Few in the game have a rap sheet like rapper, Clifford “T.I.” Harris. The rapper, songwriter and actor has become an entity within the Hip Hop realm unto himself.

With Paper Trail [click to read] in stores, the focus hasn’t really been on T.I. – the artist – but more so, Clifford Harris – the man.

Embroiled in a highly publicly legal issue, the 28-year-old self proclaimed “king of the South” has a lot to deal with. Heavy the head that wears the crown they say. HipHopDX sits down exclusively with T.I.P. at Atlantic Records as he discusses his newest project, waves off a history of trouble with Ludacris and hints at a possible collaboration with Jay-Z for The Blueprint 3.

HipHopDX: You always have a good fashion sense about yourself. What do you like to wear more – the clean cut look with the nice pocket or jeans, sneakers and a fitted cap?
T.I.: It all depends on the occasion, the event, what’s going on and my mood. Right now, I’m just cool, calm and casual. I’m really feeling my Jordan Retro’s – I forgot what number they are – they might be the 12's. They came out in ’94.

DX: Your song “Louis Rag” with Swizz Beatz got a lot of play in the clubs amidst all the hype of your case. What is it about “Louis Rag” that makes you feel that that was the right track to put out there.
T.I.: It’s just a party record, man. I want everyone to feel good, relax and have a enjoyable time. Me and Swizz [click to read] linked up to crank the clubs up, period… There’s no serious message behind it. It’s just a record to motivate and uplift the party. “Louis Rag” is something that you can play primetime in a club at 2:30, you know what I’m saying. Everyone pull they rags out they belt loop and if you’re anything like me, you keep your rag in your belt loop – and they’d swing they rag in the club and go nuts.

DX: How was it to go back to writing down lyrics after going off the top for a few albums?
T.I.: It wasn’t hard at all… It’s actually one of the easiest decisions to make. It was an easy transition to go back to writing. I could do it, actually, either way… It just depends on the track and how I feel. It’d be a way to catch the beat and I’ll go either way. I think that on the next album, I’ll do both – half of it off the top and the other half written and let the people judge for themselves. It’s two different sounds to doing that, of course, songs like “Top Back” [click to read], “What You Know (About That)” [click to read] that type of sound – I’ll go off the dome. But for that “I’m Serious” [click to read], “No Matter What” [click to listen] type of sound, then I start writing it down.

DX: It’s good to see you back with DJ Toomp, man. People felt that that one album where you weren’t together that he was sorely missed…
T.I.: Yeah, man… it was just the one album [without each other]. I mean we always family and always gone be it, so it was like… you know… it couldn’t be a reunited thing ‘cause we were never separated. We worked together on T.I. vs. T.I.P. [click to read], it’s just that the work that we did when we worked together, didn’t make the album.

DX: A lot of people would be surprised that you and Ludacris linked up to do a track for his new album. How’d that come together…?
T.I.: It was really simple – we agreed to do a record together. For real, me and Chris [click to read] ain’t never had no real issues between one another, ya dig? We never had a conversation that couldn’t be cleared up. We’ve had conversations where we most definitely had to get some things squared away. He had my number for quite some time and I his, so some times we’ll call each other every now and again to chop it up, unbeknownst to you – the public – of course. But you know everyone has issues. I consider dude, if nothing else, very worthy competition and I’ve never hated on dude, I ain’t never been a hater and never will be. So, since there’s no issue, there isn’t no problem and we ain’t got no beef. There’s no reason why we can’t be able to or why we shouldn’t be able to come together and make music.

DX: As a competitor in the game – do you think that you’re putting out your best work to date, yet?
T.I.: It ain’t my job to judge the music, it’s my job to make the music. I mean… I like all my music, but I wouldn’t make nothing that I wouldn’t like. But I’m going to give it to the people to make their own opinion and assessments. I’m going to let my work speak for itself. I play to win and you know everyone else is going to try to play their cards, well… when I play my hand, I play to win and don’t care what anyone else thinks. Continued on page 2 »