NEW YORK, NY (Atlantic Records) - Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I. has announced details of his highly anticipated new album, "KING," set to drop March 28, as well as his big-screen debut in "ATL," set to open March 31. "KING" follows the breakthrough success of 2004's RIAA platinum-certified "URBAN LEGEND," which spawned such smash hits as "
Bring Em Out" and the Grammy-nominated "U Don't Know Me."
"What You Know," the first single from "KING," was No 1 most-added track at both CHR/Rhythmic and Urban radio nationwide. The single's companion video, shot earlier this month in L.A., features cameos by actor Mike Epps and Blink-182/Transplants Travis Barker of Blink-182/Transplants/MTV fame. Veteran hip-hop video director and Atlanta native Chris Robinson not only directed the music video, but also the upcoming Overbrook/Warner Bros. Pictures film, "ATL," starring T.I. The music video shows a day in the life of T.I., where he attends the premiere of "ATL," joins the film's cast at the theater, and then attends the after-party.
T.I. (Tip Harris) will make his acting debut in "ATL" as lead character Rashad. The film tells the story of a group of four friends who have just graduated from high school in Atlanta. "ATL" spotlights the city's famed Jellybeans skating rink, a popular hangout not only for the teens in the film, but for both T.I. and Robinson as real-life teens growing up in Atlanta. Songs from "KING," including "What You Know," "Front Back," and "Ride Wit Me," which is the featured song in the film's trailer, will appear in "ATL." The film is set for release March 31. Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Pictures are working closely together on both projects, partnering in field marketing, advertising, publicity, and screenings.
In conjunction with both the release of "KING" and "ATL," T.I. will make appearances at exclusive album listening events and movie premieres in Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and Detroit the week prior to the projects' release dates. The rapper also plans to make appearances at larger premieres in Atlanta and Los Angeles the week of March 27.
T.I.'s video for "What You Know" made its world premiere on BET's "Access Granted" on February 15. In addition, T.I. appeared on BET's "106 & Park" on February 17, and will appear again on the show the day before his album release, March 27. BET will also air several interviews with T.I. on various shows, including "BET Style" and "Rap City," all airing in the next few weeks, as well as "Hosted Saturday" airing April 1.
MTV News will soon feature interviews with the rapper filmed during his album photo shoot last month as well as during the "What You Know" video shoot. MTV2's "Sucker Free Sunday Countdown" featured T.I. on February 19 and T.I. will host "Sucker Free Sunday" on March 26.
T.I. was recently nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for his song "U Don't Know Me." He also walked away from the Second Annual VIBE Awards with a win in the Street Anthem category for the same song.
This summer, T.I. will exclusively sponsor two teen girls on the first T.I. Music Sponsorship with It's Cool To Be Smart "Single Parent Initiative" as part of his ongoing commitment to support the local Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta
