TI (2014)
Interview Background
Sometimes artists can make you feel like there’s been a genuine connection during an interview, with anecdotes flowing freely and amazing insights in response to thoughtful questions. Other times it’s pretty obvious you’re getting in the way of a music/groupie/chill session. Clifford Harris Jr, better known to the hip hop world as TI, unfortunately ticked the latter box, with my interview call an obvious incursion on an afternoon in Australia better spent getting high with his crew. Even when the TV in his suite wasn’t drowning out his answers, TI’s mind appeared to be elsewhere. Reading through the interview many years later in the wake of the powerful Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, it retains a level of interest even though TI’s own currency has perhaps slipped.
The following is an edited version of an interview first published in MX, October 2014.
TI – Fly Paper
by Scott McLennan
When Atlantan superstar TI included the lyric “Come see the way I’m livin’ if you really want to” on his 2009 Rihanna collaboration Live Your Life, he didn’t mean it literally.
“Someone hopped my gate recently when I was away, walked into my house and asked to meet me,” the dapper rapper reveals.
Was this a fan or a crazy person?
“I think he was a little bit of both. He didn’t do anything, but my sister told him to leave and he left. Those are the sorts of things that happen regularly, so for those occasions you’d love to have some form of protection just in case their intentions aren’t the best.”
While he choses his words carefully, there’s an elephant in TI’s Sydney hotel room while he’s Down Under promoting new album Paperwork. Although the US Constitution’s Second Amendment ensures most citizens are free to purchase a firearm as their chosen ‘form of protection’, TI isn’t one of them. A number of weapons offences – including a 2007 arrest relating to the attempted illegal purchase of machine guns – means the convicted felon can’t legally own his own piece.
“I don’t own guns because I’m not allowed to, but I’ve got security who do,” the 34-year-old says. “I’m pretty numb to all the threat levels around me, but I feel concern for my family when I’m not around. I fear for their safety and well-being more than my own.”
Returning to the Australian charts after his P!nk duet Guns And Roses went platinum last year, TI’s recent release New National Anthem similarly feeds into his nation’s gun debate. The song was released days after Ferguson police shot dead unarmed Missouri man Michael Brown in August.
“It was definitely always going to be on Paperwork, however I will admit that the Michael Brown incident did prompt me to expedite the release of it.”
Although TI suggests black American males like himself remain unfairly targeted by police (“It’s a reality for a young black man, it’s more a cliché than a shocking act”), he considers US gun control almost impossible.
“I think the way firearms and weapons and violence have been made an organic part of our culture, it’s going to be hard to pull firearms from everyone off the streets, it’s just not realistic.”
Since his 2011 release from Arkansas’ Forrest City Correctional Facility after serving time for drug offences, TI’s diary has been packed. On top of his own release schedule, the 34-year-old has appeared on albums including Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne, co-written Robin Thicke’s hit Blurred Lines (15 million sales and counting), commenced filming a starring role in Marvel’s Ant-Man and witnessed his rap prodigy Iggy Azalea find global acclaim. At the same time Azalea legally battles to prevent a sex tape being released, TI’s Live Your Life co-vocalist Rihanna is dealing with stolen nude photos hitting the internet. TI stumbles into misogyny before clarifying his thoughts on the theft.
“Rihanna is a phenomenal talent and has an outstanding physical appearance, so she’s got nothing to be ashamed of... However, I’d hate it if her privacy was violated.”
TI promises he won’t be going down the path of taking nude selfies.
“Naw man, I don’t take nude selfies!” he laughs. “It seems like a bit of a woman thing to do. I ain’t gonna do that, I’m a more humble guy.”
Paperwork (Sony)
Unpublished Interview Material
Welcome to Australia!
“So far so good – thanks for welcoming me – I appreciate it.”
As your first ever trip Down Under, did Iggy Azalea give you any insight into what to expect?
“She’s told me a lot of stuff, but my own expectations were to have a blast. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how positive this has been.”
How has Iggy changed since you first came across her?
“Well… she’s become a lot more popular! (laughs)”
She seems to have put up with a lot of haters – have you given her any advice to deal with that? You sang ‘Ain’t got no time for haters’ on Live Your Life.
“I don’t think anybody pays attention to that, since everyone is so focused on winning and progression. She doesn’t have time to stop and look back at what’s going on behind them.”
