Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., born on September 25, 1980, is a prominent American rapper widely recognized by his stage names T.I. and Tip. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Harris stands as a trailblazer within the hip-hop subgenre of trap music.
He shares this distinction with fellow Atlanta-based artists Jeezy and Gucci Mane. Harris initiated his major-label music journey in 1999, inking a contract with Arista Records subsidiary LaFace.
His solo debut and sole album under the label, titled “I’m Serious,” debuted in 2001. Concurrently, he formed the southern hip-hop collective P$C. Subsequently, Harris transitioned to Atlantic Records and simultaneously established his own label imprint, Grand Hustle Records, which was inaugurated in 2002.
As a distinguished three-time Grammy Award recipient, Harris has unveiled a noteworthy discography encompassing 11 studio albums. Impressively, seven of these albums have ascended to the upper echelons of the US Billboard 200 chart.
Throughout his artistic journey, Harris has also unleashed a series of highly triumphant singles. Notable among these are the Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Whatever You Like” and “Live Your Life,” a collaboration featuring Rihanna. This latter song succeeded the former at the chart’s pinnacle, a feat that positioned Harris among the select artists who have concurrently held the top two spots.
Harris catapulted into broader recognition in 2003, marked by his impactful feature on fellow Atlanta rapper Bone Crusher’s track “Never Scared.” The year also witnessed the release of his pivotal album “Trap Muzik” (2003), featuring hit tracks like “Rubber Band Man” and “Let’s Get Away.” The subsequent year, Harris contributed to Destiny’s Child’s international sensation “Soldier” alongside Lil Wayne. Capitalizing on this success, he released his “Urban Legend” album in 2004.
Following this, Harris maintained his upward trajectory with albums such as “King” and “T.I. vs. T.I.P.,” accompanied by hit singles including “What You Know” and “Big Shit Poppin’ (Do It).” A significant milestone emerged with his sixth album, “Paper Trail” (2008), which achieved both commercial and critical acclaim, solidifying his standing. Notably, “Paper Trail” garnered gold certification for its remarkable first-week sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States, marking Harris’s third consecutive number one album.
Beyond his musical prowess, Harris delved into entrepreneurship by co-founding Grand Hustle Records in 2003, alongside his longstanding business partner, Jason Geter. This label has fostered notable talents like Travis Scott, B.o.B, and Iggy Azalea. Moreover, Harris has made a name for himself in the film industry, with appearances in movies like “ATL,” “Takers,” “Get Hard,” “Identity Thief,” and Marvel Cinematic Universe films like “Ant-Man” and its sequel.
His literary endeavors are equally notable, with the publication of novels “Power & Beauty” (2011) and “Trouble & Triumph” (2012). These works garnered a moderate level of success upon release.
Additionally, Harris’s presence extends to reality television, where he has been featured in shows like “T.I.’s Road to Redemption,” “T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle,” and “The Grand Hustle.” In 2009, Billboard honored him by ranking him as the 27th best artist of the 2000s decade. Despite encountering legal challenges, including two terms in county jail and a federal prison stint, Harris’s artistic, entrepreneurial, and philanthropic endeavors continue to leave an indelible mark on the music and entertainment landscape.