TI’s Akoo Clothing Line

Last week was total frenzy when TI’s much-anticipated album “No Mercy” (previously titled “King Uncaged”) dropped. The album is projected to hit up to 135k – 145k in its first week of launch, and seems like it’s doing really well. TI wrote a thank you note for his fans just in time for the album launch:

“So here it is…NO MERCY, the most honest and intimate installment of my life story as promised. Hope y’all enjoy it and it lives up to the very high standards I’ve set for myself or anyone who’s to be considered one of the best. I must admit it takes a lot to go through as much as I have and still keep the love in your heart and in your art. But at the end of the day, if that’s what it takes to produce the music that keeps the world of hip-hop evolving on it’s axis….Then even the lowest of the lows of my life was all worth it. Thanks again for your prayers, your time and attention. And remember….It does’nt matter how long it’ll be before the next time you see me. What matters is that I’ll be a better man before that time comes. The longer I sit, the smarter I get.

I’d like to give a vey special thank you to all the fans who’ve been writing me and lifting my spirits everyday. I read all of them. Although I would never be able to write you all back…I’d like to list as many of you individualy as I can and thank the others collectively. It’s a relief to know that there still are people who see a man with a life and not just another headline in the news. Most of you sound very concerned and optimistic at the same time about my situation. Let me assure you all that I am deffenitely keeping my head up. I don’t consider myself done by far. Also many of you are convinced as I am that God has a plan for me that he’s preparing me for.”

The album’s track list includes Tip’s collaborations with music’s heavyweights such as Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Christina Aguilera, Chris Brown, Eminem, Drake, Young Dro and many more.

Today marks one day before we finally see how well the album is doing in its first week after the launch. Will it surpass projections or fall flat? We’ll have to see. Meanwhile, we have some really cool brand new stuff from TI’s AKOO Clothing line for you to see -and get:

AKOO Nil Nylon Vest, $135

AKOO Sultry Hooded Knit, $105

Before heading to the clink for the second time, TI gave an interview to VIBE magazine and he covered the December edition. He talked about being treated unfairly and his drug addiction amongst many other intimate things. Here’s an excerpt of the interview:

VIBE: I’ve heard you mention how the good that you’ve done is easily forgotten. Do you feel that you’ve been treated unfairly?

T.I. “If I place my value in the way humans treat me, then maybe. But they’re human, man―they can’t help themselves. They do that to people they know personally. So how can I expect them to treat me, only knowing me through television? They did that to Jesus. They did that to Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali. They did it to every great person you could possibly think of. When it was all good, they was with them. When things got bad, then they was against them.”

VIBE: But in this case things didn’t “get bad.” It’s something you did.

T.I. “Let me just say this: [he sits up on the couch] If you look at a guy who came up, no pops in the house, moms on welfare, food stamps; started selling dope when he was 12, 13 years old, came up handling guns, being in shoot-outs; started going to jail when he was 15. In all of this chaos and this mischief and lawlessness, the person who was just in jail for machine guns and silencers turns his life around. And now you want to crucify him ―for what? Three pills. I mean, of course it’s wrong and unacceptable and inexcusable. No problem. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s rather petty. It’s rather petty to hold someone’s feet to the fire for something so small when they have overcame things that were so big. All that could have been going wrong―if I was riding with more guns, or if I had gotten into a shoot-out and killed somebody, then I could see that. But just think about it. I’ve gotten it down to this much.”

VIBE: How did you get a drug habit?

T.I. “I had a lot of work done to my teeth. Oral surgery, extractions, six, seven, eight root canals. Between January to February. As soon as I got out, I had a lot of stuff done. In the joint, you eat shit that is unhealthy for you. I had fillings that fell out and stuff that had to get dealt with. Of course for the pain they gave me oxycontin and hydrocodone. And, mind you, on October 13, 2007, I had cut off everything―weed, alcohol. Then I get these pills and I start taking them for the pain at first. And then I’m like, Wait―this shit makes me feel good. And it’s legal. After the pain went away, I kept taking it. I had like five, six prescriptions. So I had, like 80 pills. Everybody else might have a drink or smoke a blunt, I took a pain pill. Times when I had 18-, 20-hour days, I’d take a pain pill. And eventually I developed―I guess―the beginning stages of dependence.”

