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The multi-faceted artist in this week’s Urban Express Spotlight is T.I., who charges back on the scene with a new single entitled “Love This Life”.

The single is taken from his upcoming, eighth studio album, “Trouble Man”. The album title was inspired by Marvin Gaye’s classic soundtrack for the 1972 film of the same name. Says T.I. about his creative process that went into this new album, “A lot of times, I’m taking myself out of my element. This is the first project where I’m talking about things that I’ve experienced before that I’m not necessarily experiencing now, because I’m not doing a whole lot of partying. I do a little bit, but not a lot, nothing like when I was in that life.”

Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. (also known as T.I.) was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and he began rapping when he was nine years old. Harris began dealing drugs when he was a teenager, and by the time he was 14, he had already been arrested several times. While still in his teens, T.I. was signed to Arista Records and released his debut album “I’m Serious” in October of 2001. The album launched the eponymous single featuring Beenie Man, and the album featured guests like Pharrell and Lil’ Jon among others. Since that debut, T.I. has released seven studio albums, including “Trap Muzik”, “Urban Legend” (which contained his first Top 10 hit, “Bring ‘Em Out”), “King”, “T.I. vs. T.I.P.”, “Paper Trail” and “No Mercy”.

T.I. has also tried his hand as an actor, appearing in the film “ATL”, then opposite Denzel Washington in “American Gangster”, and most recently, in the film “Takers”, which also starred some high-profile celebrities such as Chris Brown, Idris Elba, Matt Dillon and Zoe Saldana.

T.I. has had a few prison stints as well, but that hasn’t kept him down. Says T.I. of the goals he wants to reach as his career progresses, “I mean I’ve reached some [of my goals], some of them have been reached. To remain consistent and successful in music and to create some opportunities for the people around me and, you know, get my mom up out the hood and make sure my family ain’t got to worry about no money. You know all that kind of stuff. But I have more to reach”.

For tour information, news, and more on T.I., visit his website: www.trapmuzik.com.

by Jill Reyna-Jones