KingKap1983

Last year, T.I.'s King shattered the charts, killed the critics lists, and went platinum in a month. Now, the Atlanta rapper attempts to do it again with T.I. vs T.I.P., an album named for his alter ego and inspired by his friend Philant Johnson, who died in a gunfight last May. This time T.I.'s invited the big names to the party - from Jay-Z and Eminem to Andre 3000 and Akon - so expect this one to be hotter than ever.


Q: Based on the album's title, it sounds like you're having some issues with your alter ego. How does T.I. differ from the persona inspired by your childhood nickname, T.I.P.?

A: T.I. is the guy I had to become to assume an executive position or just conduct my business on a professional level. T.I.P., I've always been. That's what my mama, uncles, and granddaddy used to call me: little badass T.I.P. I've always been that person, but in order to assume the levels of success that I thought I had opportunities to assume, I had to leave a piece of that shit behind and develop a new character.

Q: How did you come up with it?

A: I came up with the concept right after King. My partner, Phil, said, "What are you going to do to top this?" I came to him with this idea - what if T.I. and T.I.P. did an album? Shortly after that, Phil died. I didn't want to rap at all. I guess the shit was kind of killing me, man. But Phil came to me [in a dream] and told me, "Shit, dog! If you quit, I'll kill you!" So at that point, I had no choice.

Q: How did you make the album come together under those conditions?

A: As time went on, more shit just started coming around. I wasn't writing a story no more, wasn't making up no fiction shit. This shit was really happening to me. At first I had to think of why T.I. and T.I.P. would not get along. And then, when I didn't want to do a album and then I decided to do an album, that was a conflict in itself. And me wanting to do certain things but having my partner die, and then me pulling myself back - thats another conflict right there. So this shit just started unraveling. And then from there, the music came easy.

Q: Between your film debut in ATL and your platinum album King, 2006 was a huge year for you. How's it feel finally being king?

A: It really just feels like a lot of hard work paying off. This is what we set out to do. You know, halfway to this point we were setting new aspirations, so now we're just working toward those goals.

Q: After losing to Ludacris last year, is a Grammy for Best Rap Album one of those goals?

A: I think everybody knows what the album of the year was last year. That ain't no question. I ain't trippin' on that. No disrespect to who won the Grammy, but the shit is unanimous. The shit is undeniable. If you ask him, he will probably tell you.

Q: You're also in the upcoming American Gangster, with Denzel Washington. Have you had any training?

A: Nah. never! If I had a role that I felt I was going to need some help on, then I wouldn't hesitate to do that. Say, if I had to act like I was from London - for that kind of shit, I would probably get a coach. But just for regular everyday shit? I don't need no help with that. I got it!

Q: Do you think you'll ever decide to put down the mic and focus on acting?

A: I foresee a point in my career where I will have to put down the mic, period! After 30, I could go any minute. I'm going to be playing it day to day at that point.

Q: What do you think about the controversy surrounding rappers using words like "bitch" and "ho"?

A: If you ask me, Do you feel that rappers should take responsibility for the things they say?, I'd say yes! If you ask me, Do you think sometimes rappers can go too far?, I'd say sometimes, yeah! But if you ask me, Do you think rappers should be forced to take the words bitch, nigga, and ho out of their music?, I'd say no! Unless you're going to take the bitches, niggas, and ho's out of the neighborhoods that these rappers come from, you're not going to be able to take it out of their music.

Q: What's at the root of the problem?

A: It's a society issue. It's not a hip-hop issue. This is the life we know, based on the way society has positioned us, and it is a known fact that we have been positioned in certain areas for certain reasons. You can't expect me to talk like you; you can't expect me to act like you. I grew up in a neighborhood where there was substandard education. So the fact that I could put on another hat and speak eloquently in a conversation, in a board meeting, in an executive's office, or wherever I need to straighten up and talk right, you should commend me for that - instead of condemning me because I have knowledge of a lifestyle that you know nothing about. You can't condemn me for where I came from. I didn't put myself in that situation. You got to go to the source. Let's start at the top and work our way down. You can't start at hip-hop and work your way up. All we do is tell it how it really is. If you don't like what we saying, you should change what we see.




In Stores Now !!!

kac

Source? Hmm....... well, propz on the posted interview.

Sole1

"I grew up in a neighborhood where there was substandard education."
if he really grew up with "substandard education" he wouldnt even know wtf substandard meant

__________________

KingKap1983

tha interview iz from tha August 2007 issue of "Penthouse Magazine" go 2 penthouse.com they might have it up there

The Rule

i used to love T.I. for him not being cocky and shit.. but the fame is getting to him.. he's mad cocky now.



i mean come on if luda won the grammys you should congratulate him on that, for his hard work. your supposed to show you sportmanship like attitude and not get mad...

i mean shit i still love TIP but dude is mad cocky about himself and shit.

MVP07106

That is some of the dumbest shit that i have ever read in my life. How old are you, like 12?

stevothedevo

/\/\/\i know what a retard