Rapper T.I. has been arrested for possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. T.I. was found in violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act back in 1998 and sentenced to seven years probation.
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) arrested T.I. (real name Clifford Harris) in downtown Atlanta on Saturday. They found more three more guns in his vehicle and six guns in a bedroom at his Atlanta home.
ATF had been notified by a federal firearms dealer that there was a man asking about buying a machine gun, but he did not want to register it as required by law. Someone claiming to be T.I.’s bodyguard was sent to purchase the guns and was arrested. He cooperated with officials, telling them he was purchasing the guns for the rapper. Reportedly, T.I. gave his bodyguard $12,000 in cash to buy the weapons. T.I. is to appear in court today.
T.I. was nominated for nine awards last night at the BET Hip Hop Awards show and won two awards. At the show, he received support from fellow rapper E-40 and the emcee Mike Jones.
But it seems many people are torn over T.I.’s arrest. While some claim he was set up because of his success, many are outraged that he had all the guns, although not surprised considering the gun violence often associated with rap music. Some in the African American community, such as Chad D. Lassiter, adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, are even calling for him to do time for his mistake. “T.I. is one of the guys who have received too much, too soon, with little or no struggle.” Lassiter went on to say, “”Let’s recommend he do time, because it’s time for us in the African-American community to hold ourselves and our people accountable.”
T.I. hit the rap music scene in 2001 with his debut album “I’m Serious.” T.I. has released four albums and he has received two Grammy awards in 2006 (Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Solo Performance). He has appeared in the movies ATL and will appear in the upcoming American Gangster. He has done community work with the victims of Hurricane Katrina as well as trouble youth at the Paulding Detention Center in Atlanta.