T.I. Talks Acting Gigs, 'Love & Hip-Hop ATL' & Strippers

Rap's No. 1 Dad, T.I. goes in about reality TV, sharing screen time with Meryl Streep and rappers smashing strippers

VIBE: You shared the small screen with Kelsey Grammar in Boss. Were you a fan of his work on Cheers and Frasier?

T.I.: Yeah. I used to catch a lot of Cheers back in the late ’80s, early ’90s. I wasn’t actively watching Frasier, but I was aware of the many accolades it received.

You’re used to getting scripts. What’s the worst role you’ve come across?

Continuing to play the roles people expect you to, that’s a quick way to get old in this business. If you send me a script with a rapper that’s basically me playing myself, I would probably not consider it.

I’d love to see a T.I. biopic. Who would play you? Maybe Brad Pitt?

Brad Pitt? [Laughs] Yeah right. I’d probably defer to the counsel of those that knew me the best.

Can we get Meryl Streep involved?

[Laughs] I wouldn’t mind Meryl Streep being involved.

As a reality TV star from Atlanta, did Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta help or hurt hip-hop?

It was fun for young people to watch. You either were captivated by it immediately and couldn’t help but watch or watched it once and said, “I don’t care if I ever see it again.” Overall, it was a win.

You recently penned your second novel Trouble & Triumph. Your next book should be a relationship guide like Think Like A Man. Rappers need love advice—everyone’s dating a stripper!

[Laughs] It’s a young man’s fundamental structure to sow his wild oats and conquer as much land as you can. I don’t know if I’m qualified to give advice because the same thing that works for me might not work for the next person.

At what point were you done sowing your oats?

It wasn’t a time thing. It wasn’t an age thing. It was just a feeling. I felt like, I been doing this for a while.

You once said you wanted “out” of the industry. Five years from now, will that come true?

I can’t call it. I’ma take it a day at a time. Right now, my first priority is music. Album’s dropping December 18, Trouble Man. We just shot a video with Lil’ Wayne called “Ball.” I’m dedicating the time and attention to this project so I can make it the classic people deserve.

*The King prescribes a hefty dose of trap tunes on his latest album, Trouble Man, in stores Dec. 18.