We haven't heard a peep from T.I. since the rapper started serving his 366-day sentence back in May. But while the rapper may be down, he's certainly not out. And earlier this week, he issued proof in the form of a brand-new music video featuring Mary J. Blige. Natch, shooting for "Remember Me" (originally slated for the Paper Trail re-release) wrapped long before T.I.'s stint in the big house. But the message is clear: T.I. ain't going nowhere. And when he's done paying his debt to society, he's got a hip-hop title to reclaim.
+ Extra credit: To learn more about the making of T.I.'s "Remember Me," go to MTV News.
You already know the story: back in March, rapper Clifford J. Harris Jr. (a.k.a. T.I.) was sentenced to 366 days in prison for attempting to buy illegal firearms. And as of this afternoon, he's officially behind bars.
According to MTV News, T.I. pulled up to the the Forrest City Federal Correctional Complex in a tinted van sometime after 12pm and walked through a sea of well-wishers and a reporters to gain entry into the prison. T.I., who is expected to serve a minimum of ten months in jail, spent his last days of freedom with his family and played a going-away show Sunday night in Atlanta.
If you tuned in last night expecting to see the finale of T.I.'s Road to Redemption, then yesterday just wasn't your day. Due to some boringish tech problems (something about crappy editing software and faulty tape decks?) the episode never actually aired, much to your/our/T.I.'s collective disappointment.
The good news? MTV producers are hoping to reschedule it ASAP, and doing everything possible to show you the powerful footage of T.I.'s painfully honest thoughts on the eve (and in the aftermath) of his sentencing.
** Keep checking back here for more news on Road to Redemption: The Reckoning. We'll update you as soon as there's an official day/time slated for the show's rebroadcast. **
UPDATE: Barring any (more) unforseen disasters, The Reckoning absolutely, positively WILL reair Tuesday, April 7th at 9pm.
Earlier this week, rapper/producer T.I. received a sentence of one year and one day in prison for the felony weapons charges dating back to his October 2007 arrest. And given both the severe nature of Tip's crime AND his subsequent effort to make amends, we wanna know whether you guys think he got what he deserved.
Having heard all the facts, seen his Road to Redemption firsthand and weighed the pros/cons of giving celebrities special treatment, you tell us: Was T.I.'s punishment too harsh? Too lenient? Just right? Take our poll and let us know!
On last week's clip show, we got to find out what all the kids have been up to since their episode aired. And earlier this week, T.I. took the time to personally catch up with the Road to Redemption teens in the days before/after his sentencing hearing.
So what's happened since we last saw everyone? Well, according to MTV News, Cynthia's been concentrating on school, Anthony's been making good on his dreams of becoming a chef, Trey's been trying to set a good example for his younger cousins and Pee Wee is back on his feet after sustaining a serious gunshot injury not long after his episode aired.
Of course, in real life, there isn't always a happy ending. In the last couple of days, T.I. revealed that Mario (the AK-47 toting teen from Episode 
was recently arrested on attempted murder charges. But if we've learned anything from watching Road to Redemption this season, it's that everyone has the capacity to change.
Just ask T.I.
When he showed up all smiles at the Atlanta courtroom this morning, you would have hardly guessed that T.I. was there to face a judge on felony weapons charges. Well, the verdict is finally in: One year and one day prison time for the rapper, who recently spent 45 days seeking a bit of mercy by mentoring kicking some sense into troubled youth.
The sentencing comes after an experimental plea deal was struck that suggested if he completed 1,000 hours of community service before sentencing (see T.I.'s Road to Redemption), paid a $100,000 fine and agreed to complete another 500 hours of community service after his time behind bars, he would only need to serve one year and one day.
For updates on this story throughout the next few days, check in with MTV News -- and don't miss the post-sentencing special, T.I.'s Road to Redemption: The Reckoning, airing Tuesday at 9 p.m. on MTV.
We've seen so many heartwarming stories on Road to Redemption that we can't help but feel personally invested in the lives of each teen Tip's had the opportunity to inspire. And while one teenager (Pee Wee, from Episode 1) has already slipped back into his old habits, we're still confident that all seven of these amazing kids have the potential to change their lives for the better.
+ Did any one of these kids' stories stand out? Take our poll and let us know which real-life story was the most memorable/inspirational of all.
Pee Wee was the first teen we saw on T.I.'s Road to Redemption, and we were hoping he would become the first teen to turn himself around for good. Sadly, tonight we found out Pee Wee hadn't learned his lesson by the time the credits rolled.
After turning down T.I.'s invitation to attend the presidential inauguration, Pee Wee ended up getting seriously wounded in a gunfight. So what went wrong? Well, it's hard to say for sure, but as Tip puts it, "I kinda wanted more for his future at the time than he wanted for himself."
Fortunately, Pee Wee's down, but he's not out. "Hopefully, the next time [you see me] I'll be doing something better," he told MTV's interviewer on tonight's bittersweet episode.
Needless to say, we couldn't agree more.
Unlike the other teens T.I.'s taken under his wing, Donald's managed to stay focused, avoid the hustle and work hard towards achieving his dreams on his own. As a result, Tip's goal wasn't to scare him straight (the kid already gets straight A's!) so much as reward him for his good behavior. And he did everything but throw Donny boy a parade!
Not that we're complaining. Sure, all the kids seemed to benefit from T.I.'s intervention, but Donald set himself apart by finding a way to succeed even without Tip's words of encouragement. And in the real world, T.I. won't always be there to give you a reality check (or buy you a 20-piece cooking set) every time you screw up.
So congrats to you, Donald. Thanks for showing everyone it IS possible to keep your head down -- and stay out of trouble. And here's to hoping the rest of T.I.'s new friends were paying attention tonight. Cause at the end of the day, Tip can show you the right path, but you've got to walk through it on your own. And King Donald is proof positive that all it takes is determination.
Like all of T.I.'s teens, Cynthia started out with a total gangbanger mentality. Fearless, short-sighted and not afraid of death, Cynthia (a gang member since she was 13), never even considered life outta the game -- till Tip inspired her to dream big.
Bit after a trip to the funeral home and a chat with a former gang member, Cynthia decided to give up gang life -- and concentrate on photography instead. And from the looks of it, girl's got the skillz (and fancy camera equipment) to actually make it happen!
+ Think Cynthia's new hobby will keep her off the streets? Or is she too caught up in gang life to stay away for long? Take our poll and let us know whether Cynthia's in for big disappointment -- or a photo finish.
