T.I. Admits Making ‘Incredibly Stupid’ Mistake: “I Hate I’ve Had To Go Through It To See It”

Grammy-winning rapper T.I. recently reflected on serving time behind bars and why his past mistakes have forced him to stay on the right path to recovery and redemption.

With a growing movie career and new music on deck, Tip said he does not forget his time in prison and instead relishes on lessons learned from the experience.

“I was a lot more, how can I say, hazardous. After I came back, it was [like] ‘I’ve already been to prison, let’s live a little,'” he said, leaning back in his seat. “That’s not an excuse, just an explanation. [It] was incredibly stupid, I acknowledge that. It was meant for me to go through this to see something. And I saw it. I hate that I’ve had to go through it to see it, but I made it.” (Los Angeles Times)

Back in November, Tip revealed Hollywood icon Will Smith tried to get him released from doing nearly an entire year behind bars.

“As you mentioned, of course, [Eminem]. He was extremely supportive and inspirational during that time. Busta Rhymes, Puffy, Lyor Cohen, Russell Simmons, Nelly, David Banner, Charlie Mack, Will Smith. Will actually went as far as getting in touch with [attorney general] Eric Holder and the Obama administration trying to see if we could get some kind of release. He was very politely told that was not possible. [laughs]” (Billboard)

According to Tip, Smith stepped up following his publicized August 2010 probation violation.

“It was the last time I was going back, and I was going to court for my probation violation. He was in deep discussions about it. And he’s been a huge contributor to the administration, and I mean not just in finances, I’m talking about time and other kinds of efforts, so it ain’t like his words were falling on deaf ears. But I understood. I didn’t even expect no help. I didn’t expect nobody to be able to help me. I knew I made my bed and I knew I had to lay in it.” (Billboard)

The “King of the South” got released from an Arkansas jail in 2011 for his crime.

The rapper was sentenced to 11 months in prison in October for breaking his federal probation after he was arrested in Los Angeles on drug charges. He was set to be released at the end of September, but prison authorities released him a month early. His attorney, Jonathan Leonard, confirmed T.I. was released but did not immediately say where his client is going. (The Washington Post)

Check out a recent T.I. interview: