Breaking records, kicking ass and defying his lockdown status are just the tip of the iceberg of things T.I. is up to upon the release of his sixth album, Paper Trail. Released September 30th on his own Grand Hustle label (via Atlantic Records), the CD made a phenomenal arrival atop the Billboard 200 with total first-week sales in excess of 568,000, marking the multiple Grammy Award-winning superstar's third consecutive #1 chart entry (following 2006's platinum-certified King and 2007's platinum-certified T.I. vs. Tip). The album's unparalleled first-week sales success represents a personal best for T.I., as well as Atlantic's biggest-ever one-week scan since SoundScan began in 1991.

As if all that weren't enough, T.I. has literally exploded into the top spot on Billboard's "Hot 100" with "Live Your Life (Feat. Rihanna)," the second single from Paper Trail. In only its second week on the chart, the single has ascended into the pole position from last week's ranking at #80 – the biggest-ever one-week leap to the top. The #1 success of "Live Your Life" shatters the previous record for largest ascent to #1 – a feat set just six weeks ago by T.I.'s own "Whatever You Like," the RIAA platinum certified first single from Paper Trail. That track rocketed to #1 from #71 the week of September 6th and has remained there until this week (at presstime). This achievement establishes T.I. as the first artist to replace himself at #1 since Usher in 2004.

So it's no wonder T.I. has been nominated in three major categories for this year's BET Hip Hop Awards: MVP of the Year, Lyricist of the Year and Best Live Performer. The third annual ceremony will be held at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on Saturday, October 18th and then air on BET, Thursday, October 23rd at 8:00pm. The man is making history turn! With sales of nearly 335,000, his latest single, his follow-up Justin Timberlake collabo "Live Your Life," has logged the biggest-ever first-week digital singles sales in history, rocketing up the airplay charts at Urban and Rhythmic. The video will be debuting soon, following the major rotation that Paper Trail's previous single "Whatever You Like" has been receiving. Furthermore, "Whatever You Like" continues its #1 reign over Nielsen Ringscan's "Top 200 Mastertones" ranking, with sales now approaching three-quarters of a million. The chart success marks Warner Music Group's second-ever #1 ringtone, following Flo Rida's record-breaking "Low."

At T.I.'s recent sold-out "MySpace Release Show" at the Key Club in Hollywood (which featured surprise guests Rihanna on "Live Your Life" and Kanye West on "Swagga Like Us"), T.I. also received a special plaque celebrating his historic passing of the 2 million friend mark on his official MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/trapmuzik) – a new record by a hip hop artist. T.I.'s MySpace page has seen record-breaking traffic in recent weeks, with "Whatever You Like" having now earned over 26 million streams and counting. In addition, the page is among MySpace's top five viewed pages daily. Earlier this year, T.I. found additional success in cyberspace, with the launch of the social networking website, www.streetcred.com.

All of this action and acclaim is coming at the service of yet another impressive, complex and diversified effort form the crossover hip hop superstar. Music Website Pitchfork.com praised T.I.'s new album thusly: "(Paper Trail) shows a willingness to do something other than coast from hook to hook. The album manages to be a more detailed manuscript of Tip's complexity: An impending incarceration has lit a fire under him, triggering an impulse to challenge himself." Speaking about his plans for the impetus of the album, T.I. himself said, "I'm going to answer a lot of questions in the music. It's intense and insightful; it's gonna shake up the game and it's me at my best."

Paper Trail's title is a direct reference to T.I.'s return to literally writing down his lyrics – a practice he hasn't engaged in since his debut, I'm Serious, in 2001. Ironically, he found that going back to the basics has helped him evolve into a better MC. "I've had phenomenal success on my previous albums by just going into the booth, letting the music flow through me, and being spontaneous with it. This time I wanted to try something different. My writing is a little more structured and thought out, but it's still art at the end of the day. It's still free-flowing."

The album's lead single "Whatever You Like" was a glamorous glance into what it would be like to receive the royal treatment by the King of the South. Produced by acclaimed hit-maker Jim Jonsin, the seductive jubilation takes us to a place where the only thing more abundant than the King of the South's endless cash flow, is his limitless flow of rhyme and melody. "In so many of my records that I've crafted that address women, the ladies have catered to me in those songs," Tip says. "In this particular record, I wanted to show my appreciation and reverse the roles a little. I tell the females don't worry; the sky's the limit. No desire is too great. Live your fantasy."

Paper Trail's first street tease, "No Matter What," is the definitive declaration of T.I.'s stance as a man undeterred and an artist unrivaled, as well as a testament to how his faith in a higher power helped him get through a very public period of turbulence in his life.

"Somehow I rise above my problems and remain here," the hip-hop veteran raps. "Yeah, and I hope the picture painted clear/ If your heart's filled with faith then you can't fear/ Wonder how I face years and I'm still chillin'/ Easy, let go and let God deal with it."

In November of 2007, T.I. was arrested on firearms possession charges. Subsequently, he was placed under house arrest for almost seven months. Earlier this year, Tip pleaded guilty and he faces jail next year. He has also been ordered to serve over 1,500 hours of community service.

