SEE ALSO: ‘Tunnel Of Love’ Couple Busted Having Sex On Water Slide

In the interview T.I. remarked “gays are “like, ‘If you have an opinion against us, we’re gonna shut you down’ … That’s not American. If you’re gay you should have the right to be gay in peace, and if you’re against it you should have the right to be against it in peace.”

Arceneaux responds to the rapper’s statements writing:

Not only does this statement suggest that the recently paroled rapper has a shaky grasp of U.S. civics, but he confused the concept of entertainers having the creative freedom to push the envelope with some bizarre request for public figures to be allowed to be hateful without repercussions.

Read more at the Root.

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‘The Wendy Williams Show’: Uncomfortable Interview With T.I. & Tiny

Rapper T.I. Tells ‘Vibe’ Some Gay People Are Acting …

“Man, I will say this, the funniest joke I ever heard Tracy say during a stand-up was, ‘C’mon man, I think gay people are too sensitive. If you can take a dick, you can take a joke.’ [Cracks up laughing.] That shit was funny to me. And it’s kind of true.”

SEE ALSO: WATCH: Doctors Remove 4-Inch Leech From Teenage Boy’s Throat
As if seeming to sense  the oncoming outrage he tried to defend his previous statement with:

“They’re like,‘If you have an opinion against us, we’re gonna shut you down.’ … That’s not American. If you’re gay you should have the right to be gay in peace, and if you’re against it you should have the right to be against it in peace.’”

Whoever his p.r. manager is, they just hit pay dirt. It won’t be easy for T.I. to rhyme his way out of this one.

SEE ALSO: Serial Killer reportedly Author Children’s Book Available On Amazon

SEE ALSO: Nikki Minaj and BF Get Into A Fight On Twitter With Cher

Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke said the musician was released very early in the morning.

Rapper T.I. Returns To Prison Due To Luxury Bus

Fresh Out Of Jail! T.I. Released To Halfway House

T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, was arrested in September 2010 in Los Angeles on drug charges. He was sentenced to 11 months in prison for violating the terms of the probation he received after he was convicted of federal firearms charges.

He was released from an Arkansas prison and sent to the halfway house on Aug. 31. He was put back in federal lock-up over a dispute with prison officials, and then returned to the halfway house Sept. 15.

A spokesman for T.I. said the rapper is planning to celebrate his recent birthday and host a private brunch for family and friends in Atlanta on Sunday. He also will attend the BET Hip-Hop Awards on Saturday.

Steve Sadow told The Associated Press that the Federal Bureau of Prisons “has moved T.I. to a different facility” because of an issue involving the rapper’s 375-mile (603-kilometer) trip Wednesday from the Arkansas lockup to Atlanta in a gleaming motor coach.

He did not elaborate on the exact nature of the problem federal authorities had, but said it was not drug-related. He said they are trying to resolve the problem.

T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, traveled with an entourage to check into the halfway house, stepping off the bus clad in a red and blue striped polo shirt and white shorts.

“There appears to be confusion surrounding the method of transportation,” Sadow said.

Federal authorities had no further information late Thursday night where Harris was taken.

Traci Billingsley, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, told the AP that she couldn’t comment on the rapper’s status or his immediate whereabouts.

T.I. had initially served about seven months at the prison in 2009 after he was arrested for trying to buy unregistered guns and silencers from undercover federal agents. He was on probation after he was released and ordered not to commit another crime or to illegally possess any controlled substances.

He was arrested again in September 2010 in Los Angeles on drug charges after authorities said he was found with four ecstasy pills. He was sentenced in October to 11 months in prison for that violation, and had been set for release at the end of September but was let go early.

The prison agency’s website said late Thursday night that Harris was “in transit” but didn’t say where.

T.I. had left the Forrest City low-security prison and was driven in the bus with dark-colored windows, followed by four other cars.

“The storm is over & da sun back out. IT’S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!!” the rapper posted on Twitter shortly after his release. “Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!”

It appears a flock of cameras will follow T.I. regardless of where he goes next. VH1 said Wednesday that the network was filming T.I.’s journey home from jail and would debut the show in December. MTV aired a similar reality show on the rapper in 2009 called “T.I.’s Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go,” which chronicled his attempts to help others avoid his mistakes.

T.I. has also finalized a book deal. A representative from HarperCollins told AP that T.I. has written a book called “Power & Beauty” that’s set to be released in October. The novel, which was co-written with David Ritz, is a fictional tale about two childhood friends torn apart by dangerous dealings on the streets of Atlanta.

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Fresh Out Of Jail! T.I. Released To Halfway House

T.I. Reprimanded After Overly “Frisky” Prison Visit With Wife Tiny

Rapper T.I. was released from prison early this morning and was ordered to a halfway house to serve the remainder of his 11-month prison sentence.

He was arrested in Los Angeles on Sept. 1 of last year for possession of a controlled substance which violated his probation.

The self proclaimed “King” has taken to Twitter to announce his release.

“Feels great to be back where I belong…Back in the arms of those who need me the most,” he tweeted from his verified @Tip account. “The storm is over & da sun back out. IT’S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!! Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!”

Read more at MTVNews

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Rapper T.I. sentenced to 11 months in prison

NEW YORK (AP) — T.I. says his drug problem started when he received prescriptions for Oxycontin and hydrocodone after a series of dental surgeries this year.

“After the pain went away, I kept taking it. I had like five, six prescriptions. So, I had, like 80 pills. Everybody else might drink or smoke a blunt; I took a pain pill,” the 30-year-old says in an interview win the December issue of Vibe magazine.

