guns with silencers officially began at noon on May 26, 2009. There are varying reports on his actual time of arrival. TMZ.com says that he arrived at the prison gates, but sought a different entrance to avoid the throngs of photographers positioned around the area. Regardless, he is sentenced to a year and a day at a minimum security prison facility in Arkansas - with the possibility of a reduced sentence for good behavior. His inmate number, 59458019, has been made public as a sign that he will receive no special treatment. I shudder to think of anyone calling him King behind bars.
T.I. is one of many rappers to receive serve time in the pen, the last equally high-profile case was Lil’ Kim, who was sentenced to a year and a day for perjury. Kim was last seen as a front-runner on Dancing With the Stars. She didn’t win. Reality show watchers speculated that some Americans just weren’t ready for the first convicted felon to win a hotly contested show. Her last album, The Naked Truth, had two strong singles, but ultimately suffered due to her inability to promote or tour while incarcerated. T.I. on the other hand, had time on his side. With a delayed prison sentence, he was able to record the street respected and critically acclaimed, Paper Trail, which won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group for “Swagga Like Us.”
As part of his plea deal, T.I. created some quality television and film with MTV’s Road to Redemption, but more impactful, is the Emmy-nominated, Andrew Young Presents feature, Walking With Guns. The film, which looks something like a commercial-free WSB-TV special, chronicles the tragedies of gun violence at a New York hospital specializing in spinal cord injuries. T.I. appears with mentor Andrew Young to meet up with older men who were not much unlike him in their 20s – gutsy and convinced that they were invincible. Though the film and hospital visits were part of the rapper’s 1000 hours of community service, he never appears insincere or ungrateful. He knows that he could have become a casualty in the unyielding urban violence that affects far too many lives. His goodbye concert on May 24 in Atlanta was sold-out, filled with fans vowing to remain true and forgive his “mistake.” With the lightning speed of the rap game and short shelf life for even good albums, will T.I. reclaim his throne or have to prove himself all over again? Only time will tell.
Good thing it’s only a year and a day.
Do you love hip-hop music?
To get the latest hip-hop happenings in and around Atlanta, SUBSCRIBE above for instant delivery to your inbox. We will never share your email.
Comments
I only hope he learns something in prison and he never makes the same mistake again, unlike so many balck criminals, always in jail for the same old shiznit.
I agree with you Shan. I believe an artist's reign is equivalent to being the "employee of the month". In the short run, a lapse time of 12 months has a severe impact on commercial success. In the long run, he could come out on top by focusing and taking a page from 2pac, by endlessly writing potent, heat, and dropping hits from behind bars. Otherwise, radio, record companies, DJ's, and most importantly fans will forget about him and gravitate to the "employee of the month".
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!