By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
It was with Atlantic Records that T.I. showed he was more than a regional mixtape rapper and had what it took to dominate the game. Once dubbed the “Jay-Z of the South” by Pharrell, T.I. lived up to this title in the nine years he spent with Atlantic. During this time, T.I. went from hood rich to multimillionaire.
While T.I. will always be grateful to Atlantic Records for giving him the opportunity to become a star, the deal no longer made sense to him. There is nothing they can do for him that he cannot do for himself. Following the Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head release, T.I. announced he and Grand Hustle Records were leaving Atlantic Records.
For the first time since the deal ended, T.I. decided to fully explain all that is going on within his business. Sitting down with Atlanta’s Streetz 94.5, T.I. talked about his label situation, saying Grand Hustle Records will now operate as an independent label. When asked what it would take for him to return his company to a major label, T.I. said eight figures.
Watch the entire interview below:
