Whitney Houston Tribute At 'Billboard Music Awards'
'Celebrity Apprentice' Finale: Who Got Hired?
By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
T.I. and BET Awards just don't seem to mix well -- at all.
The platinum-selling hip-hop superstar finds himself in the midst of legal trouble on the heels of starring in 'American Gangster' -- the Ridley Scott-helmed epic drama headlined by Academy Award winners Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and Cuba Gooding, Jr. -- and an expected sweep of the BET Hip-Hop Awards, which were scheduled to take place tonight at Atlanta.
Earlier today, federal authorities were executing a search warrant on the Atlanta home of the 'Big Things Poppin' rap star.
Special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives spent most of Saturday afternoon at the College Park residence about 15 miles southwest of the city, reported the Associated Press.
ATF spokesman Special Agent Marc S. Jackson would not say who the owner of the home is, but a search of property records listed the owner as Clifford Harris, which is T.I.'s born name.
According to TMZ.com, T.I. was arrested this afternoon on multiple weapons charges after they say he had a bodyguard try to buy machine guns and silencers for him. (Read the complete state from the Department of Justice here.)
Sydney Margetson, Vice President of Publicity for Atlantic Records, offered "no comment," when reached by The BV Newswire today.
The irony here is that T.I. (who is up for nine awards for the show that is expected to air on Oct. 17) was embroiled in another sordid drama -- in relation to the 2007 BET Awards in Los Angeles in June. As widely reported, the 'A.T.L.' star and Ludacris' crony Chaka Zulu broke out in fisticuffs during the "Make It Happen Power Brunch" at Hollywood's Sunset Towers Hotel.
This was during a week of star-studded festivities celebrating the awards show which boasts about celebrating "Black Star Power."
T.I., also a celebrity for Chevy automobiles, publicly apologized for his role in the melee during the live broadcast of the show.
A week later, he was #1 on the Billboard charts with his newest album, 'T.I. vs. TIP,' which sold close to half a million copies in its first week of release.
'American Gangster,' in which he stars as an ambitious relative of reputed Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, opens Nov. 2.
Comments: (369)
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By: Janice on 10/14/2007 11:44PM
It seems to me that everytime I see Wyclef Jean hanging around a major star something horrible happens to them. He hung around Whitney and Bobby and Lauryn Hill and now their lives are destroyed. One of his old Fugee mates said he is the anti-christ. I believe him. He has no talent, is only a hanger on, and a loser. Why would TI bodyguard suddenly turn on him?? Doesn't make sense.
How can young black american men get automatic weapons? Heck you can't even get a handgun without a hassle. That haitian Wyclef can do it in haiti. The SOB is evil and destroys everyone he touches. The haitians invented crack. Then I'm told he had the nerve to be singing TI's hit at the award show.
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By: joseph on 10/14/2007 11:48PM
is dirty oprah paying people to attack our boys. if she is, i hope she rots in hell. she's the first person who came out publicly to attack them in a major way for no reason.
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By: Schwarzebar on 10/14/2007 11:48PM
He didn't manufacture or import the weapons.Where are the laws against that? I can assure you that in America there are lots of white people with these weapons or similar weapons as can be attested to by daily news reports,but because he is a rap star and black, we become more focused on his problems.
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By: Mrs. S. on 10/15/2007 1:11AM
We haven't made it until we change our thinking. It doesn't matter how much money we get if we have the same mind we will evently get the same results. I was once told if you always do what you always did then you will always get what you all ways GOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: ljassi on 10/15/2007 2:11AM
I was vey saddened to read the report about TI. What he did was wrong. We need to remove guns period. I am praying for TI & I agree with the person that said mebbe it's a wake up call. We need to love more. . .I wonder what happened to start this? Something that happened at a Strip Club. Bet alcohol was involved too. Certainly a case of Keeping it Real goes wrong!
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By: romey on 10/15/2007 2:15AM
To voluptuous 1. instead of praying for T.I pray for the people those guns were gonna kill,silencers are weapons used by asassians.Pray that they dont let him out,pray that those are the only ones he's purchased and that he hasnt managed to put others out on the streets b4 he got busted..but to hell with praying for him.
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By: RONI on 10/15/2007 2:55AM
IT'S SEEM THAT EVERYONE BELEIVE TI IS GULITY BEFORE HE HAS EVEN HAD HIS TRIAL WE AGAIN HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THEIR IS SOMONE OUT THERE THAT GOING TO TAKE OUR YOUNG BLACK BROTHER DOWN NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR A LIVING SO LET STAND TOGHTER ON THIS A KEEP HIM AND HIS FAMILY IN PRAY, AND THE WAY THIS ATRICLE IS WRITTEN SOMEBODY DID NOT WANT THIS YOUNG MAN AT THE AWARD SHOW THAT NIGHT FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER AND NOW HE HAS TO FACE WHATEVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE HE HAS SO MUCH GOING FOR HIS SELF. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
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By: Mumtaz on 10/15/2007 5:36PM
One day so-called African Americans will get tired of making excusing for our own people. This is not about black and white for those who have real knowledge. This is about perspective and morals, about wisdom and understanding. These brothers and sistah's of ours have made good money and have excelled in their careers. They don' t have to behave this way and then blame it on the system. The brothers and sistah's before them paid the price many times with indignation, abuse and insult one after the other; not to mention being sent to prison and physically, mentally and emotionally abused. We kept our heads up and continued along in our dignity and self-pride and we had before us the pride and future of our people in our hearts, minds and souls. It is time for our community to wake up and use their G'd given intelligence to nevigate through a system that has historically deprived us, held us back, etc. and look to ourselves now as being our own worst enemy. We see this in our school systems throughout the community, lack of (A.A) Businesses in our own communities, total disrespect for our women and children and elderly and community property, etc. Besides, what do these inspiring, sucessful African-Americans bring to the table for the people and community which they came from? Answer is very simple...Nothing but more drama and embarrassment and lack of good role models for our youth who listen to their music and see how they carry themselves. It is time, has been time for the so-called Black American's to wake up and point the finger at who it should be pointed at which is ourselves. Remember the old saying of the old folks..." When you point that finger at someone else, remember, there are three fingers pointing back at you!
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By: No Understanding on 10/15/2007 6:48AM
Who is surprised by this latest episode with T.I.? Look what happened here in Los Angeles with an associate of Ludacris? Just like you can't make a whore into a housewife, you can't make a thugh into a gentleman, no matter how many millions of dollars he has. Tools are tools; a whore uses her and a thug uses his!
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By: Kevin on 10/15/2007 6:51AM
Keep ur head up T.I.. I Fed's could have set him up like they have done to alot of people, so the negative comments, people should keep to themselves until they know the real truth. Again T.I. Keep ur head up.
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