You filmed the No Mediocre video in Brazil – I haven’t seen those Rio backstreets in a music video since Michael Jackson almost 20 years ago. Was They Don’t Care About Us an inspiration?
“Absolutely man. I think that song is the most classic earnest display of the state of our nation, you know?”
Are you the modern Michael Jackson?
“I mean, Michael Jackson was the greatest, you know what I’m saying? That goes without saying.”
Were there any issues where you had to pay off drug dealers and cartels to film in the Rio slums?
“Nah, not really man. Everything was okay.”
You must have had a lot of security?
“Not really man, it was surprisingly calm and everybody was cool. There were no negative vibes at all.”
And there were plenty of TI fans down there in South America?
“Oh yeah, man. Surprisingly, man. Of course there was, man. Definitely great to see.”
One of the reasons why Live Your Life connected with people around the world was that its lyrics were inspiring. Are there any inspirational stories you’ve heard from soldiers, people suffering personal battles or fans that have really stood out to you?
“Yeah man, it’s definitely like that. It’s flattering to think I could be a part of what motivated someone to push past tough times. It’s definitely flattering.”
Do people get emotional when they are telling you about tough times?
“Hold on one sec… Hello? Yeah, I’m alright. I was watching the news about another beheading. Shit is deep.”
Paperwork’s album cover is stamped with the date March 27 – is that an important date for you?
“March 27 is the stamp on there? That’s probably the date we took the pictures (laughs).”
A few years back you made a guest appearance during a Taylor Swift show in your hometown to sing Live Your Life – is there anything you took away from her and her crowd?
“Oh, that was an awesome experience – definitely one to remember.”
It was one of your first public appearances in almost a year [after serving prison sentence] – how did it feel to be back on stage after a long break?
“Yeah sure, that was so long ago though.”
Is Ant-Man back on track now? Did you meet the former director Edgar Wright before he left the project?
“No, I had not.”
How are your costumes?
“(laughs) We’ve been filming for about two weeks and everything is going phenomenal. Most of my scenes are with Paul Rudd, so he’s a funny guy, a cool cat and a very laidback guy. As soon as I get back from Australia I’ll be back to filming.”
Sometimes artists can make you feel like there’s been a genuine connection during an interview, with anecdotes flowing freely and amazing insights in response to thoughtful questions. Other times it’s pretty obvious you’re getting in the way of a music/groupie/chill session. Clifford Harris Jr, better known to the hip hop world as TI, unfortunately ticked the latter box, with my interview call an obvious incursion on an afternoon in Australia better spent getting high with his crew. Even when the TV in his suite wasn’t drowning out his answers, TI’s mind appeared to be elsewhere. Reading through the interview many years later in the wake of the powerful Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, it retains a level of interest even though TI’s own currency has perhaps slipped.
The following is an edited version of an interview first published in MX, October 2014.
TI – Fly Paper
by Scott McLennan
When Atlantan superstar TI included the lyric “Come see the way I’m livin’ if you really want to” on his 2009 Rihanna collaboration Live Your Life, he didn’t mean it literally.
“Someone hopped my gate recently when I was away, walked into my house and asked to meet me,” the dapper rapper reveals.
Was this a fan or a crazy person?
“I think he was a little bit of both. He didn’t do anything, but my sister told him to leave and he left. Those are the sorts of things that happen regularly, so for those occasions you’d love to have some form of protection just in case their intentions aren’t the best.”
While he choses his words carefully, there’s an elephant in TI’s Sydney hotel room while he’s Down Under promoting new album Paperwork. Although the US Constitution’s Second Amendment ensures most citizens are free to purchase a firearm as their chosen ‘form of protection’, TI isn’t one of them. A number of weapons offences – including a 2007 arrest relating to the attempted illegal purchase of machine guns – means the convicted felon can’t legally own his own piece.
“I don’t own guns because I’m not allowed to, but I’ve got security who do,” the 34-year-old says. “I’m pretty numb to all the threat levels around me, but I feel concern for my family when I’m not around. I fear for their safety and well-being more than my own.”
Returning to the Australian charts after his P!nk duet Guns And Roses went platinum last year, TI’s recent release New National Anthem similarly feeds into his nation’s gun debate. The song was released days after Ferguson police shot dead unarmed Missouri man Michael Brown in August.
