Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr., popularly known as T.I. — a rapper, actor, and record executive from the United States — was born on September 25, 1980. He ranks among the best-selling hip-hop performers of all time. He also helped establish the hip-hop subgenre called trap music. The rapper signed his first major-label recording contract with LaFace, a division of Arista Records, in 1991. In 2001, he published “I’m Serious,” his debut album and only project with the company. He signed with Atlantic after Arista dismissed him, and shortly after, he co-founded his record label imprint, Grand Hustle Records, which he established in 2002. He has 11 studio albums to his credit, seven of which peaked in the top five of the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. He is a three-time Grammy Award winner.
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr.
Nickname:
T.I.
Birth date:
September 25, 1980
Age:
43 years, 7 months
Zodiac Sign:
Libra
Height:
5' 8"
Relationship Status:
Married
Net Worth:
$50.0 million
Background
T.I. was born on September 25, 1980, in Atlanta. He is the son of Violeta Morgan and Clifford Harris Sr. His father lived in New York City, and he frequently traveled there to visit. He was raised by his grandparents in the Center Hill district of Atlanta. T.I. began rapping when he was eight years old. He went to Douglass High School, but he eventually left. In 2001, he published “I’m Serious,” his debut album and solo effort with the label Arista Records. After his first prominent appearance on the song ‘Never Scared’ in 2003, he started to receive attention. With the 2003 release of “Trap Muzik,” which featured Top 40 singles like ‘Let’s Get Away’ and ‘RubberBand Man,’ he gained further notoriety.He contributed to the international breakthrough song ‘Soldier’ by Destiny’s Child in 2004, and quickly capitalized on it by releasing his album “Urban Legend.” His subsequent albums, “King” and “T.I. vs. T.I.P.,” saw strong sales. Popular tracks like ‘What You Know’ and ‘Big Shit Poppin’ were among them. His most successful endeavor was his sixth album, “Paper Trail,” which was gold-certified in 2008. It even helped him get his third straight number-one album. He contributed to the song ‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke in 2013, which hit the top of several important music charts. In 2010, he issued his seventh album, “No Mercy.”The rapper entered the business world in 2003 when he co-founded the record company Grand Hustle Records with his longtime business partner Jason Geter. The rapist has also had a successful acting career, appearing in movies like “ATL,” “Get Hard,” “Identity Thief,” “Takers,” and “Ant-Man” and its sequel from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His two novels, “Power & Beauty” (2011) and “Trouble & Triumph” (2012), both of which had a mediocre level of success, are proof of his success as a novelist. Additionally, he has been in the American reality television programs “T.I.’s Road to Redemption,” “T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle,” and “The Grand Hustle.”He was ranked as the 27th best artist of the 2000s decade by Billboard in 2009. T.I. began dating Xscape member Tameka “Tiny” Cottle in 2001, and on July 30, 2010, the couple tied the knot in Miami Beach, Florida. They have two sons and a daughter together. T.I. has two other sons with Lashon Dixon and a daughter with R&B singer Ms. Niko. Cottle filed for divorce from T.I. in December 2016, and they have since been working on a reconciliation.
Career timeline
T.I. wins his first Grammy Award in the category ‘Best Rap Solo Performance’ for the song ‘What You Know.’
T.I. stars in his first film, “ATL,” loosely based on his life and growing up in Atlanta, which was a huge success.
T.I. announces the opening of his clothing line, A.K.O.O., which stands for “A King Of Oneself” and specializes in urban attire such as breathable T-shirts, cardigans, sweaters, and embroidered wovens, leather jackets, and high-quality jeans.
T.I.'s second album, "Trap Muzik," is released on August 19 by Grand Hustle Records; it debuts at number four and sells 109,000 copies in its first week.
T.I. FAQs
What does T.I. stand for?
The rapper’s grandfather gave him the moniker ‘Tip’ as a young child, which became his first stage name, T.I.P. Later, out of respect for label partner Q-Tip, he deleted the ‘p’ and modified the name to T.I.
Where is T.I. originally from?
He’s originally from Atlanta, Georgia.
What is T.I.'s biggest hit?
His biggest hit is ‘Whatever You Like.’
5 Surprising Facts
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He was once called RubberBand Man
T.I. was once known as RubberBand Man, which is a reference to the custom of wearing rubber bands around the wrist that denote wealth in terms of drugs or money.
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He's been to jail twice
T.I. has served two terms in county jail, twice for probation violations and a federal prison sentence for a U.S. federal weapons charge.
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He had a feud with Lil' Flip
T.I. and rapper Lil' Flip once fought over who should hold the title “King of the South.”
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He owns a construction company
He owns a construction company called New Finish Construction with his uncle, which is dedicated to building and repairing houses in Atlanta's less fortunate neighborhoods.
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His likes and dislikes
T.I prefers the actress Angela Bassett and the television program "Friends," but he detests champagne.
Why We Love T.I.
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He once prevented a suicide
On October 13, 2010, T.I. heard of a suicidal situation on the radio and drove to the scene at the 400 Colony Square Building, where he asked the police if he could help. The rapper then spoke to Joshua Starks, a 24-year-old, and convinced him not to jump from a 22-story building.
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His acts of kindness
T.I. teamed up with fellow rappers Young Jeezy and David Banner at Atlanta's Club Vision in early September 2005 for a two-day food and clothes drive to aid Hurricane Katrina victims. Additionally, he gave a personal donation of $50,000 on Labor Day for Hurricane Katrina recovery while also assisting Atlanta's V-103 F.M. in raising over $260,000 in funds.
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He performs with an agenda
In 2005, T.I performed at Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas, in front of over 2000 soldiers and their families and also signed autographs for them.
T.I.’s birthday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | September 25 | Monday |
| 2024 | September 25 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | September 25 | Thursday |
| 2026 | September 25 | Friday |
| 2027 | September 25 | Saturday |
