T.I. shows “No Mercy” on the album charts…
Dec 18th
Though Susan Boyle continues to hold the crown with her sophomore offering The Gift, T.I. makes a splash on the Billboard 200 this week with his seventh album No Mercy, earning the highest-charting debut for any new album entering the fold.
The incarcerated rapper bows at No. 4 this week with his latest LP, moving 159,000 copies. While the album is a success by industry standards, it marks the first time that Tip hasn’t debuted at No. 1 since 2004 when Urban Legendentered the chart at No. 7. Comparatively, 2008’s Paper Trailscored a chart-topping debut with 568,000 units.
T.I. thanked his fans for their support. “First off I’d like to thank everybody again for going out and supporting the hustle yet again with No Mercy last week,” he wrote on his blog. “I can’t say enough on how much I appreciate the support and all the positive feedback. I read so many tweets, letters, reviews, and comments that spoke volumes to how much love was still out there and how much respect still exists for my art and my passion.”
Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday continues to go strong in its third week on the chart, climbing two spots to No. 6 with another 82,000 units. Rihanna’s latest set Loud makes the move up to No. 9 with an additional 71,000. Read the rest of this entry »
Kid Rock “feels bad” for T.I.
Nov 9th
T.I. returned to prison this week to serve an 11-month stint behind bars. His friend and collaborator Kid Rock is speaking out and sharing his compassion for the incarcerated rapper.
“It’s sad. He’s such a nice guy. It’s a tricky situation, but I feel bad for him,” the rocker told Entertainment Weekly. “I understand someone’s gotta learn their lesson, and I know they gave him a chance, but there’s a better way his time could be utilized to help other people, something to help the community.”
Tip was sent back to prison in Arkansas for violating his probation, but Rock doesn’t side with the legal system. “Some of these jail things, I don’t agree with them, especially when you got so much horrid shit going on in the world.”
Rock enlisted Tip and Martina McBride for “Care,” a song off his new album Born Free. The hip-hop star didn’t know who the country crooner was and vice versa. “I recorded them separately,” he said. “It’s funny, because Martina’s kids knew who T.I. was, but Martina obviously wasn’t that familiar with him. And T.I. didn’t have any clue who Martina was.”
A version of the song with Mary J. Blige in place of Martina previously leaked. Read the rest of this entry »
T.I. says “No Mercy” is his best work yet!
Nov 6th
Taking a page from the recently released Lil Wayne, T.I. wrote to fans on his website, addressing his emotional state following his re-incarceration in federal prison. The Atlanta rapper, who began serving his 11-month sentence earlier this week, checked in by penning a message that thanked those for supporting his “Get Back Up” video and helping him find inspiration.
“To all of you who say ‘He should practice what he preaches’ and ‘How could he do something so stupid…AGAIN?’ You’re absolutely right and I couldn’t agree with you more,” wrote an introspective Tip. “But you know what? As history has shown us before, I find my greatest inspiration during my darkest hours.”
The “Got Your Back” MC continued by encouraging fans to support his forthcoming album No Mercy. “So all fans of music, T.I. or not, should be able to agree that NO MERCY will surely be my best work yet. After all isn’t that what it’s all about?” he continued. “If I never went to prison, never did drugs, never f’ed up again, did everything right and never made great music….would you even care enough to comment on T.I.? Doubt it, so bear that in mind while you jump to your conclusions guys.” Read the rest of this entry »
T.I. thanks fans, then checks back into prison
Nov 4th
T.I. bid his friends and family adieu today, returning to prison to start serving his 11-month sentence. The King of the South checked into an Arkansas facility earlier this afternoon, turning himself in after getting arrested for violating his probation.
“Hey yall #teamTI will be holding me down on this front with updates until I return. Thx for your continued support. In a minute….#NoMercy,” tweeted the rapper before heading off to do his bid.
Tip will go through the regular process once arriving at his new home, meaning he will be processed, photographed, and given a bunk assignment, reports external sources.
Less than a year ago, the Atlanta rapper found himself in a similar situation after pleading guilty to federal weapons charges. He served 10 months behind bars in Arkansas and was released in December.
Meanwhile, his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle was charged with drug possession following her September arrest in Los Angeles. If convicted, she could face a year-long sentence. Later today T.I. pulled out his new cover of his once “King Uncaged” album – which is now titled “No Mercy” rumours are that there are new tracks on the LP which never made the first edition of the album, but now have. Could this album be delayed any longer!? Read the rest of this entry »
Tiny charged with drug possession, and could join T.I. behind bars
Oct 31st
You know it’s one thing to stand by your husband through think and thin, but really now this is going a bit too far!? T.I. was slapped with a hefty 11-month prison sentence for violating his probation, and now his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle must face the consequences of her arrest last month.
The Atlanta singer has been charged with possession of the drug ecstasy after she and her husband were arrested on L.A.’s Sunset Strip in September, reports sources. If convicted, she could face up to a year behind bars for the violation.
T.I. wasn’t charged with possession of a controlled substance when he went before a judge earlier this month, which would have significantly increased his sentence. The District Attorney chose not to prosecute him because he was already set to serve time for a probation violation resulting from the L.A. arrest.
Tiny’s close friend and fellow Xscape member Kandi Burruss said that Tiny remains strong despite her husband’s prison sentence, expected to begin next week. “She’s doing fine,” he told TheMoMoShow.com “She’s just strong. She doesn’t really let a lot of things get her down, and if she did, she’s not gonna let you know.” – Well I think it’s time for T.I.and Tiny to kiss goodbye any endorsement deals they had or ever will get.
