Mar 28 2009
Rapper T.I. Shows Maturity At Prison Sentencing
Grammy award winning rapper T.I. has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison by a U.S District Court in Atlanta for charges stemming from his October, 2007 arrest on gun charges. When given an opportunity to speak prior to sentencing, the multi-platinum selling rapper showed maturity by making amends rather than pointing fingers and casting blame elsewhere.
“Today, I would like to thank some, and apologize to all,” he said, directing his comment to U.S. District Judge Charles Pannel, Jr. “Everything I learned was through trial and error. I’ve learned lessons in my life to put in my music so people won’t make the same mistakes as I.”
T.I. was originally released under house arrest after posting a $3 million bail. But the terms of his release were renegotiated last March after he plead guilty to U.S. weapons charges, which included possession of a machine gun and silencers. T.I. changed his plea from not guilty to guilty in an effort to avoid a possible 10 year sentence. The rapper also has a previous conviction on drug charges.
While out on bail, T.I. has made a tremendous effort to change his ways. He has performed more than 1000 hours of community service, and has appeared on a reality show trying to convince at-risk kids to follow a different path in life than he did. His efforts were well received by the court, and made a difference in his receiving a reduced sentence.
Hopefully, T.I. will believe in hie own message when he’s released.
You know, I saw T.I. a few months back on Chelsea Lately, and I couldn’t help thinking he seemed just like a lost kid–somebody who’d gotten drawn into something that he shouldn’t have. I hope he stays on the track he’s on now, and isn’t just making the right noises to keep his prison sentence down. He’s a smart guy and really seems to have the potential to be a good role model instead of a bad one.