T.I. Locked Up, Not Locked Out

For rapper T.I., the best part of having all those appeals — besides delaying the inevitable — is that he got to make more music he could release while serving out his one-year prison term. Filmed just before his May 26 lockup date, the Peach State rapper imagines prison life with his recently released new song and video "Remember Me." The song, featuring a guest spot by Mary J. Blige, illustrates the hardship of a person heading to prison.

Interestingly, "Remember Me" is just the first of two new singles that will come out during the rapper's Arkansas stay in an orange jumpsuit. He also shot a video for "Hell of a Life," a positive track celebrating all the good times he's enjoyed. Both songs were set to appear on Paper Trail: Case Closed, but as the deluxe reissue has been sidelined, the new tracks will be released digitally. "Remember Me" is currently available for purchase on Atlantic Records' website.

"A year and a day and counting, you understand that," says T.I. in the video. "About the time you hear this, I'll probably be halfway home. Now remember that, suckas."

T.I. went to jail for buying weapons illegally from an undercover agent. In later magazine interviews, the rapper said this ill-advised act stemmed from several violent threats against his family voiced from various sources.

Though he's always had a checked past, T.I. is also active in the community, something he doesn't make well known outside Atlanta. He personally donated $50,000 to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and led an on-air fundraiser, he partnered with David Banner and Young Jeezy for a food and clothing drive in his hometown, he's provide school scholarships to kids from single-parent families and, of all things, he's even worked with youth at the Paulding Detention Center in Atlanta.

In a past interview, here's what T.I. told me: "With great reward comes great responsibility. I was in the hood, and the people who lived above average were the drug dealers, the athletes who went pro, and in my case, a rapper. Whatever the case may be, the people who lived above average made sure they helped out whenever possible, helping people like me. An old g partner of mine looked out for me so I told him that I appreciated it. He told me, 'Man, all you owe me is to help out someone else when you are in a position to one day.' Ever since, that's what I've done."

Here's hoping that, when released from the slammer, T.I. will continue this community activism and encourage kids to stay away from guns and jail.

Photo courtesy of Christian Lantry.