T.I.’s request to be released on bond was denied today by U.S. Magistrate judge Alan Baverman. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, Jr., was also arraigned on federal gun charges today where he entered a plea of not guilty, as was expected.
The judge was ready to release T.I. under house arrest (as I reported) but T.I. and his attorneys did not meet the specific conditions of bond release today, which included a $3.7 million cash and property bond, a private alarm monitoring company with an employee of the alarm company living on the property, Tiny can be the only adult living on the property (in addition to T.I., the adult monitor and T.I.’s children) and T.I. must submit to twice weekly drug testing.
Dressed in a black suit with his legs shackled, T.I. entered the courtroom through a side door and briefly made eye contact with loved ones and friends before taking a seat in front of his family.
The Grammy-winning rapper appeared alert, confident and well-rested as he conversed quietly with his dream team of attorneys at the defense table. The courtroom on the 19th floor was packed with family, media and supporters including movers and shakers in the industry such as Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles, Michael Mauldin and Young Jeezy. [READ MORE]
The next hearing is scheduled for next Friday. If T.I. and his attorneys meet these requirements, T.I. will be released under house arrest with very strict conditions.
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS OF T.I. HOURS BEFORE HIS ARREST
Check out these exclusive shots of T.I. rehearsing for his performance on BET’S Hip-Hop Awards last weekend. According to Nzinga Wallace of Nvison Photography, the rapper was excited about his performance and took time to speak to fans. He was arrested less than a hour after these photos were taken.
For more exclusive photos make sure to contact Nvision Photography.
Mobb Deep’s Prodigy: ‘They Tried To Get Me To Set Up 50 Cent’
Published: Sunday – October 21, 2007
Words by Allen Starbury
Prodigy
Photo: Koch Records
Mobb Deep’s Prodigy revealed some disturbing news recently via an interview on DJ Whoo Kid’s Shade 45 Radio show on Sirius — saying that the New York Police Department attempted to persuade the rapper to set up 50 Cent with a gun and drug charge.
Prodigy (real name: Albert Johnson) was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison early October (see “Mobb Deep’s Prodigy Sentenced To 3 1/2 Years For Gun Charge”), as a result of a traffic stop a year prior (October 2006) where he and producer Alchemist were arrested when police found a .22 caliber pistol in his vehicle (see “Mobb Deep’s Prodigy, The Alchemist Arrested On Gun Charges In New York”).
He blames the hip-hop cops for the sentence, which could have been 15 years because he is a convicted felon. He claims that most rappers are under constant surveillance.
“I had to cop out to 3 1/2,” Prodigy said during the interview. “It’s serious right now. The hip hop cops, they all over us son. They took my bullet-proof truck, they found a lil hammer in my car, so know I gotta do a lil’ 3 1/2.
“I got a long record, but I beat all my cases because they were all illegal searches and this was an illegal search too, but the cops got on the stand [and] they was lying and all kinds of stuff ,” he continued. “I was facing 15 years, so through the cops lying and the judge and the DA (District Attorney), I had to cop out. There was no way for me to win.”
Prodigy sent out some kind words to T.I., who was recently set up by his bodyguard in a sting by ATF Agent (see “T.I. Arrested, Home Raided By Feds In Atlanta “). The Mobb Deep rapper said he understands what T.I. is going through and has seen it first hand — when cops tried to get him to set up 50 Cent, the head of his label.
“Much love to T.I. and his whole family. There is no telling what’s going on right now,’ Prodigy said. “I’ve seen it first hand for myself that the cops is lying. When they locked me up they tried to get me to set up 50 Cent. They wanted me to plant drugs and guns in his car. I was like ‘Hell no, I ain’t doing that.’ They told me if I plant stuff in his car, they would let me walk.”
Suggesting how rappers can stop the hip-hops’ ways, he said “cameras.” “We gotta [start putting] cameras in our cars,” P says. “Every time the police pull you over, you gotta record it, you gotta spend some kinda money to protect yourself. Put cameras in your car and when they pull you over, you press record and everything is recorded, audio and video.”
Prodigy went on to call the attention he and his partner Havoc have received from police profiling, and said its been going on since the early 90s.
