T.I.’s Road To Redemption: Episode 1
February 16th, 2009
Even though I knew the basic purpose of T.I.’s new show, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from watching it. Would it make me love him more? Would it add unexpected elements of humor and deserve sassy recaps or would it be dead serious and hard-hitting? Well, I got my answer.
I wasn’t sure if this show was a blatant good publicity move, or was T.I. doing something from the heart? The basic premise of the show is that he teaches young hustlers some lessons in an attempt to help them re-evaluate their life. One one hand, why would he put this on TV if it wasn’t a smooth publicity move; on the other hand, this is the best way for him to show the world that he is serious about righting his wrongs.
When I was finished the episode, I had to glaze over for a moment and take everything in. This show is no joke - it’s serious. But it has heart, and it seems honest.
When it begins, T.I. explains that this is one of the first times he’s opened up to the public to talk about his gun charges, and will be using his struggles to do something good. He faces up to 30 years in prison, but by making a positive impact can get a lighter sentence - so he must do 1000 hours of community service in a year, and he will also try to help seven young hustlers turn their life around.
When the credits roll, we learn that episode one happens 45 days before his official “day of reckoning” (sentencing). He then tells us about the incident in 2006 that changed his life forever - while on tour, he left a club with some friends because a fight broke out. But while they were driving away, a car pulled up beside them and fired shots, which resulted in the death of T.I.’s close friend. Before that happened, he had decided not to carry guns, but felt vulnerable because when he needed one, he didn’t have protection. Fast-forward to 2007 when he got caught with an arsenal. “Was it right? No. Do I regret it? Yes. Did it makes sense at the time? Absolutely.”
He talks about being arrested by the federals, and his fiance Tameka (Tiny) chimes in, cause she was there at the time. T.I. says, “no amount of jail time will teach me the lesson I learned in that minute. ‘Oh shit. You done f*cked up.’”
Change of pace. T.I. is driving home to celebrate his son King’s birthday. He introduces us to his family, his 6 kids. When he holds up his youngest and says in a baby voice, “look at the baby”, I pretty much burst into tears. They all go to the party, have a good time, and then he explains that he has to go handle some business. “They know I’d rather be home,” he says.
T.I. tells us that he became the man of the house when he was 10 or 11 - buying groceries, paying light bills. One day he met a friend who introduced him to hustling, and the money came easy. “That’s when the bad decisions outnumbered the good decisions.”
Then we meet Pee Wee, an 18-year-old drug dealer who thinks he’s being interviewed for an MTV show about hustlers. We see that he’s a good kid - he wants to take care of his family, and hustling is the easiest, quickest way for him to make decent money. Seeing his mom’s house is a trip - it seems like he’s obviously the one with his head screwed on straight, despite his choice of lifestyle.
“I’m gonna help him, whether he wants my help or not,” T.I. says as he enters Pee Wee’s house. We hear the kid say that he knows everything he does is “damn near wrong,” but he’s not gonna change his ways cause “there are a million ways to hustle.” T.I. surprises him and says “I heard what you said - there was a lot of truth, but a lot of nonsense. Let’s make a deal: I’ll take some of your advice if you take some of mine.”
First he arranges for Pee Wee to get handcuffed while they’re driving, and then thrown in a jail cell. “This is the thing about being a hustler - you can think the day is great, but then you find yourself here.” Then he takes off, leaving Pee Wee frustrated. A few hours later he goes back. “Had enough?” Pee Wee runs out of there like it had been years.
“Have you ever seen a dead body?” T.I. asks before he takes Pee Wee to a mortuary. Pee Wee is freaked out by the room. The mortician says, “I see a lot of young people come through these doors.” T.I. pushes him towards an open casket. “This man was a hustler.” Pee Wee looks down, T.I. pushes his chin up to look. After taking it in, T.I. takes him away and asks, “are you sill a hustler?”
Pee Wee says that the experience made him think about his family and friends, and how he’s supporting them - what if he was gone? T.I. says, “you already have a date to die, but that day can be rearranged at your own convenience.” Then he wonders what Pee Wee would do professionally if he could do anything, and Pee Wee says acting. Of course T.I. has to see what the kid can do, so he gives him a scene from Romeo and Juliet. “Was that fair?” asks a producer. T.I. is like, of course it was - he needs to learn that he must diversify himself. Oh, and best part of the episode: hearing T.I. read Juliet’s lines with a straight face. I’m only more in love.
Three weeks later, Pee Wee receives an envelope. After seeing that he’s been off the hustle, T.I decides to reward him: with acting classes, and an onstage performance with T.I. in December. You can see that Pee Wee is brimming with a new kind of confidence, and then we learn that he’s since been taking acting classes in Santa Monica.
So that was episode 1. You can watch the full thing right now here… or if you’ve already seen it, let me know what you thought of the show in the comments. And I’m just gonna go sit in a corner, cause this sh*t has sobered my mood RIGHT UP.
