Las Vegas Weekly

January 28, 2009 · 7:45 AM

Morning Call Photo Gallery: Rapper T.I. strips for Jet’s third anniversary; then it’s off to the Grammys and prison

By Robin Leach

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

It’s one of those stories a Hollywood scriptwriter couldn’t even conjure up! It’s one of those stories that has to be filed under “Only in Las Vegas”!

Superstar rapper T.I. wound up in only his red-and-white-striped boxers after his performance at Jet in The Mirage on Monday night. Next, T.I. turns up at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 5, performing sets with Justin Timberlake and then in a group with Jay Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. Then he must turn himself into prison authorities March 27 to begin a one-year sentence on felony weapons conviction charges!

And, of course, in this wacky, modern-day pop culture where life imitates art and art imitates life, MTV has the reality series Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go premiering Feb. 10! Personally, I think it’s all a very sad commentary on how far the rap-crazed culture has sunk.

You couldn’t dream up this sad story of a fall from dizzying heights if you tried! The tale began when Jet’s marketing director, Steven Lockwood, booked the star rapper for the nightclub’s locals Monday night and third anniversary. T.I. told club officials it would be his last West Coast performance before the Grammys and prison.

First T.I. and his crew packed away a feast of hot rocks, wings, cowboy steaks, penne pasta, baby veggies, lobster tacos, French fries and spicy crab at the neighboring Stack in The Mirage.

Apparently, the convicted felon can do no wrong because he was then mobbed by frenzied photographers and screaming fans at the red carpet and inside Jet, where he grabbed the mic and went right into an extended 10-song set, including his No. 1 hit with Rihanna, “Live Your Life,” and his smash “Whatever You Like.” It sent female fans into an almost orgy of adulation as they grabbed at him when his sagging jeans fell down and exposed his boxers! He didn’t blink an eye and simply stripped down shirtless while singing his hits. This was no wardrobe malfunction! It was an orchestrated strip, and T.I. wound up in only his undies!

Superstar Usher, who has been recording his new album over at the Palms, watched the Strip show from a VIP booth. Also there watching in amazement was Marion Barber of the Dallas Cowboys.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

T.I., real name Clifford Harris Jr., has managed to complete 1,000 hours of community service in connection with the weapons charge. He worked with Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans and donated 200 bicycles to Boys & Girls Club members -- all while overseeing his artists’ upcoming albums on his Grand Hustle Records, where he is co-CEO. He’s also a songwriter, actor and producer, and his trip to Las Vegas was to promote his new album Paper Trail. To date, T.I.’s amassed 10 Top 10 singles, with three reaching No. 1. He has two sons with his girlfriend Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and three children with ex-girlfriend Lashon Dixon.

The Georgia-based musician has admitted that he was a one-time drug dealer and violated several probation terms because of his involvement with firearms and controlled substances. Four hours before the BET Hip Hop Awards in October 2007, he was charged with “possession of firearms by a convicted felon” that included three unregistered machine guns with silencers. He pleaded guilty to the weapons charges and was sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service and one year in jail. In November, he was a witness in the murder trial of a member of his entourage crew, Philant Johnson, who was shot in a fight at a post-T.I.-concert nightclub party.

Thank goodness all was calm at Jet aside from the out-of-control femmes fatales who would have taken T.I.’s boxers had they been given the chance!

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