"Obviously that was one of the worst mistakes of my entire life, but I will not let that mistake characterize my existence or my contribution to society," says T.I. "I cannot go back and change the past, but I can learn from it, and teach others how a poor assessment of a situation can not only affect you drastically but also impact the ones you love. It's something that I still have to deal with."

There will never be a quandary too large to make T.I. give up hope. The King of the South has made the pledge to himself, his family, and his fans to always hold his head high and persevere through any predicament — whether it be persecution, prosecution, or the loss of loved ones.

Another emotive moment on Paper Trail is "My Life, Your Entertainment," featuring guest singer Usher. The King talks about some of the consequences of being a high-profile celebrity and candidly speaking MC. The public gets to see both your joys and your grief played out right in front of their eyes: "My life, your entertainment/ My sorrow, your amusement/ Laugh at my pain and anguish/ So famous I could lose it."

Paper Trail isn't a musical doctrine filled only with harrowing experiences, however. What would a King be without celebratory anthems… especially the King of the South, who has always served anthems for the clubs and streets in addition to mindful fodder in his body of work. Without exaggeration, "Swagger Like Us (S.L.U.)" is an historic moment not just for T.I., but for all of hip-hop. The song is a lyrical collage of metaphors, braggadocio and style painted by the foursome many have nicknamed "Rap's Olympic Dream Team": Tip, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and the record's producer Kanye West. Each MC not only displays his distinctive cool, but each ferociously attacks the M.I.A. sampled soundscape with brash wordplay showing why they all tower over rap's most elite.

"This record is nothing short of monumental," T.I. promises. "Everyone who participated has had A-status credentials for years. It's always great when you can work with friends of yours who you socialize with outside of music. But what's greater is when all of those parties can come together to bring forth a classic caliber collaboration." As an example, "Live Your Life" pairs T.I.'s distinguished insight and smooth-as-a-silk-Louis Vuitton pocket square-delivery with the sweet harmonies of fellow Grammy-winner Rihanna.
The roster of producers on the album includes Swizz Beatz, DJ Toomp, Drumma Boy, Danja, Just Blaze and Justin Timberlake. T.I. recorded over 70 songs for the album before narrowing it down to the final cream of the crop. "When I make LPs, I get into such a focus; you have to drag me out of the studio sometimes. This is my passion."

Tip's second professional love, as a film actor, has just taken a major step forward. He has signed a three-picture deal with Screen Gems, which will see him both acting in and producing movies. One of the projects, Bone Deep, is a heist thriller. "Obviously that type of deal is monumental for me and my company," the Bankhead, GA native enthuses. "I'm learning my craft as a thespian, and I know I have so much to offer on both sides of the camera. It's a blessing to have the opportunity to fulfill my goals in Hollywood. This is the first of many big steps for me."

Earlier this year, Tip found success in cyberspace, launching a social networking website called www.streetcred.com. As 2008 progresses, T.I. continues to lend his powerful voice towards the betterment of communities across the entire country. He recently aligned himself with the Hip-Hop Caucus, an organization dedicated towards promoting voter registration and telling youth the importance of going to the polls. The initiative targets adults between the ages of 18-29 and utilizes grassroots organizing tactics to get them to use their votes in the upcoming Presidential election.

Tip's clothing line Akoo designed the "Respect My Vote" tee-shirts that are being promoted in conjunction with the "Get Out and Vote" campaign. Akoo's hard launch happens this fall, with the apparel garnering placements in major retailers across the country. Akoo's pieces – which range from shirts to jeans – reflect Tip's diverse and lauded fashion flair.

Since 2001, T.I. has grown to become one of the most revered and successful artists in his genre, racking up millions in album sales and a myriad of awards, among them two Grammys. In July of 2007, his conceptual masterpiece, T.I. vs. T.I.P., debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, selling nearly 500,000 units in its first week of release, on its way to RIAA platinum certification. T.I. vs. T.I.P. featured guest appearances from Eminem and Wyclef Jean. The album birthed the smash single, "Big Things Poppin' (Do It)," which was also featured in an ESPN ad campaign.

In 2006, T.I. – known in Hollywood as Clifford "Tip" Harris – made his critically acclaimed star turn as the leading actor in the coming of age film, ATL. He followed up that role by acting alongside Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Ruby Dee in the blockbuster drama, American Gangster. In 2009, Harris will be tackling television with an inspirational reality show airing on MTV. The yet-to-be-titled show will center on his life on probation in the year leading up to his impending year-long jail sentence.

Music and movies are just the tip of T.I.'s entertainment conglomerate. He's also expanding into comedy tours, the night club and restaurant scene, management, record producing, fashion – and he'll even serve as "Guest Editor" for the November issue of King magazine. "I wake up every morning feeling in my heart that my greatest accomplishments are ahead of me," he says. "It's the excitement that is sustained by coming up with your goals, realizing them, and then coming up with new ones."