New on TV: T.I.'s Road to Redemption

In just over a month, one of the biggest names in hip-hop music will take a break from music to serve a prison bid for trying to buy illegal machine guns.

In what the average American would call a slap on the wrist, the federal government worked out a plea deal with Clifford Harris, better known as T.I., allowing the Atlanta rapper a mere one year and one day sentence if he completed 1000 hours of community service instead of having to face a 30 year maximum sentence.

Now, MTV is along for the ride and ready to capture the days before the self-proclaimed King of the South goes to jail.

We know what you're thinking. Haven't we seen this all before in the BET reality series Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown,' which chronicled The Queen Bee's time before heading to The Big House. Blackvoices.com caught a sneak peak and we would have to agree with The Rubber Band Man - that 'Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go' is a different kind of program.

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In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**

In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **

In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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Though he was pitched a show concept similar to Lil' Kim's 'Countdown,' where he would have had cameras in his home, while he was under house arrest, the 28 year-old father of six says that would have been "so boring," "less of an impact," and "not as meaningful." Instead, the documentary follows Atlantic Records' biggest star as he gives seven hand-selected teenagers a lesson on tough love and an opportunity to change their lives so they don't end up in the same predicament that T.I. is in now. He said if he had any advice or thoughts on his impeding sentence, it would be, "I'm goin' through it so you don't have to." A young Bankhead-area hustler named Pee Wee is the first teen that T.I. hopes to shape up. And, though we won't give away whether T.I. succeeds in his quest to keep Pee Wee out of the trap, what we can share with you is how compelling it is to see this platinum-selling MC intimately and brutally honest about his life decisions.

In the first episode we see T.I. as he wakes his son, King, up the morning of his fourth birthday. We also see him at the birthday party alongside his mother and his long-time girlfriend/Xscape singer Tameka 'Tiny' Cottle. But, what is most moving about the series is the chance opportunity to hear T.I. move away from his 'T.I. vs. T.I.P.' rap persona and 'fess up to really messing up. The documentary footage is spliced with short pieces of T.I. discussing his first drug deal and why he started hustling, as well as how the 2006 shoot-out that resulted in the death of his best friend and bodyguard Philant made him paranoid for his life and his family's welfare. He says this is what led him to try to purchase weapons illegally.

For now, to say this former drug dealer has 'Big Things Poppin', may be an understatement. His latest platinum-plus album 'Paper Trail' is nominated for Best Rap Album and his heavy-hitting song 'Swagga Like Us' is nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group. Though 'Swagga Like Us' is arguably the most popular rap song of last year, because the schedules of Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Kanye West and T.I. are so hectic, the rappers have all agreed not to do a video and only perform the track at the 51's Annual Grammy Awards.

"You got four rather busy guys and we agreed it should not be one of those videos where you shoot your part. We still have never been in same place at same time. I don't even think well get to rehearse [the song before performing it at the Grammys]."

He's got another MTV show in the works, his clothing line Akoo, plans to open a restaurant/lounge in Atlanta, not to mention his budding acting career, but where music is concerned, T.I. is gearing up to reconnect with his 'My Love' buddy Justin Timberlake. They plan to shoot a video for his song 'Dead and Gone.' And, with the way he's been recording he might have enough material to release an album either before he goes to jail or while he is locked up. But he's quick to add "'Paper Trail' is doing so well."

You can check out all of his happenings on the MTV series, 'T.I.'s Road to Redemption: 45 Days To Go,' which premieres February 10 at 9:00 PM ET. Each week, the title will change to reflect the amount of time left to his sentencing.

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