T.I. said he is now clean and sober, thanks in part to his September arrest in Los Angeles. Police found ecstasy pills on him, and while the case was eventually dropped, a judge found him in violation of his probation stemming from a 366-day prison stint for trying to buy illegal guns and sentenced him to 11 months in jail.

Prior to going back to jail, the Atlanta rapper attended one-on-one and group therapy sessions to help kick his addiction to pills and codeine, which he was drinking to get high.

He says he’s now learned his lesson.

“If you rationalize putting yourself in harm’s way, risking your well-being, your health, your freedom, your family’s well-being and livelihood in order to be high, that’s the rationale of an addict,” he said.

But while his wife, Tameka Cottle, was arrested with T.I. and faces a misdemeanor drug charge for possession, he would not say she had a problem with drugs.

“I don’t know. She went with me to some meetings and counseling. She ain’t got no problems,” he said. “Her thing is she smokes. Smoking weed is different than taking pain pills. You can smoke weed today and not smoke another blunt for another three months.”

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VIDEO:

We’re told T.I. heard about the jumper on the radio — and called Ryan Cameron to see if there was anything he could do to help out with the situation.

Ryan Cameron tells us … he told T.I. to roll over to the building, where the rapper met with police and recorded a heartfelt video message which cops then played for the man on the roof.

We’re told after the man saw T.I.’s video. he agreed to step off the ledge … and met T.I. in the lobby, where the two were able to talk things out.

Read The Whole Story

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T.I. Reportedly Set To Enter Plea Deal For 6 Month Sentence

Is T.I. The Latest Victim Of The ‘Hip Hop Police’?

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the Attorney General of Georgia has ordered T.I. to court after he was arrested for drug possession.

U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell Jr. on Thursday ordered T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., to appear before him in federal court in Atlanta and explain why his probation should not be revoked because of his recent arrest in Los Angeles. Pannell has not yet set a court date.

T.I. was released from prison earlier this year and is still on probation for firearms violations.

The order, signed by T.I.’s probation officer, lists three possible violations of his bond: possession of ecstasy on Sept. 1, testing positive for opiates on Sept. 2 and associating on Sept. 1 with Cortez Thomas, a convicted felon.

Read The Whole Story

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Cops Claim They Found Ecstasy In T.I.’s Vehicle [REPORT]

T.I. And Wife Tiny Arrested On Drug Charges In L.A.

At the risk of offending my buddy Dubs—who understandably doesn’t like seeing his government name in print—I’ve gotta reproduce this stellar piece of insight he hit a bunch of us with in an e-mail earlier today.

The topic was T.I. and the fact that the rapper was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana and two possibles (codeine and ecstasy; pardon the Spades slang).

Here’s what Dubs wrote:

T.I. and the rest of his ilk still don’t believe in the hip-hop police.  It is amazing [that they find the fact that] there is a dossier on every well-known rapper and their movements are tracked by most major police departments hard to believe.  How the hell do you think Lil’ Wayne got popped in three different states on the same charges, weapons and drugs, and none of the stops have been deemed “stop for cause”?

Now, most of us have heard of the Hip Hop police. I doubt however that many people have considered why there would be a need for such an entity.

Article continues after T.I. and Tiny Arrested Gallery:

If you were thinking that the Hip Hop police exists to protect rappers who, for some reason, tend to face violent death with more frequency than do other musicians, then you’d be wrong.

The Hip Hop police exists for the same reason that the FBI’s old COINTELPRO existed: to discredit anyone in the Black community with the intelligence, charisma and natural leadership ability necessary to inspire a movement.

‘Discrediting’ being only the first goal, of course. If you lived like a monk (see: Malcolm X, the later Dr. King, Fred Hampton), you had to be killed.

Murder could be tied in with the Hip Hop police as well because after seeing that a rape accusation, multiple shooting and subsequent conviction didn’t diminish Tupac’s standing in the Black community—in fact, it did just the opposite—was anybody surprised that Pac died violently?

Were or are we surprised that of the only men ever accused—and even this is done clandestinely—of killing the Notorious B.I.G., David Mack and Amir Muhammad, one of them, Mack, is a former cop?

Or should the murders of Biggie and Tupac even be considered “crimes” since a crime is a transgression against the State and, all things considered, those two deaths seem so obviously State approved?

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TMZ is reporting that Ecstasy was the drug found in T.I.’s car now. They had previously speculated that it was codeine.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle were arrested because cops claim they found what appeared to be ecstasy in their car.

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T.I. And Wife Tiny Arrested On Drug Charges In L.A.

T.I. May Have Been Caught With Codeine Ingredient For “Sizzurp”[REPORT]

Grammy-winning rapper T.I., who is still on probation after spending time behind bars on gun charges, was arrested along with his wife on drug charges after police smelled alleged marijuana coming from their car, authorities said.

The Wednesday night arrests for possession of a controlled substance occurred in West Hollywood during a traffic stop, Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy Mark Pope told The Associated Press.

“Deputies smelled a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle,” the department said. “A narcotics investigation ensued” that resulted in the arrests.

The department’s media office said it didn’t yet have details on which specific drug the possession charge concerned.

The arrests reflect that last week of socialite Paris Hilton, whose is being investigated for felony cocaine possession after a motorcycle officer smelled pot wafting from her car.

