T.I. paid a visit to a West Philadelphia High School yesterday (June 11) to advise students to stay in school and avoid emulating the lifestyle that rappers portray in their music videos.
According to Philadelphia's 6 Action News, T.I., who grew up in a rough part of Atlanta, dropped out of high school and did jail time, gave his words of wisdom at Harambee Charter School.
"When you leave out your house and go through your day, you see more people who don't go to school than who do go to school. But that don't make it right," T.I. told the students. "I was a misguided youth myself. So whatever I can do to help them out, to help out the hood, I got to be the first in line."
"Ain't nothing lame, ain't nothing punkish about being smart. Ain't nothing punkish about being 25, 26, 28 and never had a run in with the law," he stressed. "That don't make you a punk man. That makes you a winner."
The children who T.I. spoke to said they got the rapper's message.
"Stay in school. It was already in my mind, but he helped me realize it more," said seventh grader Shahajan McCaskill.
T.I. is currently gearing up for the release of his fourth album titled T.I. vs. T.I.P. Due in stores July 3, the album features appearances from Eminem, Justin Timberlake, R. Kelly, Nelly, Akon and Lil' Wayne. Production on the project is supplied by Timbaland, Scott Storch, Mannie Fresh, Wyclef Jean, Danja Handz, the Runners and Just Blaze.