Popular rapper TI, who has been rapping and producing music since he was 8 years old, has announced his retirement. Following the release of his 12th and final album, ‘Kill the King’ on June 26, the rapper confirmed in a recent interview that he is stepping away from music.
TI announces retirement from music
During one of his recent interviews, the rapper admitted that he had been looking to retire from music for a long time. Not only that, but while talking to PEOPLE about his decision, the rapper shared that he’s been living like that for a long time, and he wants to be at home.He added, “I’m just used to being at home and being around, and I don’t want to do too much, for lack of better words, work.” While talking about his last album, TI shared that he owes a lot to his fans and the world that is the reason for his fame and success. He added, “I don’t think I’m going to disappear all of a sudden and no one knows why I never posted anything. [again]. So I thought I’d have a project and say, ‘Hey man, this is it. Thanks for all the love and support.’ I’ll catch you all on the other side.”
TI reveals the real reason behind the title of his latest album ‘Kill the King’
The rapper also explained the reason for titling his last album ‘Kill the King’, saying it came from a phrase told to him by fellow rapper, Big Boi. He shared during the interview that when he first started in the music industry, he talked to a lot of established rappers. While many of them gave him all kinds of advice, it was Big Boi’s words that stuck with him all these years.He added, “Big Boi said, ‘just understand that you put a bullseye on your back. You put a bullseye on your back and nobody’s looking to do you a favor.’ He said, ‘Chess is a game of life. The game of the chess game is to kill the king. And at that moment, I knew that would be the title of my last album.”He further commented that he feels he has gotten everything out of his career that he feels he could, and is now looking forward to supporting his sons, Damani and King. “I still love recording and performing but I think maybe it’s because my sons and stuff are growing up and they got into the business and it feels like, man, I got everything I prayed for, man, from the game”, he added.TI has been making music since he was 8 years old, and started selling his own mixtapes at the age of 15. In 2001, after officially signing with a music label, he released his debut album, ‘Seryoso Ko.’