“They”ve been investigating Mobb Deep since 1991, I got proof, I got pictures, I got everything they’ve been taking of us since 1991,” he divulged. “We not criminals, we rappers. That’s illegal for them to do that. That’s called profiling, racial profiling. They profiling us ’cause we black rappers and we making money.”
As far as the 3 1/2 years he has to serve, P is taking it as another hurdle to jump over, in a journey to make him stronger.
“They were basically just lying, so it’s all good. I’mma eat that, I’mma do the 3 1/2. I’ll be right back. All they doing is making me stronger, they don’t even understand what they are doing.”
At press time, there is not word as to when Prodigy will begin serving his sentence.
i love him so much he wont gert any longer than 3 years
I love his music, and how he perform but, I just cannot believe T.I. what was he thinking. Isn’t he still on papers?????
Innocent until PROVEN guilty. Everything is not always as it seems.
3.7 million dollars. WTF? They are trying to make some serious money off TI. Murderers don’t even have a bond that high.
In Pac words “Keep your head up TI”!
yo ya’ll needa stop hatin’ on T.I.P mane; ya’ll know he still the ish so dont even trip ya’ll ole biscuit ass fruity fruity big lipped monkeys =]] [lmao]
ya’ll lames crack me UP!
he love his family but yet he’s an convicted felon he knew what & what not to do but yet i still
love him!!
Fuck what everynoe elese is saying …..FREE T.I.! – I lOVE YOU BOO!
The whole race argument is not even valid in this case. As black people we need to know by now that the system is not working for us, so don’t give them a reason to lock you up. We always want to think we can do what white people can do. Well the reality is we can’t. Look at Michael Vick. We need to be smarter about the desicions we make. You know the system work around it. Yall act like TI was not found with the guns when he knew he was not supposed to have any anyway as a condition of his parole. Cause he is famous and cute means he can do anything he wants to do? I think not. He is not above the law. He is a public figure. He knows they go after public figures so he should have kept his nose clean. I am so sick of my people being so dumb. We gotta wise up, botttom line. TI knew better. He got caught. Oh well. Next time be smarter about what you do.
Wish you luck and a blessing. Stay strong T.I.. I think Judge should give him a break, I think the whole rap world just went to his head and looks like he might have in the wrong position. They should investigate more in what happen and how it all began.
YES LET MY MAN GO FREE . HOME IT’S A GOOD PLACE TO BE GIRLFRIEND KIDS HE GOT TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT . SEE WHAT MONEY AND GOOD LAWYERS CAN GET YA!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GOT ANOTHER CHANCE TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING MAN
@119…Whats your point? Are you saying TI was set-up… Thats a pretty elaborate set up. your boy prodigy admitted they found a .22 in his truck he’s claiming the searches are illegal not that he was set up. Rappers need to smarten up in regards to the law convicted felon=No guns..Its that simple
sorry i meant @121
Damn T.I, TIP is back.
Free Ti. everybody make mistake okay let him go.
Free T.I. next time he needs to be careful or unless its gonna happen to him again, MUCH LUVV 2 T.I. = ]
Free T.I this shit is crazy man. All i got to say is free T.I
TI is not guilty thats all that matters and so now we can all get on with our lives and stop the hating because every1 has done something in their life that they regret and so they cant say nothing….hes FREE and thats that!!!
#119 im with u on that ti is the best and i can truly say that cuz im his biggest fan!!! hes not guilty and watch when his song comes out all u haters on ti i bet you guys are gonna be the ones out there singn to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T.I. was very professional, humble and brought 110% to his final run through. These photos display his work ethic and his commitment to his fans, ensuring that his performance was electrifying; thus displaying his love for the craft.
This is T.I. in his element….this is the T.I. I want his friends and familly to see.
-Nzinga Wallace (Photographer)
free TI HE AINT GULITY AND IF HE IZ HE WAS JUST DOIN WAT HE HAD TO DO SO LET HIM OUT PEACE
dam boo why did u have to do that.
Givn ya props my boi….. make sho wen u get out u clown on somo records cuz u my idol u started me to rap
lock him up throw away the key trying to be gangster and have guns. buy them legally like I do. TI is a punk who weighs 110 pounds and i could brake him over my knee!