T.I.

Born: September 25, 1980

Bankhead, Atlanta, Georgia.

Born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., this superstar keeps putting out hit albums which has given him quite a name for himself in the music industry and he has even ventured into producing television. As of October 2008, T.I. has had nine Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles, with 3 of them reaching number 1. In 2006, T.I. received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Song Collaboration ("Soldier" w/ Destiny's Child & Lil Wayne) and Best Rap Solo Performance for "U Don't Know Me". As co-CEO of Grand Hustle Records, T.I. has assisted in various music productions, such as the soundtrack to the film Hustle and Flow. Apart from music, another area of the entertainment industry that has caught T.I.'s attention is film, which is why he decided to expand the label and launch Grand Hustle Films. In spring 2006 T.I. starred in his first film ATL, and also had a small role in American Gangster alongside Denzel Washington.

T.I. managed to follow his successes with some controversy, keeping up with the bad boy rapper persona. While on tour, T.I. was charged with violating his probation over a 2003 drug charge, and turned himself in. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Then in October 2007, federal authorities arrested T.I. four hours before the BET Hip-Hop Awards. He was charged with two felonies, possession of three unregistered machine guns and two silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The performer later pleaded guilty to US federal weapons charges. T.I. served a year in jail after completing 1,000 hours of community service. Even with his notorious record T.I. has assisted with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and has worked with troubled youths at Paulding Detention Center in Atlanta, in addition to providing scholarships for single parent families.

FUN FACTS:

• T.I owns New Finish Construction with his uncle, which builds and repairs homes in Atlanta's less fortunate neighborhoods.

• He doesn't like champagne.

• One of his favorite TV shows is "Friends."