Rapper T.I. is featured on the April 2009 issue of VIBE Magazine. This will be his last magazine cover as a free man before he heads to prison later this month to serve a year-long sentence for charges related to his illegal possession of firearms. The issue basically talks about how people screamed “Snitch!” when T.I. got his sentencing. Most were expecting him to be put away for a very long while, but when news broke of him only getting a year, people began to question his integrity. T.I. wants everyone to know that is definitely not the case. Peep the press release, which was sent out today, below and after the break.
In an extensive report titled “Cell Therapy,” VIBE Senior Editor Benjamin Meadows-Ingram chronicles the superstar’s history-making legal battle and gut-wrenching journey since his 2007 arrest for attempting to collect three unregistered machine guns and two silencers following his BET Hip Hop Awards performance rehearsal.
After the announcement on March 27, 2008 of what many felt was a shockingly light slap on the wrist for the serious charges, many responded by screaming, “Snitch!” However, authorities agreed to a groundbreaking plea deal negotiated by heavyweight Criminal Defense Attorney, Steve Sadow, who cited the star’s ability to influence others by serving 1500 hours of community service.
As we reported last week, T.I. is currently on a 12-city “farewell tour” to promote his latest album, Paper Trail, before he begins his year-long prison sentence this month. Friday night in Miami, the Atlanta native brought along fellow entertainers Young Jeezy, Lloyd, Sean Paul and Nas to perform a special show for Miamians at the American Airlines Center. Continue reading to peep the rest of the pics!
Here’s DJ Drama’s brand new music video for his latest single, “Day Dreaming,” which features some of the biggest names in hip-hop (Akon, Snoop Dogg & T.I.). We posted the pictures of the four of them (with cameo appearances from Lil Jon, The Jabbawockeez, and more) on the set earlier this month, and now you can check out the Rage-directed video above.
BET’s annual fashion show, Rip The Runway, was held Saturday (Feb. 21st) at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York and features appearances and performances from Toccara Jones, Bobby Valentino, The Dream, Joy Bryant (host), T.I. and more. The show airs on BET March 2nd at 9 PM EST. Continue reading for the rest of the pics!
According to All Hip Hop, T.I. recently launched a 12-city “farewell tour” to promote his latest album Paper Trail. This will be the Atlanta rapper’s last tour before he begins his year-long prison sentence in March, and he also said that he plans on working on new material for a brand new album while on the tour, which kicked off in St. Louis, MO last Thursday (Feb. 19th). Continue reading to peep the tour dates and to read about him speaking to a group of Atlanta students on the importance of education. CONTINUE READING
Here’s the official GOT premiere of T.I. and Justin Timberlake’s brand new music video for “Dead and Gone,” the latest from T.I.’s most recent album, Paper Trail. Be sure to catch T.I. on his “Road to Redemption” reality series that airs weekly on Tuesdays at 9:30 PM only on MTV. Check out his new video above!
Jay-Z and his Rocawear clothing line hosted the Rocawear Retreat party and concert in Scottsdale, Arizona after Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game nearby in Phoenix. T.I. performed at the concert, rocking threads from his Akoo clothing line, and Beyonce and Young Jeezy chilled VIP style at the party.
Ciroc Vodka and 944 Magazine hosted another NBA All-Star Weekend 2009 party at the W Hotel in Phoenix Friday night. The guest list inclued the likes of T.I., Fabolous (who also performed at the event), Akon and more. Continue reading to see who else hit up the party!
T.I. talked to Carson Daly the other day when he appeared on “Last Call” and when the interview got to Chrianna-gate ‘09, T.I. said this:
“Yeah, I spoke to him today. He cool, you know. He’s still the same Chris. I told him this too shall pass. We’re celebrities, we’re entertainers, but we’re still human – all of us. Don’t expect us not to make mistakes, because we will.”
Continue reading to peep a statement from the Atlanta native to retract what he told Carson.
T.I. and little Major, the latest addition to his clan of children, share the limelight in the March 2009 issue of Blender Magazine. In the issue, the rapper, who faces a year and a day behind bars beginning this March, says what he plans on doing with his time.
“You stay to yourself as much as possible,” he says. “Speak when spoken to. And just mind your business. You ain’t there to make friends. You ain’t there to join in on the jailhouse games. You just there to do your time and go home.”
So how will he get through each day?
“Well, that depends on the facility. Some luxuries are available in some facilities that aren’t available in others. Some facilities have a TV, but you can’t watch it ’cause cats in there wild out so much. I’ll read the Bible a lot. Biographies, magazines. I don’t really read fiction. I read for information, rather than for entertainment. I’ll talk on the phone a lot. I’ll spend a whole day on the phone, checkin’ on what’s goin’ on, makin’ sure things are taken care of. Ain’t a lot to do.”
He says his fame won’t really make much of a difference: “People are in awe at times about who I am. I can’t believe I’m in here with T.I., but that usually goes away in about three, four days. After so long, everybody just inmates.”
Continue reading for more pics from inside the issue!
![T.I. // T.I. \"Farewell Concert\" in Miami](http://gossiponthis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tishow1-213x320.jpg "T.I. // T.I. \\"Farewell Concert\\" in Miami")
![Young Jeezy // T.I. \"Farewell Concert\" in Miami](http://gossiponthis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tishow2-212x320.jpg "Young Jeezy // T.I. \\"Farewell Concert\\" in Miami")
