As of October 2008, T.I. has had nine Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles, with 3 of them reaching number 1 ("My Love" by Justin Timberlake on which T.I. was featured, "Whatever You Like," & "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna).
The Love This Life Songfacts reports that Love This Life, the first official single from T.I.'s eighth album, Trouble Man, was released on April 2, 2012 via YouTube.
T.I. is from Bankhead, Atlanta, Georgia and was raised by his grandparents. T.I. explained the origin of his nickname Rubber Band Man, saying, "We used to wear rubber bands to signify how much money, how much blow we had." He was nicknamed "Tip" after his paternal great-grandfather. Upon signing with Arista Records subsidiary LaFace Records in 2001, he shortened his name to T.I. out of respect for label mate Q-Tip.
T.I. has been in a relationship with former Xscape member Tameka "Tiny" Cottle since 2001. Together, they have two sons: King and Major Harris. He has three other children with ex-girlfriend Lashon Dixon: Domani, Messiah and Deyjah. Overall, T.I. has five children.
T.I. was co-executive producer of B.G.'s upcoming album and making beats for artists like Mariah Carey, Cassidy, Rick Ross, Maino, B.o.B., Yung Joc, Young Dro, and himself. He also executive produced the soundtrack to the film Hustle & Flow and released the collection through his record label.
Can't Quit
T.I. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hell naw man we got too much money to be getting shot up
Stay down, Grand Hustle
Look, I'm this far from being a star and just that close to quitting
I never should of came close to missing
But I want to be a musician pimping not a politician
Listen, feel my position it's a rough transition
For fortune and fame and glamor I can be in the slammer
Or six feet up under Atlanta
It's a blessing to breathe
I walk the streets with seven felonies I'm blessed to be free
Long as somebody up in heaven who keep blessing a G
T.I.P. will still be blessing CD's
So haters you can see these
Cause I'm back now with something to prove
Everything to gain pimping nothing to lose
I ought to start smacking niggas when it's nothing to do
They too big shoot them in the leg and even the odds
Cause you ain't hard
Unless you ran with Cap and see-Rod
Trapped with K.T. and robbed with J.R
Fucked hoes with D.P
Broke bread with J.G
Switched labels like K.P
Who the fuck did all that, pimp?
Me, even though I'd rather go back to slanging drugs and shit
It's a gang of niggas and bitches really love this shit
I can't quit
[Chorus]
Even though polices hate I'm legit
And rappers hate it cause they know I'm the shit
Hell no I can't quit
Some niggas hating on the money I'm getting
Most of them hate it cause I'm fucking they bitches
No pimping I can't quit
Some niggas hating on the rocks and the rings
Some of them hate cause they know I'm the King
Hell no I can't quit
People hate it when you better than them
They ain't hating start worrying then
Aye I'm winning I can't quit
[Verse Two]
It's been ten years a album and two deals
For real we all know I should have sold two mill, at least
It's all good though I flow for the streets
I do it for y'all
Every weekend see who in the mall
Still in the trap signing your shirts giving you dap
Kicking it with you then get you and your folk in the club
Posing for pictures with girls
Give them kisses and hugs
Pouring out liquor at shows
Passing niggas the dro
One of the realest rappers niggas will know
But niggas be hating
To the point that they be calling the station ?Don't play his record?
But they respect it cause I'm ready and focused
And I see they petty and bogus
I want you to know this
But most of you know this
Niggas in the game ain't real
Gotta stay selling records cause the fame ain't shit
And fuck the units that they name will sell
It'll break your heart to see your favorite rappers lame as hell
I can't quit
[Chorus]
[Verse Three]
Some of the people some of the times pick with rhymes
But they may not like one of the lines
I'll tell you what
I'll let you criticize me one at a time
Those of you who think I'm too cocky get in front of the line
Whether you don't like my ego or my arrogant flow
Don't like that when you say I'm tight I say I already know
Don't like how I was talking shit before my album could blow
Thinking I need to calm it down be like the average Joe
So, fuck you, them thoughts, and that little house you think I'm in
Get a Benz I'll value your opinion then
Think I give a fuck how many time my record spin
Fuck what you recommend
I'm back again! (Look pimping)
I can't quit
[Chorus]
The song "I Can't Quit" by T.I is a reflection of the struggles and perseverance of an artist in the music industry. The lyrics depict T.I's journey in the rap game: his past as a drug dealer, his present success in music, and the envy and haters that come with it. The chorus is defiant, with T.I. refusing to quit due to the police hating and the envy and jealousy of other rappers.
