The Evolution of T.I.

Tip's roller-coaster road to the top, the bottom and back.

The Evolution of T.I. - T.I. has been through it all: the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But as he turns 32 today, September 25, T.I. can be proud of one thing: He's had a damn good run, and he's still got several more laps to go. Here, BET.com takes a look back at Tip's roller-coaster road to the top, the bottom and back again. —Alex Gale  (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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The Evolution of T.I. - T.I. has been through it all: the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But as he turns 32 today, September 25, T.I. can be proud of one thing: He's had a damn good run, and he's still got several more laps to go. Here, BET.com takes a look back at Tip's roller-coaster road to the top, the bottom and back again. —Alex Gale  (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

Reppin' the A - T.I. was born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. on September 25, 1980, in Riverdale, Georgia, and raised by his grandparents in the Bankhead section of Atlanta — he’s a certified ATLien.  (Photo: Leon/PictureGroup)

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Reppin' the A - T.I. was born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. on September 25, 1980, in Riverdale, Georgia, and raised by his grandparents in the Bankhead section of Atlanta — he’s a certified ATLien.  (Photo: Leon/PictureGroup)

If at First You Don't Succeed... - Tip’s career started with a stumble. Though it already showed off his kingly confidence and slick bars — not to mention collabos with the Neptunes, Lil Jon and many more — his 2001 debut album, I’m Serious, missed the mark commercially, and he was dropped from his label, Arista.  (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Usher's New Look Foundation)

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If at First You Don't Succeed... - Tip’s career started with a stumble. Though it already showed off his kingly confidence and slick bars — not to mention collabos with the Neptunes, Lil Jon and many more — his 2001 debut album, I’m Serious, missed the mark commercially, and he was dropped from his label, Arista.  (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Usher's New Look Foundation)

...Try, Try Again - Tip reupped his buzz via with a series of snarling mixtapes hosted by DJ Drama, and soon inked a joint venture between Atlantic Records and his own imprint, Grand Hustle.

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...Try, Try Again - Tip reupped his buzz via with a series of snarling mixtapes hosted by DJ Drama, and soon inked a joint venture between Atlantic Records and his own imprint, Grand Hustle.

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A King Is Born - A refueled T.I. dropped his second studio album, Trap Musik, in 2003. With vastly improved bars and trap anthems like "24s" and "Rubberband Man," the album hit platinum and finally gave Tip some backup for his claims of being King of the South. (Photo: Courtesy Atlantic Records)

Photo By Courtesy Atlantic Records

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T.I., Featuring Pharrell – "Freak Though" (2004) - Though they didn't contribute to his sophomore effort, the Neptunes were once again behind the boards on T.I.'s third album, Urban Legend. Not only did the duo produce "Freak Though," but Pharrell was also featured on the 2004 track. (Photo: Atlantic Records)

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Urban Legend - T.I. took things up a notch with 2004's Urban Legend, which spawned some of his best work, including the hits "Bring 'Em Out," "ASAP" and "You Don't Know Me." (Photo: Atlantic Records)

The Crossover - In 2006, Tip went from trap star to rap star to pop star with the release of his fourth album, King, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 thanks to the signature smash "What You Know," which won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. That same year, T.I. linked with Justin Timberlake for the hit single "My Love," which won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The King finally had his crown.  (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

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The Crossover - In 2006, Tip went from trap star to rap star to pop star with the release of his fourth album, King, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 thanks to the signature smash "What You Know," which won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. That same year, T.I. linked with Justin Timberlake for the hit single "My Love," which won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The King finally had his crown.  (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

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Lights, Camera, Action - T.I. first took the silver screen by storm in 2006 with the coming of age film ATL, and then appeared in 2007's American Gangster. He returned three years later as one of the stars and co-executive producers of the No. 1 box office smash Takers.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Yin and Yang - 2007 was a year of opposites for Tip: He released yet another No. 1 album, T.I. vs. Tip, in July, but just three months later, he was arrested for weapons possession and facing a possible ten-year prison sentence.   (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

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Yin and Yang - 2007 was a year of opposites for Tip: He released yet another No. 1 album, T.I. vs. Tip, in July, but just three months later, he was arrested for weapons possession and facing a possible ten-year prison sentence.   (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