The Atlanta-based T.I., 29, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., and Cottle, a 36-year-old singer who sang with the 1990s group Xscape and has recently been the star of the BET reality series “The Tiny & Toya Show,” were booked at the West Hollywood sheriff’s station. Bail was set at $10,000 each.

Pope said Thursday that he didn’t know if they were still being held.

T.I.’s publicist declined to comment.

T.I., the multiplatinum hitmaker who has a key role in the current top box office movie “Takers,” served seven months in an Arkansas federal prison and three months in a Georgia halfway house on federal weapons charges and was released in March. He is on three years’ probation.

Since that case, T.I., who had spent time behind bars for drug offenses before, vowed to live a better life. He spoke to kids about the dangers of drugs and guns, and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young was one of his supporters. As he prepared for his most recent sentence, he starred in the MTV reality show “T.I.’s Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go.”

The father of five married Cottle in late July. “Takers,” a shoot ‘em up about an armored truck robbery that goes bad, was released last week and topped the box-office chart.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, T.I. talked about living a more positive life.

“Right now, it’s all about moving forward and just acknowledging the blessing that are here today. … Just moving past the regrets of yesterday – the things that could’ve been done better,” T.I. said in a July interview.

T.I., who is known as the “King of the South,” has emerged one of music’s most profitable stars over the last few years. He is working on a new album, “King Uncaged,” which may be released this year.

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DR. BOYCE: T.I. Should Be Allowed To Visit Any School He Wants

T.I. Wins Two BET Awards While In Jail

From Vibe.com:

In honor of the summer action thriller Takers—starring Idris Elba, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Michael Ealy, Chris Brown and Zoe Saldana and hits theaters Aug. 20—we thought we’d look back at some of the coolest bank robbery films the big screen has to offer. See where your faves fared and get ready to fire up those Netflix and Blockbuster queues to add a few of these titles to your list if haven’t seen them yet. 

Click here to read more

Click here to see our gallery of infamous drug lords

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As I happened to be visiting the state of Georgia this week, I became aware of a controversy involving the rapper T.I. (a.k.a. Clifford Harris) and whether or not he should be allowed to visit with local school children.  T.I., one of the top selling artists in America, does regular visits to schools to discourage participation in gun violence and to encourage educational achievement.  One parent was up in arms over his children being exposed to the artist, citing T.I.’s background as a convicted felon.

Text continues after gallery …

My only thought is that perhaps both the parent and the school need to think some things through before they overreact.

1) Your kids are listening to TI, whether you like it or not: The more you try to keep them away from him, the more they are going to seek him out when you’re not looking.  When someone our kids respect is interested in giving them a positive message, we should allow and encourage our children to listen.  Beyond that, there are millions of black boys across America who are little TIs in the making:  they will either be the productive version of TI – the brilliant businessman advocating for educational achievement, or the counter productive version of TI – the dope dealer on the corner.  Either way, many of them are more likely to respond to the rapper than to their teachers, and that’s just a fact.

RELATED: T.I. Released From Prison Early, Will Finish Sentence In Halfway House

2) The school should give parents a choice: The reality is that there are some parents who don’t want their kids exposed to T.I., and the school should respect that.  Not every kid is going to listen to a rapper, and the idea that we have to bring out rappers with violent lyrics to influence our children might be a bit problematic.  Perhaps we can consider expanding their list of role models rather than reinforcing the ones they’ve already chosen through the media.  At the very least, parents should be given the option of taking their children out of the event.

3) TI has a message that is worth sharing: T.I.’s credibility as a maturing and reformed human-being adds value to his story that some children will notice.  A goody two-shoes coming into the school and telling kids not to use guns is not going to have the same impact.  At the same time, T.I. has to ensure that he doesn’t make himself into a hypocrite by getting locked up again.  That would make him appear to be just another celebrity out running his mouth for good publicity.

RELATED: T.I. Says Put Your Guns Down

4) TI should keep reconsidering the messages in his music: I love T.I.’s lyrical capability and I listen to his music carefully.  In some ways, T.I. is as conflicted as the late Tupac Shakur when it comes to sharing both messages of redemption in one sentence, and provocations of “ignant” behavior in the next.  T.I. has to realize that his children are going to listen to his lyrics when they are older, and he is going to have to account for every word.  Perhaps there is a way for him to show his true brilliance by making the message a bit more consistent.

Bottom line:  If I were the principal of a school, T.I. would be invited every single year.  This also goes for Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and every other artist that my kids are listening to every single day on the radio.  I would follow them up with leading black scholars, doctors, and lawyers, so that our kids can see that rappers aren’t the only ones “doing it big” in our communities (I know a lot of professionals who earn a lot more money than T.I., LeBron James and almost any other celebrity in America.  Education is the key to true power in America).  The truth is that kids can benefit from hearing adults remind them that there is nothing cooler, hipper and more relevant about being black in America than to also be highly educated.  We’ve got to communicate with our children in every way that we can.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

Santa Claus is coming to town tonight, so NewsOne decided to help him out by making a list (and checking it twice) tell him who’s been naughty and nice this year. So which newsmakers deserve gifts, and which have a lump of coal to look forward to? Check out the list below to find out.

NAUGHTY

Chris Brown – He beat up Rihanna in February, and has since shown little remorse. Instead he’s been tweeting complaints about stores not carrying his album … because clearly Chris is the victim in all this.

Joe & Jermaine Jackson – Between Joe shilling DVDs on the BET Awards’ red carpet days after Michael’s death and Jermaine’s reality show preening and on-again, off-again “tribute concert,” these two were a case study in shamelessly reaping benefits from the death of a loved one.

