Celebrity Mound

Bosses at animal rights group PETA want rapper T.I. to bare all after he’s released from jail – for their famous I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur campaign.

PETA leader Michelle Cho has written to Prisoner 59458-019 at Forrest City Federal Correctional Institution in Arkansas, asking him to consider flashing his flesh when he completes his five-month sentence on firearms charges.

The request comes on the heels of reports that T.I., real name Clifford Harris, Jr., asked for advice from U.S. lifestyle queen Martha Stewart, who served a five-month prison sentence on federal charges back in 2004, about how to pass the time in prison.

Following her own stint behind bars, Stewart agreed to host a PETA video expose that addressed the suffering of animals on fur farms.

PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman says, “We’re asking T.I. to use his fame and his experiences to bare the truth about the fur industry by baring his skin.”

In her letter to T.I., Cho writes, “We read that you looked to Martha Stewart for advice on how to pass your prison time and come out on top. Did you know that she agreed to narrate an anti-fur public service announcement for PETA because she experienced firsthand what it is like for the millions of minks, rabbits, and other animals who are confined to filthy sheds on fur farms?

“But unlike inmates, who are freed when they finish their sentences, these animals are beaten, have their necks broken, are electrocuted, and are often skinned alive for their fur. We hope that you’ll follow Martha’s compassionate example and become involved with our anti-fur efforts.”

(source)

T.I. entered an Arkansas federal prison Tuesday to begin a year and a day sentence on a weapon charge.

The rapper made a concertlike entrance to the Forrest City low-security prison – showing up late inside of a black conversion van with tinted windows.

T.I. (real name: Clifford J. Harris Jr.) was to report at noon, but the deadline passed as guards outside blocked reporters and onlookers from coming near the facility on a rural state highway.

It was not immediately clear if T.I.’s late arrival would affect his plea deal with prosecutors.

Federal prison spokeswoman Linda Thomas said the Atlanta rapper would be known inside by guards as federal prison inmate No. 59458019.

Traci Billingsley, another prison spokeswoman, said the prison had no special protections prepared for the rapper. The low-security prison has double-bunked cells and a large fenced exercise yard, where inmates in white jumpsuits could be seen Tuesday morning.

“We treat all our offenders in the same manner,” Billingsley said.

T.I., 28, was arrested after trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from undercover federal agents in 2007. That came after the rapper’s best friend was killed following a party in Cincinnati in 2006. The rapper has said the bullets that killed his friend were meant for him.

The self-proclaimed “King of the South,” T.I. had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge in his three-count indictment. However, he reached a plea deal with prosecutors after spending time on house arrest before his sentencing and speaking before community groups and high schools about the dangers of drugs, violence and guns.

Fans gathered down the road from the prison Tuesday and screamed “we love you, T.I!” when the black van pulled at the prison. Afterward, they shouted at TV cameras that “T.I. is the greatest!”

“We’re still riding with the king!” yelled Porshe Tiswell, 22, of Forrest City.

Fan Eugene Smith, 24, of Forrest City defended T.I., saying the rapper feared for his life when he purchased the machine guns and silencers from federal agents.

“Somebody set him up, they snitched on him, so it’s a whole different thing,” Smith said. “We got to live a life, you know what I’m saying. We’re out in the street life.”

Upon his release, T.I. will be on probation for three years. He also must pay a $100,000 fine as part of his sentence.

His sixth album, “Paper Trail,” has sold about 2 million copies and the rapper earned a Grammy for the song “Swagga Like Us” that he performed with Jay-Z. T.I. wrote the lyrics for the album while awaiting trial.

He performed Sunday in Atlanta and told the crowd he’d “see y’all in 366 days.”

Grammy-winning rapper T.I. told fans he would stay optimistic when he heads to prison on a federal weapons conviction. The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., performed for a packed audience Sunday night in Atlanta’s Philips Arena less than two days before he is to begin serving the sentence of a year and a day.

“I’m going to stand up tall, head up high,” he said. “Thank you for all of your support.”

Many in the packed crowd of about 16,000 people held up encouraging signs, like one reading “T.I. We Will Miss U!”

He must report by noon Tuesday to the Federal Correction Institution at Forrest City, Ark. He was arrested after prosecutors said he tried to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from undercover federal agents in 2007.

During the concert, T.I. said he hoped that everyone learned from his mistakes. He brought his five children on stage, often holding one of them while he performed “No Matter What” – a single off the almost double-platinum album “Paper Trail.”

T.I., who won a Grammy for “Swagga Like Us,” also performed all his hits from “What You Know” to “Bring ‘Em Out” to his recent chart-topping singles “What Ever You Like” and “Live Your Life.” Teenage rapper Soulja Boy also joined him on stage.

“What I need y’all to do is pray for me while I’m gone,” he said. “I’ll see y’all in 366 days.”

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T.I. is having more than one last hurrah.

The rapper – who’s going to prison for one year on May 26 for felony weapons charges – threw two shindigs over the weekend in Miami with Tyrese and Diddy. Prior to that, he partied in NYC, where he bade adieu to pals like Jay-Z and LL Cool J.

As for T.I.’s court-ordered probation officer? At the NYC fete, he was too busy “getting girls’ numbers” to pay attention to his charge!

(source)

Rapper T.I. will be coming to Arkansas – to serve a federal prison sentence.

T.I., whose real name is Clifford J. Harris Jr., must report to Forrest City’s low-security federal prison by noon on May 26, according to court filings. There, Harris will join 1,500 other inmates as he serves a year-and-one-day prison sentence after pleading guilty in March to federal weapons charges in Atlanta.

The rapper, the self-proclaimed “King of the South,” had faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge in his three-count indictment.

Harris will be credited for 305 days of home detention he already has served after being charged, so his stay at the Forrest City prison likely will be only two months.

R.D. Weeks, a spokesman for the prison, said Harris likely would be treated like any other prisoner coming into the facility.

“Unless there are custody or security concerns, all incoming inmates are placed in general population,” Weeks told The Associated Press.

Weeks said each cell at the prison is double-bunked. Harris also will have the opportunity to use the recreation yard, as well as take part in counseling or participate in the one of the facility’s 14 religious groups, Week said.

Harris, 28, was arrested after trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers from undercover federal agents in 2007. That came after Harris’ best friend was killed following a post-performance party in Cincinnati in 2006. The rapper has said the bullets that killed his friend were meant for him.

Upon his release, Harris will be on probation for three years. He also must pay a $100,000 fine as part of his sentence.

Harris’ sixth album, “Paper Trail,” has sold about 2 million copies and the rapper earned a Grammy for the song “Swagga Like Us” that he performed with Jay-Z. Harris wrote the lyrics for the album while awaiting trial.

Keyshia Cole sings the national anthem

Young Jeezy , T.I. and Nelly

Monica and Devyne Stephens

Young Jeezy, Jermaine Dupri and T.I.

Dominique Wilkins and Nelly

Rich Kidz and T.I.

J Dubb and Young Jeezy

T-Boz and Takeo Spikes

Music producer Polow Da Don

SPOILER alert – T.I.’s “Road to Redemption” ends with a bash. On Monday night, the jail-bound rapper partied it up at Lower East Side lounge the Eldridge with 50 of his closest pals for his final episode on the MTV show. DJ Berrie spun tracks for Nick Cannon and T.I.’s friends and family, who gathered together to bid him goodbye.

(source)