I sat in a multi-colored cushioned theater seat at Guthrie Theater, anxiously waiting for what the night had in store. I came with familiarity of Mos Def as a conscious Hip Hop artist, but more familiar with his talent as an actor. It didn’t take long for me to realize I have been living in a black hole. However, prior to my long awaited introduction, the audience was treated to Hip-Hop, Indie artist Dessa of Doomtree, the show opener who performed with a four piece band that included electronic bass upright, drums, electric guitar, keyboards, and a background singer named Becca.

Tip “T.I.” Harris - The “Takers” Interview

Tip “T.I.” Harris is one of his generation’s most captivating speakers and one of the biggest hip-hop artists of all time. Whether they see him conversing with a room full of young people about staying in school and following their dreams, or moving tens of thousands at one of his concerts, audiences are always engrossed by the words of the “King of the South.” In 2008, T.I. delivered his most potent and important LP to date, “Paper Trail,” and his highly-anticipated, seventh studio album, “King Uncaged,” is set to be released this Fall.

T.I.’s second professional love is acting in films, and in this arena he has taken major steps forward in recent years. He made his motion picture debut in 2006 in the Warner Bros. film A.T.L. He also appeared in the hit Universal film American Gangster opposite Denzel Washington, and guest-starred on HBO’s hit series “Entourage” in 2008. T.I. recently signed a three-picture deal with Screen Gems that will have him both acting in and producing movies.