Michael Steele – He just … keeps … talking.

Lil Mama – A picture is worth a thousand words:

Yeah.

Tiger Woods - Tiger was very naughty this year, at least 14 times over. Maybe a nice lump of coal will teach him to keep it in his pants.

NICE

Alicia Keys – Sure she may have sort of stolen someone’s husband, but she’s also been doing great work to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa. So, we’ll let that whole Swizz Beatz thing slide.

Barack Obama – It was a bumpy first year, but he kept the country from sliding into a second Great Depression and has brought us closer than ever to real health care reform. Not bad.

Janet Jackson – Since her brother died this summer, Janet has not only gracefully dealt with the loss while in the public eye, but has stepped up to help care for Michael’s children. In short, she’s acted nothing like Joe or Jermaine.

Mo’Nique – Her Oscar-worthy performance in “Precious” was a welcome and much-needed reminder that fair-skinned waifs aren’t the only talented women in Hollywood.

T.I. – While he did serve time in prison this year, T.I. made strides toward redeeming himself before his sentence began by reaching out to troubled kids and trying to get them back on the right track.

From Access Atlanta:

Atlanta rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jr., was released from prison Tuesday morning after serving about 7 months at a low-security penitentiary in Forrest City, Ark. He is expected to serve the remainder of a reduced sentence in a correctional center near Fulton County Airport.

Harris’ attorney Steve Sadow, who confirmed Harris’ release, said it is “not out of the ordinary.”

Harris was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for weapons charges resulting from an October 2007 incident when he was arrested for sending a bodyguard to purchase machine guns and silencers. Sadow said prisoners sentenced to 366 days are eligible for a 54-day sentence reduction for good behavior.

Click here to read more.

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T.I. Wins Two BET Awards While In Jail

ATLANTA – T.I. didn’t need to attend the BET Hip-Hop Awards to win two trophies on Saturday.

The rapper, who is locked up in an Arkansas penitentiary on a federal weapons conviction, won the best collaboration award with Rihaanna for the song “Live Your Life” and the album of the year award for “Paper Trail.” His fiancee Tameka “Tiny” Cottle accepted his awards at the ceremony in Atlanta and read a letter by the rapper, who began serving a yearlong sentence in late May.

RELATED: T.I. Sentenced to One Year in Jail

“Although I’m not there with you all, I’m there in spirit,” Cottle quoted the rapper as writing. “My road to redemption is almost over. … Thanks for the support.”

Jay-Z was honored as the “MVP of the Year,” while Drake took home “Rookie of the Year,” and Ice Cube received the “I Am Hip-Hop” icon award.

Ice Cube said he was humbled by the award, and he believes his career as filmmaker could earn him more honors in the future. He helped launch the gangsta rap genre with the group NWA, and he starred in “Barbershop” and “Friday,” which he also co-wrote.

“When you get recognized by your peers for a life of work, you got to be humbled,” the rap veteran said. “I’m honored by this. I have 20 more years of work left in me. I hope (BET) is ready to give out two of these awards.”

RELATED: T.I. And Ludacris Help Atlanta Flood Victims

Rapper Busta Rhymes presented the award for “DJ of the Year” to DJ AM, the celebrity spinner who died of an accidental drug overdose in August.

Kanye West, meanwhile, couldn’t hijack the stage, because the rapper was a no-show. West had been expected to attend the fourth annual awards show. He fell under scrutiny for interrupting Taylor Swift’s award-winning moment at last month’s MTV Video Music Awards.

Jay-Z took the stage with Young Jeezy to perform “Real as It Gets” and rap group Goodie Mob performed its 1995 song “Cell Therapy.”

The award show will air on Oct. 27.

From BlackAmericaWeb

Ludacris and T.I. are pitching in to help their Atlanta hometown rebound from devastating and deadly floods that have caused $61 million in damages and destroyed nearly 500 homes.

The Ludacris Foundation is teaming with Home Depot and Sam’s Club to assist victims, and each rapper is donating $10,000 to the effort, according to TMZ.com.

The foundation’s rep said they are planning a large food bank and a gift card giveaway that could happen as soon as Friday.

In other Luda news, the rapper will be honored for his philanthropic efforts at the Big “O” Youth Educational Dream Foundation’s bi-annual fundraising gala next month in Atlanta.

Read The Whole Story

The main misperception about the controversially popular “Stop Snitching” ideology that is now considered a staple of the Black community is that it’s ubiquitous. Black people are, in no way and under no circumstances, ever supposed to volunteer, aid, assist or even acknowledge law enforcement efforts in our communities.

Of course, the origin of the “Stop Snitching” ethos made a lot more sense. The term was originally coined to govern the conduct of coexisting criminals, sort of a Black take on the Mafia’s omertá-or code of silence.

In other words, if you and I were together in a criminal enterprise and I got busted, I was not supposed to snitch on you. I was supposed to do my time like a man or a “standup guy” and trust that you’d be on the outside handling my affairs in return for my silence.

Michael Vick could have used such friends. So could TI.

Eventually however, both the expression “Stop Snitching” and the mentality behind it extended to the point where it more or less suggested that if something, even something criminal, didn’t have a directly adverse affect on you then you should mind your business and stay out of it.

Now “Stop Snitching” has ballooned to the point where we’ve had to cringingly watch our dear friend, rapper Cam’ron, explain to Anderson Cooper on 60 minutes that even if he lived next door to a serial killer, he’d move away before he’d tell the police.

