With less than 48 hours to go before the start of his one-year prison sentence, TI treated his hometown fans to one last concert Sunday night (May 24).
The show, billed as TI’s Farewell Concert, was hosted by Grand Hustle comedian Lil’ Duval and lifestyle specialist Kenny Burns.
The concert featured performances by the entire Grand Hustle family and a few additional guests as well. Bobby Ray aka B.o.B, Big Kuntry King, Eightball & MJG, Maino, and local acts J Money and NBA all performed before Tip emerged for his own set.
On stage, the multi-platinum rapper was greeted by encouraging signs from several fans, bearing messages like “T.I. We Will Miss U!”
He addressed his supporters saying that he would stay optimistic and that he hopes his fans would learn from his mistakes.
“I’m going to stand up tall, head up high,” he told those in attendance, including celebs like Andre 3000 and Soulja Boy. “What I need y’all to do is pray for me while I’m gone. I’ll see y’all in 366 days.”
During a set that included hits from all six of his albums, from “Dope Boyz” to “Live Your Life,” TI gave his all to the crowd of about 16,000, even bringing out his four sons on stage at one point.
Prior to the concert, TI spent his last Sunday in Atlanta working.
The Grand Hustle camp took advantage of his presence to shoot no less than four music videos, including a clip fro Big Kuntry’s “I Do.”
He followed the performance with a Farewell Party at the Velvet Room. TI, born Clifford Harris, is set to report to the Forrest City Correctional Facility in Arkansas by no later than noon on Tuesday (May 26).
He will serve at least 10 months of a 366-day sentence for attempting to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from an undercover federal agent in October 2008.
In March of last year, the Grammy Award-winning rapper and actor pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally possessing machine guns and silencers and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
As part of the plea agreement, T.I. was sentenced to serve 1500 hours of community service, a 1000 of which he was to serve between before his March 2009 sentencing.
TI was also fined $100,000 in addition to his prison sentence, 365 days of home confinement, and the community service, which he mostly used to reach out to at-risk youths.