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At first I didn’t really understand the decision to give T.I.’s first post-prison interview to Larry King… Larry King Live is where you go when you need to curry favor with mainstream America or apologize to them. Its like your own personal opening argument in front of the jury of America. But to me, since T.I. has finished his prison sentence and probably the majority of his service, he no longer needs to be on a damage-control campaign. I’m looking forward  to hearing Tip share some wit or even irreverence; butt heads on Real Time with Bill Maher, charm Jon Stewart, or share his personal live with 60 Minutes.

But that said, T.I. handled himself very well with Dinosaur Larry. (way better than others have, ahem)…

Even when Larry King channeled all the rap comment sections of the internets…

Larry: “[Your conviction] doesnt sound like a lot for all that you were carrying…”

T.I.: “Well…through the blessings of God and also, uh, the, the unconventional methods of this agreement based on work that I had been doing in the community prior to my arrest and my conviction…I’m no good behind a cell, I help nobody there.”

Hear what else T.I. said about his prison time, his personal life, and his future; watch the entire interview, after the jump…


Larry: “You were a straight A student? How’d you get into all this trouble?…”
T.I.: “I just felt my life was in danger…”

T.I. and Larry go over the gun charge that put the rapper in jail, and when Larry itemizes the guns Tip was found with, Tip responds with itemizing the bullets that fired upon him when his friend Philant Johnson was killed.

(Thanks to Yardie/Mr.WorldPremiere for all the videos)


Larry: “[Your conviction] doesnt sound like a lot for all that you were carrying…” T.I.: “well…through the blessings of God and also uh, the unconventional methods of this agreement based on work that I had been doing in the community prior to my arrest and my conviction…
Do I think the sentence was fair? That’s like asking me do I want to spend more time in jail…They only think of 1 year and a day. Mind you I had a year of home confinement, I could not leave or work, that definitely affected my livelihood. I also had a year and a day prison sentence, I also had the 1500 hours of community service, I also have 3 years probation. It’s just a creative way to extend the sentence to where society can benefit from me…I’m no good behind a cell, I help nobody there.”


T.I. takes callers, including one woman who asks for advice for a relative who is facing a long prison term. Tip suggests keeping faith. Then they preview Tip’s upcoming movie, Takers….