T.I. Says He Began Reading The Newspaper Before Kindergarten

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The self-proclaimed King of the South says his grandmother would have him read the paper to impress her friends.

It isn't uncommon for T.I. to make declarations about his skills and talents, and he's delivered a story about his childhood that caused a conversation. Tip has dubbed himself the King of the South, and recently, Georgia's Royal Highness revealed he was working on his final solo album, Kill the King. While fans await its release, T.I. has been a regular on the comedy circuit, trying out new material to audiences who are used to hearing him belt out his hits.

Recently, T.I. caught up with Uptown Comedy Corner, and during the chat, he spoke about his development as a child. According to him, his talents were revealed at a young age. "Everybody knew I was smart when I started reading before I went to kindergarten," said Tip. "Don't nobody know how I learned how to read or who taught me how to read." The host was surprised. "Nobody. I just remember being passed the newspaper, asked to read. You know what I mean? And that was kinda like—my grandmama, to impress her friend, call me. 'Tip! C'mere! Read this!' You know what I'm sayin'?"

T.I. Is Serious About Comedy Career

Not everyone believed T.I.'s story regarding his reading skills, but the Rap icon isn't a stranger to critics. When he announced he was venturing into stand-up comedy, people quickly hopped online with questions. Soon, videos of Tip on stage cracking jokes make their way to social media. Veteran comedian Godfrey headlined a show where T.I. also performed but admitted he didn't watch the rapper's set. T.I. was said to have gone up after Godfrey, and because he headlined, Godfrey said he didn't stick around. He also questioned the seriousness of the rapper's interest in comedy.

Meanwhile, T.I. was made aware of Godfrey's comments and issued a clap back on Instagram. "Bro, I’m not your opponent. You been talking about how long you been doing this and for somebody to come on after you headlining," said Tip. He added, "You know how many of these comedians there is out there rapping right now? You know how many comedians there is doing rap? I’ve been rapping since I was eight years old, bruh. It took me probably 20 years to God damn get where I wanted to be.” Check out T.I. with Uptown Comedy Corner above.

About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
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