Biography
Who is T.I.?
Early life and musical beginnings
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 25, 1980, Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. Grew up in the Center Hill neighborhood. His parents were Clifford Harris Sr. And Violeta Morgan. He began rapping at the age of eight. His childhood nickname was Tip, which came from his great-grandfather. He later performed under the name T.I. After joining Arista Records in 1999 to avoid confusion with another artist.
During the late 1990s, he connected with music executive Kawan Prather and joined Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment. This early period included selling mixtapes from his car trunk with Big Kuntry King. His initial industry work set the foundation for his later transition into a major record label environment.
Musical career and major releases
His debut studio album, titled I'm Serious, arrived in 2001. While the project received limited commercial attention, it established his presence in the Southern hip-hop scene. He found greater success after signing with Atlantic Records. His second album, Trap Muzik, released in 2003, featured the song Rubber Band Man and reached number four on the Billboard 200.
He secured his status with Urban Legend in 2004. His sixth album, Paper Trail, achieved significant commercial success in 2008 with number-one singles like Whatever You Like and Live Your Life. Throughout his career, he has released numerous albums, including the independently released The L.I.B.R.A. In 2020 and his final album, Kill the King, in 2026.
Business ventures and acting
In 2003, he co-founded his own record label imprint called Grand Hustle Records. This company helped launch the careers of artists including Travis Scott, B.o.B, and Iggy Azalea. Beyond music, he has pursued a career in acting. His film credits include roles in ATL, Takers, Get Hard, and Identity Thief.
He is also recognized for his role as Dave in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Ant-Man and its sequel. He has appeared in reality television series such as T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle and The Grand Hustle. Also, he authored two novels, Power & Beauty in 2011 and Trouble & Triumph in 2012.
Awards and recognition
Over the course of his professional music career, he has received various industry accolades. He is a three-time Grammy Award winner. His other recognitions include Billboard Music Awards, BET Awards, and American Music Awards.
He is widely credited as a pioneer of the trap music subgenre, alongside fellow Georgia musicians Gucci Mane and Jeezy. Billboard ranked him as one of the top artists of the 2000s decade. His contributions have spanned songwriting, music production, and executive roles within the entertainment industry.
Birthday and age
T.I. was born on September 25, 1980, which makes T.I. 46 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. T.I. shares the date with 79 other famous people.
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