Posted on Monday, February 16th, 2009 at 11:49 pm by Wendy and is filed under Blog, T.I.'s Road To Redemption, We <3 TV.
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30 Responses to “T.I.’s Road To Redemption: Episode 1”
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Omgg best show ever I wonder whyy Anythony wants to be a chefs w.e omg ti is finne
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I think this show is wonderful. Young adults can truly look up to this man despite his past.
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i think this show is a very good thing
for young gangsters to open there eyes and see realitie
and know they acually have a future if they put there minds to it -
T.I i so have your back on this hole thing, i dotn think u could do anything better to help these ppl, there need’s to be more ppl like u out there to help these kids that no no better, they just neeed to make money now to eat later. There are so many better ways to do it but not everyone has the chance to do so. so u helpin these few ppl i am hopin will have a huge inpack on everyone eles i no it did for me not that my life is any where near as bad as some but it did make me look at thing totaly different and i thank you for that. i hope that everything gose good for you and you have got out of this what you wanted. i think of it as a great life experence and i respect you so much for doin this… good luck agian, hope to see you doin well.
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me and tj think that TI is totalllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy hot!1!!!
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we started a “Bringing Peace to the Streets” organization in Vancouver BC. we could really use T.I. He would be super helpful to our little organization, we are trying to find ways to get young people to not join gangs. Exactly what he is trying to do. look me up on facebook.com PrincessMary Temple.
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we need your help T.I we started an organization called “Bringing peace to the Streets” in Vancouver BC. the gang violence is increasing everyday. the kids here are going crazy with the killings, beatings and drug dealing. so many people are dying, we desperaratly need help from anywhere we possibly can. i know its a long shot getting T.I to come help us, but its definitly worth a shot. you can find me at PrincessMary Temple on facebook.com
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I absolutely love this show. I think its very inspiring to the young “Gangsters, Huslers,&Thugs” out there. T.I is giving those young men on the show hope with a little bit of guidance. He is telling the truth, you choose the hustling style of life ,you’ll end up in jail or dead. Not everyone gets that, thinking it wouldn’t happen to them because thier on top of thier game, thinking thier untouchable. T.I is awesome for doing this. He does have a bad past, but that doesn’t mean he’ll have a bad future. Same goes for all of the “Gangsters, Hustlers &Thugs” out there. If your apart of a gang, i think you should get out now while you can. I love T.I, i love this show.
Nd TI WEE NEED YOU! Like Mary said we need some sort of help with the gang violence here. I live in Vancouver also, and it would be great to have someone like T.I. He’s an inspiration and it would mean so much to the community here.
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DEAR TI.
I LOVE YOU! EVERY SINCE I HEARD ONE OF YOUR SONGS MY FAVORITE IS DEAD AND GONE WITH JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE. SORRY IF I SPELLED THAT WORNG. THE THING THAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT YOU IS THAT YOU MADE A SONG CALLED 24′S YOU ARE MUCH MORE MATURE NOW. I WOULD GIVE ANY THING TO MEET YOU. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO I’M BE HIND YOU 100%. AND YOUR SON KING IS TO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE, INFINITI A. SMITH
—_ NEVER GIVE P ON YOUR DREAMS -
this episode was off the hook plus i love t.i. and how he likes to help other kids so bless u and hope u dont have no long time
nukie******************************love*************************t.i.
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wat me it is so sad that u going to jail i what 4 u to no that u can do that one year that is not shit just keep it yo hard up 4 me and do not let no ni99a put they hand on u okay keep yo manhood u is a man not a gay man and do not have tham girls up therer talking
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i was a gansta in to when i was young.it never leaves u. i am 51 now and when people see me they shutter. I am no longer a gangter and have been out of toronto 4 years. When i go back, it’s the bad girl, I remember when u did… and so and so told u not too. Just did what I wanted. Took years 4 me 2 get my life together. Don’t be afraid of working or changing thats what it is all about. My rep in ruined in To. If I can help contact me. I am also, a life skills coach that does a number in gangs and their benifits and downfalls. I am 51. If u want me, I will quit my job and be there for you. U r doing the right thing and I thank u for it. Need help? Call me!
