Rapper T.I. finds himself in a position when his career first started, only this time he has a ton more star power. The Grand Hustle boss is an independent artist after completing all his required albums for Atlantic Records, the last being 'Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head.'
Earlier this year, the King of The South began shopping for a bigger deal, insisting that he wants $75 million from his next label partner, which included three albums, 10-20 percent of publishing, touring, merchandise, film and TV rights, corporate endorsement deals, and exclusive signing of all Grand Hustle artists. Sony reportedly put up $50 million, but word is the deal fell through.
Ready to grind to get back on top as an independent until a big deal comes his way, T.I. told MTV News:
“I got a record out now, me and Wayne,’ Wit Me,’ doing numbers every week, increasing on iTunes, increasing on Billboard top 100, so … I’m just continuing to push. Right now I’m an independent artist,” he told MTV News about the dynamic duo’s rising one-off banger. The song, which comes with a fast cars, hot women and cop-evading video directed by Phillyflyboy comes just as the pair are planning to hit the road together for a summer amphitheater tour?.
“It’s a lot of work, man, it’s a lot of resources to be dedicated to it,” T.I. said of being back in control of his destiny. “But at the end of the day I think it’s worth it. It put me back into mind of where we were after ‘I’m Serious,’ where we had to put our own funds and resources into [2003's] Trap Muzik … I think that led to a beautiful situation … and I think right now we’re just working to reach another beautiful situation.”
We have no doubt Tip will be back on top.
With a career spanning over two decades, T.I., widely known as ‘The King of the South’, is no stranger to success in the music industry. But now he’s taking an independent route with his latest release – and it looks like it might be one of his most successful ever! With multiple chart-topping hits under his belt already, fans are eager to see what this new move will mean for him. In this article we take a look at how T.I.’s decision to go independent may lead to another “beautiful situation” for both himself and his dedicated followers.
T.I. has been around since 2001 when he released his debut album I’m Serious under Arista Records. Since then, he’s had three platinum albums; Trap Muzik (2003), Urban Legend (2004) and Paper Trail (2008). He also received Grammy nominations for Best Rap Solo Performance (“What You Know”) and Song of The Year (“Whatever You Like”). This proves that not only does T.I have staying power in the rap game but that he can produce quality material time after time.
In recent years, however, there seems to be something different brewing within T.I.. After leaving Atlantic Records last year and signing up with Epic Records earlier this year, many were wondering what was next on the rapper’s agenda? Well, here we are: with news of T.I.’s upcoming independent EP which promises potential hit records that could potentially rival some of his previous successes even further down the line – if done correctly! It certainly looks like T.I is well on the way to achieving yet another “beautiful situation”.
Overview Of T.I.’S Career
T.I., born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., is a rapper, actor, and record producer from Atlanta, Georgia. T.I.’s career began in 2001 with the release of his first album I’m Serious under Arista Records, which spawned the hit single “Dope Boyz.” Since then he has released nine more studio albums and achieved success through collaborations with artists such as Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and Lil Wayne. He’s also starred in several films including ATL (2006) and American Gangster (2007).
In 2008 T.I. founded Grand Hustle Records alongside music executive Jason Geter to distribute independent labels such as Disturbing tha Peace and Nappy Boy Entertainment. The label has since grown into an imprint for Atlantic Records that works closely with major acts like B.o.B., Travis Scott, Young Dro, Trae Tha Truth amongst others.
While signed to Columbia Records from 2011–2017 T.I. continued to expand his brand by releasing multiple projects outside of the realm of rap music including books and television shows on VH1 like “Tiny & Toya” and “The Family Hustle” respectively. Now back on his own terms at Grand Hustle Records it appears that T.I is again working towards creating another “beautiful situation” in the industry through artistic freedom and creative control over his work once more.
His Latest Musical Endeavors
T.I. is now taking a more independent route to reach his goals and create his own “beautiful situation” in the music industry. In December of 2019, he released The L.I.B.R.A (The Legend Is Back Running Atlanta), an album that showcased his growth as an artist since leaving Columbia Records two years prior. This project was made with minimal assistance from other labels or producers; T.I.’s team at Grand Hustle handled nearly all aspects of production themselves, allowing him creative freedom over its release and promotion which he had lacked while signed to Columbia Records for six years.
In addition to this, T.I has also been releasing various singles throughout 2020 on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora under the collective banner ‘Us Or Else’. These tracks have featured guest appearances from artists such as Jeezy, London Jae, Quavo, Yo Gotti and Big Kuntry King amongst others; each song serves to further showcase T.I.’s versatility as both an artist and businessman without relying heavily upon outside influence from record labels or radio stations.
It’s clear that despite the challenges posed by being an independent artist in today’s music industry landscape, T.I is determined to make it work through hard work and dedication – something that has characterised his career since day one! With this new approach comes great potential for success: fans can expect more exciting projects in the near future that will undoubtedly reaffirm T.I.’s status as a legend in hip-hop culture
Conclusion
T.I.’s career is a testament to his dedication and ability to triumph over adversity. His latest musical endeavors show that he’s still at the top of his game, even after enduring some tough times in his personal life. Taking an independent route has allowed him to create another “beautiful situation” for himself as an artist.
He’s proven that self-determination and hard work are essential components of success. He’s also demonstrated that it doesn’t require major label backing or a huge budget to make great music; all you need is passion and creativity. T.I.’s story should inspire other artists who may feel like they have no choice but to sign with a record label – there are always alternatives available if you’re willing to look for them.
Ultimately, T.I.’s decision to take the independent route has been beneficial not only for himself, but for fans of hip hop worldwide. By continuing to produce quality music without compromise, he shows us how important it is to stay true to yourself regardless of external pressures or expectations. I’m looking forward to seeing what new heights he can reach using this method!
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