Needless to say, “Stop Snitching” has gone way too far.

We no longer live in Africa, folks, where our elders police our communities. If a gang of us were to get together now to beat up or kill some pedophile or serial killer, we’d all go to jail!

Now I’m not suggesting that you should be on the phone with the law if you spot a guy on the corner selling nickel-bags of weed and wearing flip-flops, but if you’re aware that a person has become an actual, physical danger to our community, then that person’s gotta go.

That wouldn’t even be considered “snitching”. That would be responsible citizenship.

On Redemption Song, Bob Marley sang “How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?”

Well Bob, it looks like they’re at it again. And we’re just gonna stand aside and watch this one too.

I’m thoroughly insulted that the New York Police Department is trying to tell me that there is basically no way they can guarantee the safety of rap superstar 50 Cent when he appears at a free concert that is to take place on August 30^th in his old Queens neighborhood.

“We can’t control the area,” said one law-enforcement source.

“Someone’s gonna try to make a name for themselves,” said another of these clowns. “They’re gonna take a shot at him, and they’re either gonna hit him or they’re gonna miss him and hit some poor, innocent kid or grandmother.”

Now, what are they really saying here? If it’s not, “G’head, killers! Take your shots and we won’t even try to stop you!” I don’t know what it is.

And we’ve seen this before, far too recently with the deaths of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. The two biggest stars in music at the time were killed virtually before our very eyes and the police are still yet to make a single arrest in connection with either murder.

You know what that says? If you are a State and there are murders in the State and you do not arrest the people that participated in the murders; that means you’re ok with the murders and heck, you might have even sanctioned them. Considering this, it only makes sense for rappers to carry guns. Big guns. Hell, if law enforcement won’t even arrest your murderer, you might as well try to stay alive! (shout to T.I.)

Writer Isis Wisdom recently (and rightfully) asked in a blog “Are Black Men Cowards?” She used as a stunning example the situation that Casey Gane-McCalla posted right here on Newsone.com of an elderly Black woman being slammed on her head by the police and while there were plenty of Black men around to film the scene on their cell phones and provide commentary, not a single one rushed to her aid.

Now that the police seem to be telling us to kill 50 Cent, I’ve got to hope that we’re sophisticated enough to see through this gross insult to our intelligence and let the brother come home, party, and leave in peace.

I’m a hip hop fan so what’s happening right now scares me to death! No one is saying anything of value and while this has happened before periodically, there’s always been a movement just beneath the surface somewhere prepared to set things back on track.

Last year, we all totally missed Nas’ sensational Untitled and only paid attention to the shock-value elements of Young Jeezy’s almost equally stellar The Recession as we rushed to pat ourselves on the back and prove ourselves hip by our wholesale endorsement of Weezy’s Tha Carter III. You can’t knock Tha Carter III, though. I was a great album. It was probably third or fourth (behind Rick Ross’ Trilla) or even fifth (behind TI’s Paper Trail) as best hip hop album of the year.

But now that, thanks to Jerry Barrow and the good folks over at The Urban Daily, it can no longer be denied that poor Wayne is spiraling further and further away rational thought, one would think that we could turn to the man that has always seemed to deliver for us in times of need.

Just like Jordan at the end and Ali at the end even Jay-Z’s former haters are starting to cherish him because the thought of hip hop without him is just too bleak. But if the songs that I’ve heard so far off the upcoming Blueprint 3 (“D.O.A.“, “BK Anthem“, “Run This Town“) are any indication, Jay’s almost certainly gonna add to the problem not alleviate it.

Barack Obama’s in the White House and the last thing we need is more navel-gazing rap. I’m not asking Jay to deliver the hip hop What’s Going On (I tried that before, didn’t work) but the thought that a man who has proven himself beyond argument to be the greatest MC to ever do it continuing to rhyme seemingly just to show how nice he is, is akin to Ali getting into the ring way past his prime buoyed by ego alone.  Nothing good can come from it.

Maybe it’s us, though. Maybe hip hop fans aren’t yet mature enough to let our stars have 40-year careers like rock fans do. Maybe we’d kill a Bob Dylan if we had one. KRS, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and LL Cool J are all still alive and even though it’s been rumored that one or more of them still records, I won’t believe that until I hear one of their new songs on the radio.

Think that’ll happen?

A number of inmates recently became ill and have been treated at the prison, said Traci Billingsle. The symptoms appear to dissipate within 48 to 72 hours, she said. “Swine flu is not suspected because these all are all gastrointestinal-related,” Billingsley said. Visits were suspended Friday. They will resume when medical personnel are certain there is no risk of exposure, Billingsley said. The prison in Forrest City is a low-security facility housing male inmates, including rapper T.I., who is serving a yearlong sentence on a weapons charge.

From The Morning News

Authorities say visits with inmates have temporarily been suspended at the federal prison in Forrest City because of an illness outbreak. The prison says visits have been temporarily suspended because of a number of inmates with a “suspected gastrointestinal virus.” Prison officials say they don’t yet know what’s sickened the inmates, but that they don’t suspect swine flu. A prison official says visiting hours will resume once the virus is contained.

From (WXVT News)

T.I. and Al Sharpton March Against Gun Violence

Former NBA player Jerome “Pooh” Richardson passed along a tip from a police officer friend that federal agents were about to raid the home his half-sister shared with a drug kingpin, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.