To read the complete interview, you’ll have to wait because the December issue of VIBE will be available on November 30th.

TI sends a long letter to his fans from behind the bars.  We know you’re dying to hear from the King himself, so here goes:

This experience is truly a pain I have never felt before and that’s saying a lot for a nigga who’s been down locked up as many times as I have. I see this as a real ass whoopin’. The kind you don’t just go back outside to play afterwards. You take ya ass to bed and don’t come out of your room until it’s time to go to school. I don’ t know what effect this will have on my life moving forward but I’m certainly sick and mother f*cking tired of going to jail, juve, prison, the pen, correctional facilities or whatever else you want to call it. I’d have been better off doing a 5-10 year bid one time than going in time and time again for days, weeks and months for the last 15 years of my life. Even though it’s been a long road, I’m still standing, barely but nevertheless still standing. At one time I thought my motivation for continuing was for my fans, my partna Philant, my pops, my grandmama, even for the haters or the people I let down. But nah… I got to do this shit for me!!! I’ll be God damned if I’ve come all this way and made it through so much hell to let it go down like this! F*ck that! If an hour in the dark is worth a second in the sun then pass me my mother f*ckin’ shades cause I’m ready to cash my darkest hours in…ASAP!!! A lot of folks had fathers or father figures in the house to raise them into manhood. I’m not trying to make any excuses for my situation but my father was a hustler that lived in New York. My uncle was a local big time dope boy turned 10 year federal inmate. My mother and grandparents did the best they could but I found my manhood in the trap and in prison systems. But I found it. And nan one of mine will ever have to feel the cold tight grip of a handcuff or grace the presence of a jail cell if I can help it. Over my dead body! So if you can’t respect that you ain’t rocking with my movement then Fuck you dog! I know a bunch of mother f*ckers who are…..

- Love KING

The highly-anticipated “No Mercy” album has been teasing TI’s fans with bits of leaked pieces from the album, and guess what, now it’s back with visuals.  TI’s camp might have learned from his previous incarceration and they’re applying their skills on how to keep fans on their toes while the King is away, serving time.

So without further ado, here’s the trailer of TI’s “No Mercy” album.

We consider this a holiday gift from the fine people at Grand Hustle, and we want to share the joy with you by recommending some of real fine gear from TI’s AKOO Clothing line:

AKOO Vintage Axe Snobby Knit, was $28, now $25.99

AKOO Herring Plaid Woven was $80, now $74.99

As you know, we have previously talked about TI’s collaboration with Chris Brown on his upcoming album: “No Mercy” (previously “King Uncaged”).  They even had a video launched for the song titled “Get Back Up”.

Apparently, that’s not the only collaboration Tip did.  Our man tapped rapper Eminem to collaborate with him on a song titled “All She Wrote” and the song has leaked on the internet.

T.I. – All She Wrote (Feat Eminem) by We Are S.M.E

We’re sure that song will be a hit.

But there are some coolness from TI’s AKOO Clothing Line that also hits us in all the right places. Here they are:

AKOO Caulks Hooded Zip Fleece, $98

AKOO Old English Tee, was $26, now $21.99

AKOO Smokehouse Jeans, $95

TI might be locked up in jail, but things are not going to be easy when he gets out.

According to TMZ, recent documents say: rapper TI will not be allowed to leave the Northern District of Georgia unless he can prove that it’s for “verivied employment within the United States”. This also means he can’t leave the country.

Tip is also banned from leaving Northern Georgia for more than seven calendar days per month, or for more than seven days in a row.