The Comeback King - Despite his legal troubles, 2008 was a banner year for the Rubberband Man. Boosted by the Rihanna-assisted smash "Live Your Life" and "Swagga Like Us," featuring Jay-Z, Kanye and Lil Wayne, he released his most successful album to date, Paper Trail. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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The Comeback King - Despite his legal troubles, 2008 was a banner year for the Rubberband Man. Boosted by the Rihanna-assisted smash "Live Your Life" and "Swagga Like Us," featuring Jay-Z, Kanye and Lil Wayne, he released his most successful album to date, Paper Trail. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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All Falls Down - Tip had his day of reckoning in 2009, when he was sentenced to a year in jail for his 2007 arrest on weapons charges.  (Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

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All Falls Down - Tip had his day of reckoning in 2009, when he was sentenced to a year in jail for his 2007 arrest on weapons charges.  (Photo: Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

T.I., Featuring Pharrell – "Amazing" (2010) - In addition to producing the album's lead single, the Neptunes laced T.I. with No Mercy's "Amazing." The up-tempo cut also features vocals from Pharrell.(Photo: Atlantic Records)

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No Mercy - After serving 10 months, T.I. came back to rap with a purpose — and his seventh studio album, 2010's No Mercy. The hit "Get Back Up," featuring Chris Brown, set the tone. (Photo: Atlantic Records)

T.I. Tiny The Family Hustle

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Family Man - Despite his troubles, T.I. has always been a supportive husband to Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and a loving father to their kids, including OMG Girlz member Star. In recent years, the family has taken over reality TV with the BET show Tiny & Toya and last year's T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle on VH1. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

His Brother's Keeper - In late 2010, T.I. heard about a man that was preparing to jump from the top of an Atlanta building and was able to help the authorities talk the gentleman out of it. Way to go, Tip!  (Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

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His Brother's Keeper - In late 2010, T.I. heard about a man that was preparing to jump from the top of an Atlanta building and was able to help the authorities talk the gentleman out of it. Way to go, Tip!  (Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Revolving Door - But Tip hadn't exorcised all his demons just yet. In September 2010, he and Tiny were arrested on drug charges in L.A.; he ended up going back to prison for another 10 months.(Photo: Michael Tran/Getty Images)

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Revolving Door - But Tip hadn't exorcised all his demons just yet. In September 2010, he and Tiny were arrested on drug charges in L.A.; he ended up going back to prison for another 10 months.(Photo: Michael Tran/Getty Images)

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A New Man? - After some legal wrangling extended his sentence by a month, T.I. was finally freed for good (hopefully) last September. He emerged with a new positive outlook — tweeting "The storm is over & da sun back out. IT'S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!! Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!" after his release — and a new hunger, recording and releasing a bevy of new songs and freestyles, including "I'm Flexin'," which features Big K.R.I.T.  (Photo: Ben Rose/WireImage for AKOO Clothing)

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A New Man? - After some legal wrangling extended his sentence by a month, T.I. was finally freed for good (hopefully) last September. He emerged with a new positive outlook — tweeting "The storm is over & da sun back out. IT'S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!! Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!" after his release — and a new hunger, recording and releasing a bevy of new songs and freestyles, including "I'm Flexin'," which features Big K.R.I.T.  (Photo: Ben Rose/WireImage for AKOO Clothing)

Pen Game - Rapper, actor, entrepreneur and now author. Last year, T.I. released his first novel, Power & Beauty, and this year he's back in book stores once again with Trouble & Triumph.  (Photo: Courtesy of William Morrow)

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Pen Game - Rapper, actor, entrepreneur and now author. Last year, T.I. released his first novel, Power & Beauty, and this year he's back in book stores once again with Trouble & Triumph. (Photo: Courtesy of William Morrow)

"The Way We Ride" - T.I. steps out of his comfort zone with his sung hook over the woozy next-millennium Houston lean of the Futuristiks production, but it works. "Top down, ride clean," the screwed sample on the hook repeats, and this is the perfect song for just that.   (Photo: Courtesy James Ravenell/Hot 97)

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Can't Stop, Won't Stop - With his troubles hopefully behind him, T.I. is gearing up heavy for a comeback with his eighth studio album, Trouble Man. Here's hoping the King can celebrate his birthday next year back on his throne, on top of the rap game, where he belongs.   (Photo: Courtesy James Ravenell/Hot 97)