By my calculations, since I’ve been writing professionally I’ve interviewed Atlanta posterboy T.I. more times than any other celebrity (five times and counting). Which could explain why we discussed random things like his female alter ego, and why Ice Cube better watch his back.
As always, I am feeling the new album T.I. vs. T.I.P. but your rhymes are a bit cocky…
I’ve been known to speak the truth.
What was the last song you heard that you wish were yours?
As always, you’re asking very difficult questions, I don’t remember that ever happening. I can tell you the last song I heard that I wanted to get on… It was Kanyes’ “Get My Money Right,” I’d like that. Another one was Christina Aguilera, the USDA, the Jeezy song, “You know we keep that white girl.” Oh, and Amy Winehouses’ “Rehab.”
Do you ever plan on collaborating with your girl Tiny?
Yeah, we have, and the song has been out there. It was recorded for King but didn’t get on the album. It was on some feature albums, it’s called, “So Cold.”
What are you like when you’re drunk?
I can be friendly, conversational and playful. Or I can be standoff-ish, aggressive and violent; it depends on the company I am keeping.
Speaking of being of aggressive and violent, you’re always in the news for fighting someone. When was the last time you avoided a fight?
Great questions. People always trying me, they need to stop trying me. I think it was at a club, it always be on some shit. They wanted to get in the section but the section was closed. People tell them they can’t get in my section and people start talking reckless, and it mushrooms from there. Sometimes there are too many eyes and ears on me, and I’m able to maintain my behavior.
If you were a woman who would you be?
I ain’t gonna entertain that question.
Don’t be like that. It’s not a gay question, I am just trying to gauge which women you’re feeling…
I respect a lot of women, and I admire their swagger, but I just can’t see myself as a woman. Every woman no matter how admirable or noble on her best day, she has things about her that I just don’t understand.
Tomeka (Tiny) for example, I admired dozens of her ways along with my Mom and other women in my life. They’re very admirable but I just don’t understand their logic and I can’t understand why they don’t understand my logic.
When was the last time you were nervous?
The last time I was in court.
I hear a lot of commotion in the back, are you guys getting drunk?
We chillin’ man. We in my office, this is what the Grand Hustle office at Atlantic is like.
You sound a bit out of it, you sure you’re not faded?
I’m not faded, this is me everyday. I’m tired because I was in the airport for eight hour’s yesterday. Then I flew to New York and did it an hour-long performance and got home at two in the morning. Woke up at 7am to do this morning show and been up ever sense, I’m tired but I’m not faded.
Ok, Now that we know you’re sober, what’s next on the film front?
You already know about American Gangster with Denzel Washington. Grande Hustle films are focusing just as much on production as we are T.I. starring in films. We have a comedy called For Sale set in the world of used car dealerships in Atlanta.
New Line told us they needed at another franchise of Fridays. And I told them I had to give to them.
You mean those Ice Cube films? I don’t see you as a comedian?
I have my moments…
You’re real Hollywood these days T.I.P…
You can be in Hollywood, but the place that I am does not determine the state of mind that I am in.
What’s more accurate in Hollywood, everyone’s gay or everyone’s on cocaine?
Man, that’s a tough one. Those motherfucka’s are running neck and neck. I don’t think everybody’s gay, everybody in Hollywood is just extra un-gangsta. But people are definitely two-faced, people are definitely soft, and people are definitely on cocaine.
WHAT NOW?