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T.I.

T.I.
Name Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.
Born (1980-09-25) September 25, 1980 (age 44)
Genres Rap
Years Active 1999–present
Labels EMPIRE, Epic, Grand Hustle, Roc Nation, Columbia, Atlantic, LaFace, Arista, Ghet-O-Vision
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Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. (born 25 September 1980), better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rapper, record producer, actor, author, record executive, television personality and entrepreneur from Atlanta, Georgia. He signed his first major-label record deal in 1999 with Arista Records subsidiary LaFace Records. In 2001, T.I. formed the Southern Hip Hop group P$C with longtime friends and fellow Atlanta-based rappers. Upon being released from Arista, T.I. signed to Atlantic Records and subsequently became the co-chief executive officer of his own imprint, Grand Hustle Records, which he launched in 2003. T.I. is perhaps best known as one of the artists who popularised the hip hop subgenre trap music alongside Jeezy and Gucci Mane.

T.I. began to gain recognition in 2003 after he was featured on fellow Atlanta-based rapper Bonce Crusher's hit single, "Never Scared". He began to gain more prominence with the release of his album Trap Muzik in 2003, which included two Top 40 hits. His sixth album, Paper Trail was released in 2008 and became his most successful album to date, and was his third chart topping album in a row. In 2013, he was featured on Robin Thicke's hit single "Blurred Lines", alongside Pharrell Williams, which peaked at #1 on several major music charts.

T.I. has also had a successful acting career, starring in the films ATL, Takers and Identity Thief. He is also a published author, having written two novels: Power & Beauty and Trouble & Triumph, released in 2011 and 2012 respectively. T.I. was featured in the reality television series T.I.'s Road to Redemption and T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle. He has won three Grammy Awards: Best Rap Solo Performance for "What You Know" in 2007, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Swagga Like Us" with Jay Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne in 2009, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "My Love" with Justin Timberlake in 2007.

Relationship with Minaj

T.I. said that he wouldn’t put Nicki Minaj on his all-time greatest rappers list. Composed of Tip’s 50 favorite rappers, the list was titled “Top50” and included rap veteran Lil Kim over Minaj. “It’s between Lil’ Kim and Nicki Minaj,” T.I. said, addressing his peers who were also in the studio. “I don’t think we can have both because they are a direct reflection of one another.” Somebody in the studio added their two cents, saying that without Lil Kim, Minaj wouldn’t be who she is and T.I. agreed. However, he did give her some credit in regard to her ability to sell records. “She is one of the biggest-selling artists of all time and I salute that. Impact, impact, impact,” Tip said before a discussion regarding creating a “female list” came about.

Remixes of T.I.’s songs