You think that’s going to be tough? Read on:

As long as he’s on probation, TI can’t drive a vehicle, can’t own “any firearm, dangerous weapon or other destructive device. The rapper is also required to participate in a drug/alcohol testing and treatment program.

We look at this as the people’s love for TI, as all the restrictions are going to be applied as a way to protect Tip from his own devices.

Or do you think the opposite?

After seeing TI and Chris Brown’s “Get Back Up” video, our conclusion is one: Tip and Breezy looked super fresh and it’s just normal if TI’s fans received the video with much enthusiasm. And for that, Tip said thank you and sent his fans a few words from prison:

“Thank you to all that took the time to check out my new video GET BACK UP with my homie Chris Brown. And a bigger thanks to those of you who decided to comment (good & bad). To all of you who say “He should practice what he preaches” and “How could he do something so stupid…AGAIN?” You’re absolutely right and I couldn’t agree with you more. But you know what? As history has shown us before, I find my greatest inspiration during my darkest hours.

So all fans of music, T.I. or not, should be able to agree that NO MERCY will surely be my best work yet. After all isn’t that what it’s all about? If I never went to prison, never did drugs, never f’ed up again, did everything right and never made great music….would you even care enough to comment on T.I.? Doubt it, so bear that in mind while you jump to your conclusions guys.

Martin Luther King once said “Notice not the comments of your enemies but the silence of your friends.” So although I’m still in touch…watching, reading and listening, I’m not concerned with what negative people say more than I am with what positive people don’t. Guess that’s enough for now… Love you all still, whether you still love me or not. REAL TALK!!! And I would like to give a special I LOVE U to @star_omg and @tinymajormama. – Tip”

So sweet.

If you’ve already missed T.I., the rapper has prepared a little something for his fans this time around.  Here’s the newest video he shot with Chris Brown just before he returned into jail earlier this week.

Are you feeling the beat?

Here are some new things we know you’ll love from TI’s AKOO Clothing line, perfect for this holiday season’s gift.  All available at DrJays.com and also be on the lookout for discounted items!

AKOO Solutions V-Neck Tee, $43

AKOO Barkley Wool Vest, $102

Rapper TI is paying his dues after his drug possession arrest on the Sunset Strip back in September, which caused his probation revoked by law enforcement. According to US Attorney spokesman Patrick Crosby, TI pleaded the judge to be sent to rehab:

“I want drugs out of my life. If I can get the treatment and counseling I need … I can beat this. I need help. For me, my mother, my kids, I need the court to give me mercy.”

Tip, who’s now also known as Inmate #59458-019 goes through the normal process and will share a community shower. As a prisoner, he will also be wearing a standard prison uniform: khaki trousers, khaki button down shirt and black shoes.

There’s a positive light in even the worst situation and in Tip’s case, we do hope he really learned from his mistake because the next time he takes a wrong turn, there will probably be no mercy. Speaking of which, due to his current situation, TI’s new album “King Uncaged” was newly renamed into “No Mercy”.

You won’t believe what some fans do to keep the King of The South out of jail. But before we get into that, TMZ reported that the L.A. County District Attorney has rejected the drug case that got TI arrested last month. According to the D.A.’s office, they are not going forward with charges because TI has already been sentenced to prison because he violated his federal probation. So yay to no further charges!

However, back to TI’s other news:

Like we mentioned in the beginning of this article, TI has such fanatic stans all over the country that they are really trying to keep the King off the clink. New court documents have just been filed in an attempt to move TI into a rehab program. The funniest thing is, TI himself has no idea who requested this.

Apparently there’s a citizen who filed the documents in Atlanta’s federal court, arguing that the courts spends too much tax dollars by putting TI back into jail for his probation violation case. This made the person file a motion to cancel the jail sentence. The mysterious person would like to be called as “Citizens of the State of Atlanta Georgia”.

TI’s lawyer, Steve Sadow said to TMZ that although the gesture is well-intentioned, he has no plans to appeal the judge’s sentence.