S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper T.I. recently opened up about when he plans to step away from album-making and said he envisions a career filled with movie accolades.
Despite Jay-Z being 40 and Eminem rapping at 37, T.I. feels a never-ending commitment to music would limit his non-music opportunities.
“I’m kickin’ 30 down this year, so it’s about time to start thinking about an exit strategy. I’m not saying this is my last album or the next album is my last album, but I don’t see myself rappin’ for 10 or 20 more years,” he revealed in an interview. It can be done, but at the same time, Jay-Z’s method is for Jay. I ain’t seen nobody else take that model and use it to their advantage…If I do [rap at Eminem’s current] age, I’m taking away from all the other opportunities that I have. I want to have an Oscar by then. I want to have made my mark in film as a producer and actor by the time I’m Jay’s or Eminem’s age.” (Complex)
In late June, T.I. opened up about his will to eventually break completely into the movie industry.
“I’m not going to be the 40-year-old rapper. I would not,” Tip told CNN in a recent interview. “That’s Jay. He’s doing it very well. Hats off, but I just don’t see that for me.” Tip prefers to take the path of another super-successful rapper. “If I had the option to [be] Jay-Z [or] Will Smith, I think I’d go with Will,” he revealed. “I’m a Jay-Z fan. I have a lot of admiration and respect for Jay and his legacy. But I feel like Will, he gets to spend more time with his family. He gets to be home more and actually raise his kids. I feel like he has more of a home life…and the money don’t hurt. Twenty million dollars a flick ain’t bad.” (Rap-Up)
In a recent interview. Jay talked about still being able to compete with young artists like Lil Wayne despite being over 40.
“One of the reasons I wanted to make Blueprint 3 was because of the challenge,” Jay told the magazine in a cover story out this week. “We’ve seen people like LL [Cool J] have longevity, and we respect the heritage of what he’s done, but it’s not like, right now, he’s competing on the same level as Lil Wayne. So for me to still be able to compete at that level at my age, that’s rarefied air. It’s never been done. I think the problem with people, as they start to mature, they say, ‘Rap is a young man’s game,’ and they keep trying to make young songs. But you don’t know the slang — it changes every day. You can visit the topic, but these young kids live it every day, and you’re just visiting. So you’re trying to be something you’re not, and the audience doesn’t buy into that. And people wonder why. ‘I made a great Southern bounce song!’ You’re from New York, and you’re 70! Why are you bouncing?” (MTV)
T.I.’s upcoming King Uncaged album is reportedly dropping in late September.
T.I.’s upcoming album – his first since his release from prison – King Uncaged, has been pushed back to September 28. Revealed on Amazon.com, the new release date is the latest example of a Hip Hop artist whose album has dropped later than expected – a laundry list that includes the likes of Drake, Game, Diddy, Rhymefest and N.E.R.D. (Hip Hop DX)
Check out a recent T.I. interview down below:
