T.I.: Still The King Of The South

This year has been tough for the King of the South, but a true survivor knows how to fall and get back up again. He's been sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service, a year and one day in prison, as well as a $100,000 fine. He has even lost an endorsement deal with GM worth an estimated $10 million. Although the media will cover his legal woes, few outlets haven't covered his back-to-school event held at Club Crucial where he gave away 1,800 book bags, t-shirts, and school supplies to children, or his participation in a "Silence The Violence" panel in Chicago as he spoke to kids about hip-hop's fascination with guns and violence.

Along side his community service efforts, he oversees his Grand Hustle label that has a roster full of artists including newly signed 8 Ball and MJG. With a very busy label to manage, preparing for a new movie currently in pre-production, and trying to maintain his status in hip-hop's hierarchy with his September 30th release called Paper Trail, T.I. is still on top of the world. He's cool, calm, and very well collected, as he and BallerStatus touched on topics such as his legal woes, his life, Shawty Lo, and his view on snitching to the Feds.

BallerStatus.com: So while you were on house arrest, you were laying down a lot of tracks and remixes. You were grinding and people were really feeling what you were bringing. What point, during that time in your life, did you want to get a cross in your music?

T.I.: That I hadn't lost it, that the situation was not going to disturb me creatively, that I was still that dude, and just raise the standard of music that was coming out at the time.

BallerStatus.com: When you were going through your legal issues, people might have looked at you and assumed you weren't affected by it...

T.I.: What do you mean?

BallerStatus.com: Not to say you put on a persona, but a lot of times rappers put on a persona that they're invincible, and if they do get caught into trouble, nothing will happen to them because it doesn't bother them.

T.I.: Oh yeah?
v BallerStatus.com: Yeah. So my question to you is how did you deal with that?

T.I.: I didn't. It doesn't matter what they think, what matters is the truth. My grandma used to always say "Leave the thinking to the smart people." They can think what they want to think. I know how serious I took my situation. That's between me, God, and the government (laughs). I don't have to put up no front to seem hard or to look cool, nor do I have to show an extra amount of sorrow, pain, or grief to seem remorseful. I'm just being me, you know? Doing what I feel is right and what I feel is right is to take every necessary precaution and make the proper adjustments, lift my head up, hold my chest out, accept responsibility for my poor judgment, and do what I got to do to move forward. All the other stuff is irrelevant.

BallerStatus.com: What do you think about the accusations that imply you walked away from your charges without serious repercussion because you snitched to the Feds?

T.I.: (huffs) If that was the case, then it would have been out there. That's what they would have said. They would have said "Well we did this for him because he did this for us." It wouldn't be a secret. If there was such a thing as a secret snitch, we wouldn't need a witness protection program.
v BallerStatus.com: You just inked a deal with 8 Ball and MJG to your Grand Hustle label. Tell us more about Grand Hustle's movement and what we should be expecting to come from the label.

T.I.: Well first of all, we are very proud to welcome 8 Ball and MJG to the family. I respect them and I have a huge amount of admiration for them. They are definitely legends in the game, in my eyes. I grew up writing to all of their music -- solo and as a group. I'm looking forward to presenting their project to the world. I heard some of the work they already did and it's outstanding. I'm glad that I could give any assistance and contribute any of my resources to them. I think that it's definitely going to be one of their most memorable projects.

In addition to 8 Ball and MJ, we got Young LA. His song "Ain't I" [is] tearing the clubs up and doing his thing heavy in the south. We also got Big Kuntry King; he's got an album coming out, My Turn To Eat, coming out the same day as mine. September 30th is officially Hustle Day, so you can come on out and support the hustle and buy Paper Trail and My Turn To Eat. I urge you to. Alfamega's I Am Alfamega is coming out on October [which is] another Grand Hustle priority and [we are] definitely proud of his project. He's really taking off and assumed position of his own. DJ Drama's working on another Gangsta Grillz album, hopefully to be released by the holidays of this year. Young Dro just completed his album and we about to pick the first single and be able to rock and roll the first of next year. J.R. "Get Money" [is] another young artist of ours that we are proud to present. He has an outstanding style and incredible swag. I think he has an enormous amount of potential and we are looking forward to seeing what he's going to offer.

BallerStatus.com: You have a lot going on.

T.I.: Yes, it's never too much and not enough.

BallerStatus.com: There seems to be a lot of planning going on for Paper Trail with fluctuations going on with the release dates. Do you feel there is a lot of pressure on your brand right now at this time of your life?

T.I.: I went through this with T.I. vs. T.I.P. I take all of my projects very seriously. I try to make sure that I present the absolute best product possible. That's what all the planning's about.

BallerStatus.com: Can you tell us a little bit more about the producers you've worked with?

T.I.: DJ Toomp, Drumma Boy, Danja, Nard & B, Swizz Beatz, Jim Jonsin, Just Blaze, Kanye West, that's all I'm going to give you right now.

BallerStatus.com: What keeps you motivated?

T.I.: Life, my legacy, my children, creating opportunities for my partners, my artists, myself, the pursuit of happiness.

BallerStatus.com: I know you opened Club Crucial and it's an exclusive spot from what I hear.

T.I.: I think it's a lovely spot to party, man! [It's] in the hood with real people without all of the extra stuff.

BallerStatus.com: With all of the success that you're going through right now, there are some haters that are coming at you.

T.I.: Sure, it's inevitable.

BallerStatus.com: So it seems like sometimes when you have a lot to risk, people want to see you fall, and kick you when you're down. So applying this to Shawty Lo --

T.I.: You see, I'm not speaking on that situation no more, man. I'm done with it. It's over.

BallerStatus.com: May I ask you another question?

T.I.: Sure.

BallerStatus.com: Will we see any films in the near future?

T.I.: Sure. I'm working on one right now; it's in pre-production. We start filming in September. It's called "Bone Deep" -- me, Idris Alba, Chris Brown, and Matt Dillon.

BallerStatus.com: To all the kids out there that love you and to all the people that are your biggest fans, those are the people who will see the positive things that will come out of your work no matter what. What do you want to say to them?

T.I.: Thank you. Thank you for all your support, your concerns, your prayers, and I really appreciate you. I'm proud to present Paper Trail to you. I remain loyal to those who remain loyal to me. I'll do everything in my power to make sure I won't let you down.

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