20 years after breaking via on a nationwide degree, T.I. remains to be writing his legacy.
Whereas Tip often shies away from watching scary films himself, the hip-hop polymath expanded his filmography by starring within the psychological horror film Concern, which hit theaters in January. Along with enjoying Lou within the Deon Taylor-directed impartial flick — becoming a member of a forged that included Energy‘s Joseph Sikora, Terrence J, Tyler Abron, King Bach and Ruby Modine — T.I. additionally served as a producer-investor within the film, which was filmed throughout the pandemic.
And he and DaBaby linked up in Charlotte, N.C. in early January for a soundtrack collaboration, additionally titled “Concern.” DaBaby tells Billboard, “My man Deon Taylor referred to as me, and I acquired to see the trailer for the movie and I acquired to curate the tune immediately off that. [Deon has] shortly develop into one among my mentors within the final couple of months. Ever since I bumped into him at Draymond Inexperienced’s wedding ceremony, he requested me if I used to be thinking about being on the massive display screen since he noticed a few of my music movies. I informed him, ‘Completely.’”
Will T.I. comply with up that challenge with a Tremendous Bowl cameo? The rapper has been rumored to make a visitor look at Rihanna’s Tremendous Bowl LVII halftime present to carry out their Scorching 100-topping 2008 duet, “Reside Your Life.” T.I. caught up with Billboard to debate the Tremendous Bowl chance, his rating on Billboard and Vibe‘s best rappers listing, Drake interpolating “24’s” on Her Loss and extra.
How was working with DaBaby on “Concern” for the Concern soundtrack?
T.I.: It was dope. Me and bro had a mutual respect for a very long time. I all the time spoke about working collectively and dealing on movie. He’s been selecting my mind about it. Together with his movies, you possibly can inform he’s acquired chops and he’s able to evolve into one other type of storytelling. I’m keen to help the following technology nevertheless I can.
Arnold Turner/GI for Hidden Empire Movie Group
How did you are feeling about exhibiting up on our best rappers listing at No. 32?
There’s so many phenomenal skills, prolific artists and iconic figures which have handed via this tradition. I ain’t acquired no time to carry no feelings about it. I’m simply grateful to be right here, grateful to be a part of the collective that will get to do what we love for a residing and encourage individuals each day. I’m simply completely happy to be across the elite. The individuals I used to get up not desirous to go to high school and take heed to. I’m on a listing with them.
Now I grew to become the individual that little truancies used to rise up and never need to go to high school. It’s an honor and a privilege and a pleasure to be on that listing. I feel it’s some folks that I got here earlier than I feel that I ought to’ve went behind. What’s the method? So individuals simply saying, “Let’s piss individuals off”? When you wanna piss individuals off and get instantaneous engagement, make a listing about something.
What did you concentrate on Drake interpolating your tune “24’s” for “Wealthy Flex” on Her Loss?
I feel it’s dope. I feel it’s unimaginable, on the twentieth anniversary of Lure Muzik this 12 months, we’re nonetheless exhibiting the relevance and the influence of the music from having the icons of at the moment simply nonetheless discover worth in it, and I feel it’s dope that he did it. I’m completely happy to be part of it in any approach potential.
Are we going to see you on the Tremendous Bowl performing “Reside Your Life” with Rihanna?
Zip it. Ay man, I cannot verify or deny any potential look. It’s an superior alternative. It was superior to have the chance to work with such an iconic determine and such a prolific particular person and such a wonderful spirit altogether. We’ll see what occurs.
You’ve been a mentor to lots of artists, and lately spoke about how 21 Savage thanks you each time he sees you for not giving him that first $1 million.
It’s superb to be ready the place you enter into a complete new technology and be this establishment of tradition and see the brand new leaders of the technology cross via your studio and discover their sound and begin constructing, assembly one another and studying the enterprise. I train the way in which I used to be taught, and I used to be taught you gon’ sacrifice one thing to achieve one thing. A part of that sacrifice early on is that up-front advance cash. You then get some fairness on the again finish. That’s the mannequin I’ve been preaching for a very long time.
Younger Thug was one other a type of artists you mentored. He’s in an unlucky state of affairs proper now.
I nonetheless have the utmost religion he’s going to come back out higher than ever. God has the final say, no matter what I feel. He’s going to be a greater individual and in a greater place.
“What You Know” celebrated an anniversary final weekend. What do you bear in mind most about making that report?
I bear in mind how briskly I recorded it — it was extraordinarily quick. As quickly as [producer] DJ Toomp got here in and performed some information, as quickly as I heard that beat, I knew that was it. I simply went in there and did it. All people knew this was the primary single. That was most likely probably the most apparent first listens I’ve ever skilled.
What’s your response to RZA’s feedback hating on the South taking on rap in 2007 on the time?
I had heard that. There’s gonna be some knee-jerk reactions relating to change. Issues are being offered somewhat in a different way than you’re used to receiving, I can perceive the way it could take some getting used to. Personally, he by no means exhibited that sort of vitality towards me, and I feel that Southern lyrics as a complete are made in response to individuals within the South and the dialect is way totally different than the North. I can perceive in the event you from up North, the way you would possibly really feel somewhat not noted.
Kill the King is your closing album? The final one must be A1.
It’s undoubtedly a sense of that. Perfection is critical. I sort of should put an exclamation level on this profession that has taken me to heights that I by no means imagined and led me locations that basically shocked me. I by no means thought I’d be in a few of the nice positions that I discovered myself in. This may be the exclamation level, and I’ve to do it.