T.I. drops album titled “King Uncaged”
Oct 27th
The King’s album title has officially been caged. Following his 11-month prison sentence, T.I. has decided to change the name of his forthcoming album.
The rapper’s seventh studio effort, previously titled King Uncaged, will now be called No Mercy. “It ain’t King Uncagedno more. We had to change the title,” he told Hot 107.9’s Rickey Smiley.
The project was originally set for release in August and wasdelayed so he could promote his No. 1 film Takers. This occurred prior to his arrest for felony drug possession in Los Angeles in September. He has since been sentenced to 11 months behind bars for violating his probation, but was not charged for the drug offenses.
Tip previously told us that he had recorded over 100 songs and had to narrow them down to 14 which will make the final cut. He shared his struggles with Chris Brown on “Get Back Up,” one of the songs expected to appear on No Mercy.
It is a shame to see a perfect marketing plan be changed and thousands of CD selves now being recycled! but recently, Axe deodorant dropped him from their ad campaign, stating that the company was “troubled” by his recent drug possession arrest. Remy Martin also announced they’d be severing ties with T.I. who was named the cognac brand’s Global Creative Consultant in June Read the rest of this entry »
Lil Jon, is now selling Pizza
Oct 21st
Lil Jon may know how to make hit records, but we’ll soon find out if he can push pizza pies. The rapper-turned-salesman took to the streets of Manhattan this to hawk pizza for charity.
The King of Crunk held a poster board outside of Famous Famiglia Pizzeria for a taping of Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” on which he will appear. He was joined by his fellow castmates John Rich, David Cassidy, Mark McGrath, Richard Hatch, Gary Busey, and Meatloaf. Jon already has support from Justin Bieber, who tweeted, “If u r in NYC 2morrow my dude @LilJon is selling pizza from 11am-3pm at Famiglia Pizzeria on 757 Broadway for charity! Support!” So where did all this good spirit come from all of a sudden!? Well no one knows, most likely management as we do hardly see Lil Jon in the public eye…can I smell another album coming…Yes!
He also showed his support for currently locked up brother T.I. The superstar MC was sentenced Friday to 11 months in prison for probation violation after he was caught with drugs during a traffic stop in Los Angeles last month. Tip just wrapped up a bid for a felony weapons charge in March and is expected to turn himself in within the next two weeks. As the ATL spitter heads back to prison, some famous faces are sending T.I. some hometown love. Read the rest of this entry »
T.I. goes to prison…again!
Oct 17th
The King is being recaged. After his recent run-in with the law, T.I. has been sentenced to 11 more months behind bars.
The Atlanta rapper pleaded to a federal judge not to send him back to prison for violating his probation with a drug arrest, but to allow him to get help for his drug addiction.
“I screwed up big time and I am sorry,” T.I. said during his probation revocation hearing Friday afternoon. “I am sincerely sorry. I am scared that you will send me to prison.”
Tip, born Clifford Harris Jr., was in federal court Friday in Atlanta following his arrest last month in Los Angeles on suspicion of drug possession. He was on probation after serving 10 months behind bars on federal weapons charges.
So now, I’m pretty much guessing the album is going to be pushed back…great! He just doesn’t help himself! However his label announced only days ago a the track, entitled “Get Back Up“, features Chris Brown and will be included on the rapper’s new album, “King Uncaged“. This is a solid record. The song carries an inspiring message and it is well-framed by radio friendly beat. Brown was a fitting addition to the track despite the unnecessary studio tricks added to his voice. This should have been the 1st single released by T.I from his ‘King Uncaged’ album. Read the rest of this entry »
T.I. and wife set to host Alzheimer’s event
Oct 6th
T.I. may be receiving a fair share of bad press lately, but the rapper turned the spotlight on a worthy cause over the weekend in Atlanta. Tip and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle hosted a luncheon for their foundation “For the Love of Our Fathers,” which raises money for disease research and offers relief to caregivers. Tiny’s father has the brain disorder and T.I. said his father and grandmother also had the disease when they died.
“It’s very, very personally close to our family,” Tip told the AP. “And while I was, you know, while I was going through my … period of hiatus, Tameka had the idea of … starting this foundation. And I thought it was an outstanding idea.”
As for the couple’s recent arrest on drug charges, T.I. declined to comment, saying, “We’re not going to talk much except for Alzheimer’s.” – Of course! With T.I. album being pushed back to support his box office disaster “Takers” maybe it’s time T.I. picks up the peices of what is left of his career and for god’s sake put out a record already! Read the rest of this entry »
T.I. and Pharrell’s work is done in the studio
Sep 5th
Before T.I. and Tiny ended up getting arrested last night, Tip was getting it poppin’ in the studio with Pharrell. The above pic, snapped hours before the couple’s felony arrest,shows Skateboard P and the King of the South kicking it, most likely during a studio session for T.I.’s upcoming album “King Uncaged“.
Shortly after, T.I. and his bride Tameka “Tiny” Cottle were apprehended in Los Angeles after cops stopped them for making an illegal U-turn. Smelling marijuana in the car, police arrested the pair and set bail at $10,000, later revealing that they were in possession of a controlled substance believed to be ecstasy.
As of now, T.I.’s probation officer has asked the MC to fly back to Atlanta, where federal officials are determining if they will attempt to revoke his probation. “The probation office is in the process of determining what happened and will make a recommendation regarding Mr. Harris when they have all the facts,” says United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.
If T.I. is found in violation, he could be sent back to prison and face a jail sentence much longer than the seven-month stint he recently served for illegal possession of firearms. Read the rest of this entry »