“It was definitely always going to be on Paperwork, however I will admit that the Michael Brown incident did prompt me to expedite the release of it.”
Although TI suggests black American males like himself remain unfairly targeted by police (“It’s a reality for a young black man, it’s more a cliché than a shocking act”), he considers US gun control almost impossible.
“I think the way firearms and weapons and violence have been made an organic part of our culture, it’s going to be hard to pull firearms from everyone off the streets, it’s just not realistic.”
Since his 2011 release from Arkansas’ Forrest City Correctional Facility after serving time for drug offences, TI’s diary has been packed. On top of his own release schedule, the 34-year-old has appeared on albums including Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne, co-written Robin Thicke’s hit Blurred Lines (15 million sales and counting), commenced filming a starring role in Marvel’s Ant-Man and witnessed his rap prodigy Iggy Azalea find global acclaim. At the same time Azalea legally battles to prevent a sex tape being released, TI’s Live Your Life co-vocalist Rihanna is dealing with stolen nude photos hitting the internet. TI stumbles into misogyny before clarifying his thoughts on the theft.
“Rihanna is a phenomenal talent and has an outstanding physical appearance, so she’s got nothing to be ashamed of... However, I’d hate it if her privacy was violated.”
TI promises he won’t be going down the path of taking nude selfies.
“Naw man, I don’t take nude selfies!” he laughs. “It seems like a bit of a woman thing to do. I ain’t gonna do that, I’m a more humble guy.”
Paperwork (Sony)
Unpublished Interview Material
Welcome to Australia!
“So far so good – thanks for welcoming me – I appreciate it.”
As your first ever trip Down Under, did Iggy Azalea give you any insight into what to expect?
“She’s told me a lot of stuff, but my own expectations were to have a blast. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how positive this has been.”
How has Iggy changed since you first came across her?
“Well… she’s become a lot more popular! (laughs)”
She seems to have put up with a lot of haters – have you given her any advice to deal with that? You sang ‘Ain’t got no time for haters’ on Live Your Life.
“I don’t think anybody pays attention to that, since everyone is so focused on winning and progression. She doesn’t have time to stop and look back at what’s going on behind them.”
You filmed the No Mediocre video in Brazil – I haven’t seen those Rio backstreets in a music video since Michael Jackson almost 20 years ago. Was They Don’t Care About Us an inspiration?
“Absolutely man. I think that song is the most classic earnest display of the state of our nation, you know?”
Are you the modern Michael Jackson?
“I mean, Michael Jackson was the greatest, you know what I’m saying? That goes without saying.”
Were there any issues where you had to pay off drug dealers and cartels to film in the Rio slums?
“Nah, not really man. Everything was okay.”
You must have had a lot of security?
“Not really man, it was surprisingly calm and everybody was cool. There were no negative vibes at all.”
And there were plenty of TI fans down there in South America?
“Oh yeah, man. Surprisingly, man. Of course there was, man. Definitely great to see.”
One of the reasons why Live Your Life connected with people around the world was that its lyrics were inspiring. Are there any inspirational stories you’ve heard from soldiers, people suffering personal battles or fans that have really stood out to you?
“Yeah man, it’s definitely like that. It’s flattering to think I could be a part of what motivated someone to push past tough times. It’s definitely flattering.”
Do people get emotional when they are telling you about tough times?
“Hold on one sec… Hello? Yeah, I’m alright. I was watching the news about another beheading. Shit is deep.”
Paperwork’s album cover is stamped with the date March 27 – is that an important date for you?
“March 27 is the stamp on there? That’s probably the date we took the pictures (laughs).”
A few years back you made a guest appearance during a Taylor Swift show in your hometown to sing Live Your Life – is there anything you took away from her and her crowd?
“Oh, that was an awesome experience – definitely one to remember.”
It was one of your first public appearances in almost a year [after serving prison sentence] – how did it feel to be back on stage after a long break?
“Yeah sure, that was so long ago though.”
Is Ant-Man back on track now? Did you meet the former director Edgar Wright before he left the project?
“No, I had not.”
How are your costumes?
“(laughs) We’ve been filming for about two weeks and everything is going phenomenal. Most of my scenes are with Paul Rudd, so he’s a funny guy, a cool cat and a very laidback guy. As soon as I get back from Australia I’ll be back to filming.”
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