T.I.: The Tipping Point

T.I has what is known as “ Kanye Smile”, a super wide grin that bares most of his teeth. And though it’s early on a muggy august morning, T.I is ready with that megawatt beam, flashing what almost looks like a computer-generated twinkle at various producers, assistants and hosts of Fox Business Network’s Money for Breakfast.

Mic’d and prepped to plug Respect My Vote! a grassroots youth-voter-registration drive sponsored by the Hip Hop Caucus, the rapper, born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., waits patiently. Sipping a cup of coffee, he looks to his right and peers over at another guest in the show. The man is holding a book.” How to be a business superhero”, T.I reads aloud. “I need to know that!”

The book’s author, Sean Wise, glances at the rapper seated next to him. He takes in the diamond-studded watch, two heavy platinum chains and the dark rinse jeans that puddle above T.I.’s Air Jordans.”Yea” says Wise, handing over a business card.” It’s a good time to be a venture capitalist.”

“I Just started up my own social-networking site,” T.I. counters in his thick southern drawl.

“So what kind of traffic are you getting?” Wise asks.

T.I leans back in his seat. ”About a million unique visitors.”

“What’s the demographic?”

“Eighteen to thirty, mostly African American,” T.I continues, describing the recently launched site StreetCred.com. “ I just added a blog with audio and video components. Working on a mobile code right now. And we just got the vanity code for the term hip-hop.”

Wise considers this, digs into his briefcase and pulls out another business card.” Here’s my real card.” He says, handing it over.” I’d love to set up a meeting with you.”

T.I flashes his smile and replies:” Not a problem.”

For more with T.I., check out the October/November issue of GIANT magazine!