Richardson, 43, is not charged in the indictment, which accuses only the Philadelphia detective with criminal wrongdoing. The officer, Rickie Durham, is a longtime friend of Richardson’s who received a car, event tickets and other expensive gifts from the athlete over the years, the document said.

Prosecutors declined to say whether Richardson is cooperating or whether he broke the law in relaying the tip.

His alleged 3 a.m. phone call to Asya Richardson and drug kingpin Alton “Ace Capone” Coles prompted Coles to make a flurry of calls hours ahead of the huge two-state raid on Aug. 10, 2005. Police nonetheless recovered more than $500,000 in cash, 10 guns and 450 grams of cocaine in searches of the couple’s Mullica Hill, N.J., home and other properties linked to Coles’ group.

The indictment refers to Richardson as “J.R. Jr.” FBI spokesman Frank Burton Jr. confirmed the reference is to Richardson. It was not clear if Richardson had a lawyer representing him in the case, and a telephone listing for him could not be determined Wednesday.

Durham, also 43, was one of about 250 officers who gathered at 2:30 a.m. that morning in 2005 for the takedown, preparing to search 23 properties and 11 vehicles in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Months earlier, Durham had called Richardson, a Philadelphia native who lived in Los Angeles, to report that half-sister Asya Richardson was dating a drug dealer. In the Aug. 10 call, he allegedly told his friend, “We’re going to take her down too.”

Durham called on his FBI-issued cell phone, authorities said. After a grand jury probe was under way, he told authorities he had been trying to aid the investigation by getting Asya Richardson’s phone number, the indictment said.

Coles was convicted last year of running a violent drug enterprise and is serving a life sentence. Asya Richardson was convicted of money laundering but remains free pending her sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bresnick said that Durham’s tip could have cost officers their lives.

“It could have been tragic,” he said.

He will seek to detain Durham at a hearing Thursday, the same day Durham’s lawyer expects him to be terminated from the Philadelphia Police Department.

“He’s not the corrupt cop they make him out to be,” defense lawyer Fortunato N. Perri Jr. said after his client’s brief initial appearance before a judge. Durham plans to fight the charges, he said.

Richardson, a first-round draft choice out of UCLA in 1989, spent more than a decade in the NBA, playing for Minnesota, Indiana and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Watch A Video On Ace Capone

From TMZ

Rapper T.I. has checked himself into the federal prison in Forrest City, Arkansas, according to one of his attorneys

The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., will serve a year and a day sentence after pleading guilty to a federal weapons charge. He will serve his time at the minimum security prison in Forrest City.

T.I. was arrested after prosecutors said he tried to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from undercover federal agents in 2007.

T.I. performed Sunday before a crowd in Atlanta. The Grammy winner told the audience that he’d “see y’all in 366 days.”

RELATED:

T.I. Has 10 Days To Report To General Population

T.I. and Al Sharpton March Against Gun Violence

T.I. Sentenced to One Year in Jail

From TMZ

T.I. has eleven days to report to his one year and one day prison sentence — and we know where he’s going.

T.I., real name Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., will surrender himself to a low security
prison in Forrest City, Arkansas by noon on May 26.

No special treatment here — he’ll likely have a roomie, be kept in the general population, which includes about 1,500 inmates, and be assigned to work detail.

From New York Daily News

He’s going to prison for collecting heavy artillery, but rapper T.I. marched in Harlem Monday with his sights aimed at stopping gun violence.

The Grammy-winning artist joined the Rev. Al Sharpton at a rally honoring the memory of 13-year-old Christopher Owen and 17-year-old Cory Squires, both recently gunned down.

T.I., who is set to begin a year-long federal prison stint next week for possession of illegal firearms, urged city teens not follow in his footsteps.

“I carried guns and swung dope as a 13-year-old,” the 28-year-old Atlanta-born entertainer said. “I had my best friend taken away from me through guns. I was so hurt from the loss of his life, I didn’t take notice to the knowledge that I still had mine.”

Since pleading guilty in March to federal charges of illegally possessing machine guns and silencers, T.I.’s new motto has been “Bury Da Beef.”

father of six, T.I. implored kids to think before pulling a gun to settle differences, saying, “you’re not just killing a man, you’re killing a family.”

Read the Whole Story

Watch

In a few weeks, I will begin a one-year prison sentence for being in the possession of illegal firearms. Where I come from, having a gun is just part of everyday life. But, through this painful process of going to court and being convicted, I realized that I had to make a change. I made some bad decisions. I broke the law and will accept my punishment. With deep reflection about where my life was headed, I have begun the process of redemption, and decided that before I go to prison, I want to speak to young people about responsibility as a lifestyle.

I hope that through my mistakes, young people can begin to learn, as I did, that we have to put our guns down and start to give our guns back. It pains me inside to hear about so many of our people dying because of gun violence. Just in the past weeks, a 13-year old boy was shot in the head in Harlem, a 17- and a 19-year old were murdered in a double homicide in Queens and a 15-year-old was chased, beaten, shot and burned in Chicago.

We will gather today in Harlem, with many mentors and supporters by my side, including Rev. Al Sharpton, Russell Simmons, Kevin Liles, GlobalGrind.com, Political Swagger, Mobile Regime and the C.H.A.N.G.E. Initiative to share the message that now is the time. Now is the time to speak out against gun violence. Now is the time to take responsibility for our actions. Now is the time to make our communities safer. Now is the time to support good legislation, like the S.N.U.G. bill in NY. Now is the time to give back our guns. Now is the time for me to lead by example.

We can and we will do better.

– T.I.

