Hip-hop mogul T.I. and his son Clifford “King” Joseph Harris III have been making headlines lately, sparking the debate of kids born into wealth perpetrating a hardcore lifestyle.
King is also a rapper who performs under the name Kid Saiyan. The 19-year-old has a fiery personality and has captured headlines for his brash ways and embracing of non-existent criminal activity.
Recently, while attending the Atlanta Falcons vs. the New Orleans Saints game, the youngster got into an argument with his father that turned physical. The altercation was streamed on Instagram Live and was centered around whether or not King understood what it was like to grow up poor.
King, who had been on television all of his life and was a child of one of hip-hop’s most recognized couples, said he did because he often resided with his grandmother, who lived near the “hood.” When someone on social suggested King was born with a “silver spoon” in his mouth and his parents confirmed that he actually had a silver spoon, King was outraged.
After the brief tussle with his dad, he took to social media to blast his parents.
Later, after the tempers cooled off and the behind-the-scenes reconciliation happened, the two did a sit-down interview to talk about their relationship — and are rumored to have been paid five figures for the exclusive.
Inside T.I.’s Wealth
T.I. has had his own legal problems, ranging from gun charges to tax problems, but raising his children and training them to be business people, who “stand on business,” is his grandest hustle of all.
T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., debuted in 2001 with his first studio album, “I’m Serious.” The project received a lukewarm reception but did not douse his fire for music. Two years later, in 2003, he returned with his sophomore offering, “Trap Muzik,” a project that changed the trajectory of his career, earning him a Grammy nomination and a seat at hip-hop’s royal table.
Originally, he was given the moniker because of his dominance in the rap game, but over the years, he has expanded his performance skill set and diversified his portfolio, making him one of the richest rappers of 2023.
The Grand Hustle president and CEO has done everything from acting in critically acclaimed projects to starting his own museum. Between both efforts, he has created generational wealth for his children, allowing them avenues to create their own destinies and obtained an estimated net worth that range of $10 million.
Music Royalty
Of all of his 11 studio albums, seven have reached the top five of the Billboard 200 charts. He also achieved a rare feat on the Billboard chart, scoring the top spot with two singles from the same album. His track “Live Your Life” from his 2008 Paper Trail album soared to the top of the charts and knocked his other song “Whatever You Like” from the No. 1 position. Few artists can make this claim.
He has sold over 20 million worldwide.
Technology
T.I. has been heavily involved in technology, partnering with Jason Geter to invest his money in cutting edge projects, including a syndicated investment vehicle called Tech Cypha and a Los Angeles-based entertainment startup called Culture Genesis.
Tech Cypha will include using influencers in various fields to help push the investments forward, including Lil Duval, Killer Mike, his wife, singer Tamika “Tiny” Harris, Tai Green, Korey Roberson, Stephanie Shirley, and BJ Kerr, according to SUAVV.
Crypto Scandal
There have been snafus along the way to growing his wealth.
In 2020, T.I., along with four others, including film producer Ryan Felton, faces charges filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to fraudulent token sales. In addition to the charges, the rapper, known as Tip, has been fined $75,000 by the securities regulator.
Give Back Through Entrepreneurship
In 2017, he established Buy The Block, a program started with rapper Killer Mike to revitalize his Atlanta neighborhood and rescue establishments like Bankhead Seafood, which has yet to reopen.
He also recently hosted a grand opening of an affordable housing complex in the Bankhead are of the city’s west side.
Acting
T.I., the actor, is professionally known as Tip Harris, borrowing from a nickname from his days as a hustler in the streets.
In 2006, he starred in the hit movie, “ATL.” The movie opened doors for him to appear in other box office hit films. A select list includes “American Gangster,” “Takers,” “Identity Thief,” “Get Hard,” “Ride Along 2,” and his own indie film “Da ‘Partments.” He has also worked on several made-for-television series like the Aretha Franklin biopic, “Genius” and a reworking of the story of American slavery, “Roots.”
The Trap Museum
T.I. launched the Trap Museum in 2019 to pay homage to the genre of music that he pioneered. It is billed “as an interactive experience that uses art to showcase the rich culture of Trap Music,” according to its website.
In addition to having artifacts, mostly from Atlanta’s Trap scene, it also has an escape room. The fees from visitors, a café, and Escape Room adventures help keep the doors open and bring in money for the rapper and his investors.
Reality Shows
The father of seven, he has used his celebrity to enter into reality entertainment with “T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle,” which followed their family from 2011 to 2017 in six seasons on VH1. From the beginning, according to the Hollywood Reporter, it was a hit with millions of people tuning in. The show had a couple of spin-offs including “Tiny & Shekinah’s Weave Trip” and “T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle” in 2018.
He has also lent his name and image to a few competition shows like Netflix’s “Rhythm + Flow,” where he starred as a judge to help find the next rap star.
His Children Make Money Too
The star has a knack for cultivating artists and has raised a family of performers.
Besides King, he also has bonus daughter Zonnique, his wife’s first child. Zonnique was a member of the hit girls group the “OMG Girlz.” His son, Messiah Ya’Majesty, is an actor and blues singer who performs under the name Buddy Red.
Like Messiah, Domani is also a performer. At the age of 22, he has already put out a string of Hip-Hop songs and co-collaborated with his father with a song for “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical,” to which he received a Tony Award nomination.
T.I.’s three other children are Deyjah Imani, Major Philant, and Heiress Diana, who recently made her singing debut in the Essence Holiday Children’s Choir.
