T.I.

Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., known professionally as T.I., is a renowned rapper, songwriter, producer, and actor based in the United States. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, T.I. is regarded as a pioneer of the hip-hop sub-genre, trap music, together with notable Georgia-based rappers Jeezy and Gucci Mane. During the late 1990s, he joined the music executive Kawan 'KP' Prather's company, Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment, thereby sealing his path to stardom. Soon after, T.I. signed a major-label record deal with LaFace Records, an imprint of Arista Records. Despite the lukewarm reception to his debut studio album, 'I'm Serious', T.I.'s persistent determination saw him achieve mainstream success with Atlantic Records, co-founding his label imprint, Grand Hustle Records. This Grammy Award-winning artist has consistently played influential roles in hip hop and Southern hip hop throughout the 2000s.

Beyond music, T.I. has proven to be a versatile talent, starring in the films 'ATL', 'Takers', 'Get Hard', and 'Identity Thief', along with his roles in Marvel's 'Ant-Man' and its sequel. As a published author, he has also penned two novels: 'Power & Beauty' (2011) and 'Trouble & Triumph' (2012). T.I. has been instrumental in shaping the direction of hip-hop across his three-decade spanning career. As a philanthropist, he's known for his contributions to community initiatives for youth and families in his native Atlanta. However, T.I.'s remarkable career has not been without its share of controversies and legal hurdles, adding a layer of complexity to his legacy.