TI sorry about guns and violence
Posted Wed 13 May 2009 1:37PM BST by theCMUwebsite.com in a-CMU-blog
Rapper TI, aka Clifford Harris, has spoken about his dodgy past whilst hosting an anti-gun rally in Harlem alongside Al Sharpton and Kevin Liles.
The rapper is quoted as saying: "I owe us an apology. The same violence and gun activity that I'm attempting to stop, I once was a part of it and played a huge part in promoting [it]. A lot of people did it as a fashion statement. For me, it was more so a way of life. It was the lifestyle I was raised in. I carried guns and sold dope as a 13, 14, and 15 year old. All the experiences I gathered in that time [are] exactly the tools I need to get out here and reach the people that are doing what I used to do".
He continued: "These kids know I lived the life they're now living. I've seen the outcome of their mistakes. I've caught cases, I've been to jail, and had attempts on my life. I'm standing [and] I've learned from it...I have the experience of living this life of crime, I know where they're headed and I can tell them. And they'll listen to me because they'll know it's the truth. Anybody who thinks I'm talking just to hear myself talk, google Clifford Harris. My record is public record," he declared. "Now that I'm T.I. there's nothing I can do to hide my past. But I'm not ashamed of my past, I embrace my past. The same thing you may frown upon, it's the same thing that will make me proud when I'm able to turn your son, your daughter, nieces, and nephew's life around".
Speaking about the impact of the death of his friend Philant Johnson, shot dead back in 2006, TI went on: "I was so hurt at the loss of his life, that I didn't even take knowledge of the fact that I still had mine. I had to deliver the news to a hurt mom that ‘your son left with me, but because of me he ain't coming back.' A lot of times when we shoot guns, we only understand what is going on between the person that has the gun and person that's being shot at. We don't understand the pain that goes on with mothers, father, sisters, and brothers. There are household being destroyed. You're not just killing a man, you're killing a family. But just like we can destroy, we can rebuild. That's what I'm here to do".
The rap star is still to serve a year and a day in prison following a conviction over weapons charges, and will report to jail this month.
The rapper is quoted as saying: "I owe us an apology. The same violence and gun activity that I'm attempting to stop, I once was a part of it and played a huge part in promoting [it]. A lot of people did it as a fashion statement. For me, it was more so a way of life. It was the lifestyle I was raised in. I carried guns and sold dope as a 13, 14, and 15 year old. All the experiences I gathered in that time [are] exactly the tools I need to get out here and reach the people that are doing what I used to do".
He continued: "These kids know I lived the life they're now living. I've seen the outcome of their mistakes. I've caught cases, I've been to jail, and had attempts on my life. I'm standing [and] I've learned from it...I have the experience of living this life of crime, I know where they're headed and I can tell them. And they'll listen to me because they'll know it's the truth. Anybody who thinks I'm talking just to hear myself talk, google Clifford Harris. My record is public record," he declared. "Now that I'm T.I. there's nothing I can do to hide my past. But I'm not ashamed of my past, I embrace my past. The same thing you may frown upon, it's the same thing that will make me proud when I'm able to turn your son, your daughter, nieces, and nephew's life around".
Speaking about the impact of the death of his friend Philant Johnson, shot dead back in 2006, TI went on: "I was so hurt at the loss of his life, that I didn't even take knowledge of the fact that I still had mine. I had to deliver the news to a hurt mom that ‘your son left with me, but because of me he ain't coming back.' A lot of times when we shoot guns, we only understand what is going on between the person that has the gun and person that's being shot at. We don't understand the pain that goes on with mothers, father, sisters, and brothers. There are household being destroyed. You're not just killing a man, you're killing a family. But just like we can destroy, we can rebuild. That's what I'm here to do".
The rap star is still to serve a year and a day in prison following a conviction over weapons charges, and will report to jail this month.
