Archive for November 20, 2011

“I’m embracing it,” T.I. tells me of the persona that is the title of his eighth studio album, “Trouble Man”.

“A lot of times I’m taking myself out of my element” Tip continued to say of “Trouble Man”. “This is the first project where I’m talking about things that I’ve experienced before that I’m not necessarily experiencing now cause I’m not doing a whole lot of partying. I do a little bit but not alot… nothing like when I was in that life.”

All eyes are on T.I. and he’s well aware of it. After serving his 10 month prison sentence for a probation violation — “second hiatus” as he called it during his Billboard.com’s The Juice interview — Clifford “Tip” Harris, is making moves better than the ante, sensible and strategic. The 31 yr. old rapper/actor has been in front of the lens for his family-orientated VH1 reality show, “The Family Hustle,” and recently released his first novel, “Power & Beauty: A Love Story of Life on the Streets” (Oct. 18). “The Family Hustle,” which airs Dec. 5, gives us a glimpse at T.I.’s day to day since freed, focusing on the nourishment of each of his family member’s talents while empowering his own.

“Every where he goes, he stops through the studio,” says T.I.’s assistant. After finishing up his interview for Billboard’s The Juice, the King played five songs from his 45 that he’s recorded for possible placement in “Trouble Man.” The 45 don’t include the countless of remixes he’s jumped on ( Meek Mill’s “I’ma Boss,” Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Ni**as in Paris,” Drake’s “Headlines,” and more).

“Ill let you listen and you can tell me if I’m on the right track,” T.I. said before giving Billboard the first listen of the track that he says “could be dropping as soon as Monday” (Nov. 22) and more from “Trouble Man.”

“I have this one record [titled] ‘Pyro’ that I’m proud of,” T.I. told Billboard.com’s The Juice. “‘Pyro’ is a straight party record. It’s nostalgic of those crazy nights, early mornings [but] just turned up.” “Pyro” will come after the release of T.I.’s two singles, “I’m Flexin’,” featuring Big K.R.I.T. and “Hear Ye’ Hear Ye’,” feat. Pharrell Williams.

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