A judge has sentenced Rapper T.I. to one year and a day behind bars on federal weapons charges.

The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, was sentenced Friday.

He will have between 30 and 60 days to report to prison. He already has completed about 1,000 hours of community service and has warned youths about the pitfalls of guns, drugs, violence. He will need to complete 470 more hours.

Harris pleaded guilty last March after he was arrested in 2007, attempting to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers. The arrest happened blocks away from where he was to headline the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta hours later.

Snoop and T.I. Address the nation of Islam

Killer of T.I’.s Friend Convicted of Murder

T.I. Testifies in Murder Trial

Watch T.I. Respond to His Conviction

Watch T.I.’s Pre-Prison Interview With CNN

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Rapper Snoop Dogg made an appearance Sunday at the Nation of Islam’s annual Saviours Day convention, praising Minister Louis Farrakhan and suggesting that he is a member of the movement.

Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, gave a $1,000 donation to the Nation and said he will always seek the minister out.

The rapper called himself the “leader of the hip-hop community” and said it was his first Saviours Day event. He told followers that he would share the information he gathered with other musicians.

“When you get a speech from Minister Farrakhan it’s about a mirror, it’s about looking at yourself,” the rapper later told The Associated Press. “It’s about seeing yourself and what you can do to better the situation … We’re doing a lot of wrongs among ourselves that need correcting.”

When asked by the AP if he planned to convert and become a member of the Chicago-based Nation of Islam, Snoop said he has already joined in the movement.

“I’m already in the Nation, that’s why I’m here,” he said. “I’m an advocate for peace. I’ve been in the peace movement ever since I’ve been making music. My whole thing is not about really trying to push my thing on you. It’s just about the way I live, and I live how I’m supposed to live as far as doing what’s right and representing what’s right. That’s why I was here today.”

The rapper did not elaborate on when he’d joined the Nation. Messages left for Nation of Islam officials were not immediately returned Sunday. Attempts to reach the rapper’s publicist were unsuccessful.

During the speech Sunday, Snoop sat on stage behind Farrakhan clapping and nodding.

Snoop declined to say how long he would be in the Chicago area or whether he was working on any projects. His last album, “Ego Trippin,’” was released in March 2008.

Farrakhan has long held relationships with famous rappers and hip-hop artists. He has hosted and spoken at hip-hop conventions, encouraging peace between rappers.

Rapper Doug E. Fresh also attended the convention but didn’t speak publicly. Rapper T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, appeared via recorded video. He told followers that education is the key to success.

Lil Wayne has proven that the third time was indeed the charm as his latest album, Tha Carter III, has earned him eight Grammy nominations, leading all artists for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.

Wayne isn’t the only hip-hop act with multiple nods. Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West each earned six nods, while R&B newcomer Jazmine Sullivan received five and T.I., Lupe Fiasco superproducer Danger Mouse each have four nominations.

“The Grammy Awards process once again has yielded a comprehensive, diverse and eclectic group of
excellent nominees across multiple genres,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy.
“This year’s nominations are truly reflective of the talented community of artists and creators who represent
some of the highest levels of musical excellence.”

For the first time, nominations for the annual Grammy Awards were announced on primetime television as part of “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night.” The one-hour special, broadcast live on CBS from Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, featured past Grammy winners and nominees reading nominations in several categories, as well as performing songs from the Grammy Hall of Fame in celebration of the grand opening of the Grammy Museum.

Hosted by LL Cool J and country singer Taylor Swift, presenters and performers included Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, The Foo Fighters, B.B. King and John Mayer. The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 8, 2009 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS. – RASHAUN HALL

Following is a sampling of nominations in 110 categories from the Grammy Awards’ 32 Fields:

Album Of The Year:
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends — Coldplay
Tha Carter III — Lil Wayne
Year Of The Gentleman — Ne-Yo
Raising Sand — Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
In Rainbows — Radiohead

Record Of The Year:
“Chasing Pavements” — Adele
“Viva La Vida” — Coldplay
“Bleeding Love” — Leona Lewis
“Paper Planes” — M.I.A
“Please Read The Letter” — Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Best New Artist:
Adele
Duffy
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan

Song Of The Year:
“American Boy” — William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray
& Kanye West, songwriters (Estelle Featuring Kanye West)
“Chasing Pavements” — Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters (Adele)
“I’m Yours” — Jason Mraz, songwriter (Jason Mraz)
“Love Song” — Sara Bareilles, songwriter (Sara Bareilles)
“Viva La Vida” — Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, & Chris Martin, songwriters
(Coldplay)

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals:
“Lesson Learned” — Alicia Keys & John Mayer
“4 Minutes” — Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
“Rich Woman” — Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
“If I Never See Your Face Again” — Rihanna & Maroon 5
“No Air” — Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
“Ribbon In The Sky” — Boyz II Men
“Words” — Anthony David Featuring Indie.Arie
“Stay With Me (By The Sea)” — Al Green Featuring John Legend
“I’m His Only Woman” — Jennifer Hudson Featuring Fantasia
“Never Give You Up” — Raphael Saadiq Featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton

Best Urban/Alternative Performance:
“Say Goodbye To Love” — Kenna
“Wanna Be” — Maiysha
“Be OK” — Chrisette Michele Featuring will.i.am
“Many Moons” — Janelle Monae
“Lovin You (Music)” — Wayna Featuring Kokayi

For Best R&B Album:
Love & Life — Eric Benét
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA — Boyz II Men
Lay It Down — Al Green
Jennifer Hudson — Jennifer Hudson
The Way I See It — Raphael Saadiq