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yo t,i u da shit bra u gotta hit up niagara falls some time pimp
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T.I i loved yo shoe but you gotta come on over to wheels family fun center in durham,north carolina brah come we need you KING
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T.I your one of my idols ,
I am just gonna let you know that they are people out there carring for you , I love you very much weird though i havent met you but i still do
When you have sit your time in jail , Come back even more stronger , better and hotter thats the way i think of you
Idol kiss <33
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t.i u r so kyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt. i love u and i will do anyting to meet u i love all your songs im 100% in your side u did wrong but i still loveeee u………………. u r so hottttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt. love u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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t.i. baybeee ur da one trus me && ur da tru geeza wid da looks and everyfinkk i luv uuuuuuuu ma sexiii baybeeeeee..x
if only u’d ea seen me wud probz fukinn lyk me mann im fit azwell
a gajuss gyal got da lukz && i gt bare luv for ma ma tru homie yehh
hold tyt ma heroo
&& stay tru ride lyk a soulja in pen..x
mwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
sexiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii xxxxxxxxx(bare luv goin owt 2 ya) luv zaynah xxx -
I LOVE YOU T.I. I LOVE THE YOU SAID”LOOK A THE BABY” IN A BABY VOICE. THAT MADE ME CRY CUZ IT SHOW’S YOUR A REAL AMAZING FATHER THAT TAKES CARE ,LOVE’S AND CHARISH HIS CHILDREN.I THINK YOU ARE SO SWEET.I LIKE THE PART WHEN YOU LEFT “PEE WEE” IN THE JAUL CELL,THEN YOU WENT & GOT SOME THIN TO EAT,THAT WAS FUNNY. I LOVED YOU SINCE YOU MADE THE SONG “I’M SERIOUS” OH YEAH all your son’s are so cute ,Domani looks just like you. BUT THE CUTEST SON IS MESSIAH .HE SO CUTE!!!!!!
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They should use T.I as one of em police informents instead a givin em 30 years in prison because if t.i went to prison he probably get his ass pumped
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omg i love t.i he is number 1 i dont care what publicity says hes still the king i luuuuuuuuv t.i he rocks no one else can be king but t.i wish you luck t.i never give up your hopes and dreams from ur luv
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T.I,, i love y0u very2 much. . .
I’ll be here f0r y0u.. I d0n’t need money, i don’t need car, i don’t need everything in my live. You know why? Because i very 1000x love you. . . . . . Your so kyuuuuttttttt abizz..!!!!!!!!! So tara pake lama.. (”,) -
i think you are wonderful in every way i loved the show keep your head up baby keep god in your life and you can not go wrong and always keep the kids first King is so cute love everything about them love ya
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AHHHHHHH DAT ID REELY SAAAAAADDDDDDD I CANT BLEIVE U STAYN JUST SING UR SON U CAN DO WAT EVER U LIKE IN PRISON AS LONG AS U CUM OUT ND MAKE NEW SONGS KAYYYYYYYYYY LOVE LOTSSSSSSS UR GRL KATHY
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TI I LOVE3 YOU PLEASE COME OUT U HAV ALOT OF MONEY AND SONGS I LOVE UUUU SOOOOO MUCH I LOVE YOU I SEEN URVIDEOSS I LOVEYOU SO MUCH OK BYE JUST COME OUT LOVE YOUR BABY SHANIA
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T.I. YOU ARE SO A MAN BECAUSE YOU ARE A GREAT FATHER AND IF WOULD NOT HAVE WENT TO JAIL I WOULD LOVE YOU MYSELF SO WILL SEE YOU WEN YOU GET OUT OF PRISON HOPE THY LET YOU OUT SOONER BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE YOU AND HEAR MORE OF YOUR SONGS I LOVE EVERY SONG YOU HAVE MADE. WEN YOU GET OUT I’LL BE WAITING FOR YOU BOO HOPE YOU DON’T MARRY THAT GIRL TINY THAT UGLY THANG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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POOR T.I. !!!!!
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T.I. is my idol as I always tell my fellas.
He is a good example for all the hustlers to follow. There is always a way for everyone to change for the better in life. I like how he said he’s hustling to take care of his family but what if you die? hmmm some people do not think about that. Good job T.I. and you will always be my idol but I hope you come to Toronto again sometime…. -
me encanta T.I….DESDE SPAIN!!!
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omg T.i ma bby ur ma number 1 bby i luv u sooo much ur ma hero omg ur song king is sooo cute his soo gawjush i wanna carry him i wanna kiss him give him ma luv. T.i u r my number 1 rapper i luv ur voice its soo hot keep carrying on singin ma hero n dnt do anyfin bad naymore i dnt wnt u 2 be in prison nymore.
xxx ur bby Ruby luv u soooo fuckin much xxx
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I loved it. I thought it was so good. yes it is for publicity but i think it is the good kind. Not just to get more famous to show that he is serious about changing his life and about helping others. and hes actually do this on top of his 1000 hours ( ithink, correct me if im wrong). and hes not the celebrity that is annoying and can pay his way out of this, he is learning his lesson and paying for it. and i think this arrest made him think about what he could have lost if he had to spend 30 yeards in prison (so since hes doign 1000 hrs service he only has to go to jail for one year and one day right?)
I love T.I. and getting to watch him for 30 mins every sunday makes me love him even more. I can’t wait for next summer (2010) hopefully hell go on a killer tour so i can see him live, haha.
But ya, i loved the show, it was really good and I will always support T.I.