No homo.
Now that we’ve gotten that necessary bit of information out of the way, the truth remains — Harris is an incredibly charming man. That was all the more apparent the moment he casually strolled into a private reception held at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel prior to an early screening for his upcoming film, Takers. Produced by Harris and super producer Will Packer, Takers is about a group of highly skilled thieves who cover the cost of their lavish lifestyle by pulling off intricately planned bank heists.
On this night however, the only thing being stolen was the attention designated for Packer and cast members Michael Ealy and Hayden Christensen. All eyes were on Harris — the consummate charmer. As he made his rounds, the Atlanta native shook hands, locked eyes with the intensity of a laser and delivered a greeting in his Southern drawl along the lines of, “From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely appreciate you being here,” he’d say with a smile. “I really do mean that.”
Hook. Line. Sinker.
Like I said, T.I. is one charming dude. What he lacks in physical stature, he more than makes up for in presence. The ladies love it, and the fellas respect it. It’s this winning combination that he hopes will eventually translate into a strong opening weekend at the box office for Takers.
“I’m definitely pleased with everything surrounding this movie,” he shared, as we began to discuss the Aug. 27 nationwide opening. “It’s been a long time coming, but it’s definitely been worth the wait. Everybody seems to love it, and I think it’s surpassing everyone’s expectations. Of course, we all felt like it had the potential to be great and we all were very proud and eager to be involved, but you never can be too sure about anything that’s left up to the public’s perception.”
Public Perception
There was a moment in the not too distant past when the public wasn’t as firmly entrenched in the Tip Harris fan club as it is today. But that’s to be expected when you plead guilty to felony gun charges and are subsequently banished to a federal penitentiary for a year and a day. For many (this writer included), the belief was that Harris’ story was destined to replicate that of many talented black men before him. Wildly talented … rapid ascent … tragic downfall. That was the customary playbook for black male celebrities, and for many years, Harris appeared all too willing to stick to that script.
With his frequent brushes with the law, Harris was showing no sign of the maturation needed to overcome his past to fully embrace the blessings provided by his otherworldly talent.
So when the prison bars closed behind him during this latest stint, there were some industry insiders who began performing last rites over T.I.’s career. “There’s no way that he can continue to bounce back from his legal troubles,” they declared. “All of that talent has gone down the drain.”
There was even a concern that Takers would never see the light of day — but that concern never crossed Harris’ mind. “I was never worried that this movie wasn’t going to see the light of day … not even a little bit,” he says. “It was just a matter of us deciding if we were going to release the film during my hiatus or after my hiatus.”
After taking a moment to let those words linger in the atmosphere to give them added credence, he continued. “To be honest with you, I wasn’t concerned about how things would play out once I got out of prison. The only thing that I was concerned about was being reunited with my family, and seeing my kids. That other stuff had to take a back seat.”
An Eye Towards Fatherhood
As the conversation evolved, we began to have an honest exchange about fatherhood, which was in many ways the area of his life most affected by his incarceration. As he described his relationship with his five children, an increased intensity became noticeable in his voice. The inflections reflected a man who possessed a sincere desire to be the best father that he could be.
Was he successful in that endeavor? On many levels, yes … T.I. is a model father. But his need to “keep it real”—which ironically, led to him being locked up — ultimately came in direct conflict with his intentions of being a good father.
“I don’t regret much in life, but I will say that I certainly regret not being there for my kids when I went away,” he says quietly. “That affected them a great deal, and it was my fault … it was certainly all my fault.”
But as kids often do, that time away was long forgotten the moment he was released. Being reunited with his then-fiancée, now wife, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, and his children, rejuvenated Harris and allowed him to reconnect with that need to be the best father that he could possibly be. “I love my kids more than anything, and they know that,” he confidently states. “Being a good father has always been something that is very important to me. To be honest, I want to be a good father just as much as I want to be a great artist … if not more so.”
“If there was anything that this time away taught me, it was that it increased my desire to be more present,” Harris continues. “I have always been a provider, but … my time [with my kids] is more important to them than me providing for them.”
The mere mention of his children brought out the proud dad in T.I., as he laughed when sharing memories in a manner reminiscent of a father pulling out pictures from his wallet as proof of just how great his kids are. “The funny thing about my kids is, if you asked them what they wanted to eat, they would probably say lobster tails or filet mignon,” he laughs. “And that’s not to suggest that they are spoiled, it’s just all that they have ever known, so they have developed expensive tastes. In saying that, I have to work to find a balance between being the father that they need me to be, and being the provider that can address those needs.”
“For example, they like to go to Toys R Us, so I use those moments as learning lessons,” he continues. “I explain to them that the card that I use to swipe to get those toys has money on it. And if Daddy can’t work, then there will be no money on the card. And if there’s no money on the card, then they can’t have those toys. My kids will take that lesson and process it. Pretty soon, they come to me and ask ‘so when are you going back to work?’ They try to get me out of the house when I explain it like that. It’s all in good fun, but as a father, it’s something that I’m constantly working to balance. It’s not easy trying to provide for a family, while still trying to be there as a present father. But it’s a challenge that I gladly accept as a man whose family means the world to him.”The Bonus Round
As the time began to wind down on our time with Harris, he began to riff on the fundamental truths that have come to define him. In many ways, those final two minutes did more to explain his makeup than the years leading up to this particular moment in time.
On Hard Work …
“Working has never been a problem for me. You don’t ever have to sell me on working. My ambition drives me to work, and my quest to be the best drives me to work harder than anybody else. I’m a firm believer that talent will only get you so far. So much of your place in life is determined by your strategy, your execution and your diligence. So you don’t have to convince me or sell me on why I need to work hard. That’s never been my problem.”
On Complacency …
“The minute you get comfortable and feel like you can do no wrong, is the moment that you fall off. That’s the moment when life throws you a curveball. So I continue to make myself uncomfortable, and keep pushing myself to surpass the things that I’ve done in the past. I don’t want to get comfortable, and I don’t want to feel like I’ve accomplished all that I’m capable of accomplishing. That’s the only way that I know how to avoid the complacency that I see others develop.”
On Loyalty …
“Loyalty is the foundation of a man. Without that, you have nothing, and in my eyes you don’t deserve to be called a man. So everything that I am starts with that. I will forever be loyal to the people that mean the most to me. My commitment to them will never waver, and it’s something that they will never have to question. I pride myself on that.”
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