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
“American Boy” — Estelle Featuring Kanye West
“Low” — Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain
“Green Light” — John Legend & Andre 3000
“Got Money” — Lil Wayne Featuring T-Pain
“Superstar” — Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos

Best Rap Song:
“Lollipop” — D. Carter, S. Garrett, D.Harrison, J. Scheffer & R. Zamor, songwriters
(Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major)
“Low” — T. Dillard, M. Humphrey & T-Pain, songwriters (Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain)
“Sexual Eruption” — Calvin Broadus, S. Lovejoy & D. Stewart, songwriters (Snoop Dogg)
“Superstar” — Lupe Fiasco & Soundtrakk, songwriter (Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos)
“Swagga Like Us” — D. Carter, S. Carter, Clifford Harris, & Kanye West, songwriters (M. Arulpragasam,
N. Headon, M. Jones, J. Mellor, T. Pentz, P. Simonon, songwriters)(Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West
& Lil Wayne)

Best Rap Album:
American Gangster — Jay-Z
Tha Carter III — Lil Wayne
The Cool — Lupe Fiasco
Nas — Nas
Paper Trail — T.I.

Hosea Johnson, who was on trial for murdering TI’s best friend and personal assistant, Philant Johnson, has been found guilty of murder.

From News 12 in Cincinatti

Thomas was charged with shooting Philant Johnson to death during a gun battle in May of 2006. T.I. was in town for a concert the night of the shooting.

A fight at an after-party at the Club Ritz in Roselawn forced his entourage to leave. Last Friday, during testimony,  T.I. told the jury his van was followed and shot at several times. The rapper says the shots were meant for him. But Johnson and four others inside the van were hit. Johnson died… the other four members of the entourage survived.

Prosecutors say Hosea’s brother Padron was also involved in the shooting.  A trial date for Padron has not yet been set.

Rapper T.I. testified Friday that he believes the bullets fired at his entourage during a wild vehicle chase two years ago were meant for him.

He took the witness stand in the trial of Hosea Thomas, 34, who is accused of firing the shot that killed Philant Johnson during a gun battle on Interstate 75.

“All of those rounds were fired for me, in my opinion,” he said, adding that he later apologized to Johnson’s mother when he called her with the news.

Testifying for the prosecution, T.I. described seeing Johnson, whom he called his best and oldest friend, after their van pulled over. He said Johnson was lying lifeless, blood running down his face from a shot into his left temple.

Johnson was an assistant to T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris.

T.I., 28, said he and Johnson had grown up together in Atlanta and their families were close friends.

The shooting occurred after a post-concert party at a club. T.I. said after his van drove away, he spotted another vehicle that seemed to be trying to move up alongside the van.

“Before I knew it, shots rang out,” said T.I, acknowledging that someone returned fire from his van as he took cover. He didn’t identify any shooters.

T.I. wasn’t harmed, but three others were injured. T.I. testified that he received no response when he called out Johnson’s name.

He said that after calling Johnson’s mother, he talked to Johnson’s young daughter, whom he said was 4 or 5 years old.

“I told her that he was gone to a better place and he won’t be coming back. And I told her how much he loved her,” he said.

T.I. spoke calmly and directly for a little over a half hour on the stand in a packed, small courtroom in the Hamilton County courthouse.

Prosecutors say Thomas’ brother has identified him as the shooter. Padron Thomas was driving a Jeep that allegedly chased the vans used by T.I. and his entourage on May 3, 2006.

Hosea Thomas’ attorney said Padron Thomas is testifying against his brother to earn a lesser sentence on federal charges.

T.I. has had his own legal problems. He was sentenced to one year in prison on federal weapons charges after his arrest in October 2007 before the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta for allegedly trying to buy automatic weapons. He is to start his sentence in March after completing 1,000 hours of community service.

Watch TI Testify Here

Here’s a new parody of TI’s smash hit Whatever You Like by an Obama impersonator. Its pretty funny. Watch it after the jump.

Rapper, TI, is set to testify this Friday in a Cincinatti courtroom, in the murder case of his friend and assistant, Philant Johnson. 35-year-old Hosea Thomas is charged with killing Philant Johnson in May of 2006, during a fight after a TI performance in Cincinatti that spilled into the highway.

A gun battle on the highway led to Philant Johnson being killed and four other members being injured. One member of TI’s entourage will testify today. TI also has to serve a year in jail early next year for weapons charges.

Read the Whole Story Here

Altanta, Ga. – Multi-platinum hip-hop recording artist and actor, T.I. went out and exercised his right to vote for the first time. Today, T.I. joined the millions of Americans who are participating in early voting. See the rest of the pictures and watch the video here.

T.I. is the national spokesperson of the RESPECT MY VOTE! non-partisan Get Out The Vote initiative, headed by the Hip Hop Caucus. Both the Hip Hop Caucus and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network have joined forces in a national RESPECT MY VOTE! GOTV Bus Tour of 18 cities leading up to Election Day.

T.I. has been a leading activist in helping young people to register and get out and vote. His dedication to the cause stems from his prior difficulties with the law, which lead to the incorrect assumption that he was ineligible to vote. After doing research on his own he discovered he was, in fact, still eligible to vote, despite his criminal past.

“Feels like I’ve taken advantage of my right to become a part of the democracy,” declared Clifford Harris aka T.I.. “It was definitely worth standing in line and doing all the things people complain about voting. I think it’s more than worth it.”