In the first verse, T.I. reveals his desire to be a musician instead of a politician but how it's a rough transition. He mentions that he is too deep in the game to be trying to change and that he could end up in the slammer or six feet under in Atlanta. He states that he is blessed to be here and even though he has seven felonies, he's still breathing, and his music is a blessing from heaven. The verse reflects the challenges he's faced but is grateful for the past and current success.
In the second verse, T.I. reflects on his ten years in the rap game and how he should have sold two million albums. He emphasizes that he does it for his fans and still interacts with them on a personal level. He expresses his frustration with the hate and lack of support from fellow rappers and stations. He recognizes that the music industry is fake and artists have to stay selling records, but he's not willing to sell his soul for fame and fortune. Throughout the song, T.I. shows that he will not let hate and envy deter him from his passion and craft, he will never quit.
Line by Line Meaning
Huh, hell naw I can't quit,
I am not giving up on my career.
Hell naw man we got too much money to be getting shot up
There's too much at stake for me to put myself in danger.
Stay down, Grand Hustle
I am going to keep working hard with my record label, Grand Hustle.
Look, I'm this far from being a star and just that close to quitting
I'm on the verge of giving up, but I'm not quite there yet.
I never should of came close to missing
I shouldn't have doubted myself.
But I want to be a musician pimping not a politician
I want to make music, not run for office.
Listen, feel my position it's a rough transition
Transitioning to success in the music industry is tough.
Plus I'm way too deep in the game to be trying to change
I'm too invested in this industry to make significant changes now.
For fortune and fame and glamor I can be in the slammer
Being rich and famous could lead me into trouble with the law.
Or six feet up under Atlanta
I could end up dead if I don't make the right decisions.
It's a blessing to breathe
Being able to breathe and be alive is a blessing.
I walk the streets with seven felonies I'm blessed to be free
Despite having been convicted of seven felonies, I feel fortunate to be a free man.
Long as somebody up in heaven who keep blessing a G
As long as God continues to bless me, I'll keep making music.
T.I.P. will still be blessing CD's
I, T.I.P., will continue to make music and release albums.
So haters you can see these
To my haters: you can see my success.
Cause I'm back now with something to prove
I'm back in the music scene with something to prove.
Everything to gain pimping nothing to lose
I have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
I ought to start smacking niggas when it's nothing to do
I should start standing up for myself even when it might not be necessary.
They too big shoot them in the leg and even the odds
If someone is too big for me to fight, I'll shoot them in the leg to even the odds.
Cause you ain't hard
If you can't handle adversity, you're not tough.
Unless you ran with Cap and see-Rod
You can't call yourself tough unless you've been through the same struggles as me and my friends Cap and See-Rod.
Trapped with K.T. and robbed with J.R
You can't call yourself tough unless you've been through the same struggles as me and my friends K.T. and J.R.
Fucked hoes with D.P
You can't call yourself tough unless you've been through the same struggles as me and my friend D.P.
Broke bread with J.G
You can't call yourself tough unless you've been through the same struggles as me and my friend J.G.
Switched labels like K.P
I've switched record labels as much as my friend K.P.
Who the fuck did all that, pimp?
I've accomplished a lot in my career.
Me, even though I'd rather go back to slanging drugs and shit
Despite the challenges of the music industry, I prefer it to my previous career of selling drugs.
It's a gang of niggas and bitches really love this shit
There are many people who truly love making and listening to music.
Even though polices hate I'm legit
Even though the police don't like me, I'm a legitimate artist.
And rappers hate it cause they know I'm the shit
Other rappers hate me because they know I'm successful and talented.
Some niggas hating on the money I'm getting
Some people are jealous of my wealth.
Most of them hate it cause I'm fucking they bitches
Most of the hate I receive is because I'm sleeping with their girlfriends.
Some niggas hating on the rocks and the rings
Some people are jealous of my jewelry.
Some of them hate cause they know I'm the King
Some people are jealous of my success and status as the King of the South.
People hate it when you better than them
People are jealous when you're more successful than they are.
They ain't hating start worrying then
If people aren't hating on you, you're not successful enough.
Aye I'm winning I can't quit
I'm successful and determined to keep going.
It's been ten years a album and two deals
I've been in the music industry for ten years with one album and two record deals.
For real we all know I should have sold two mill, at least
I should have sold at least two million records.
It's all good though I flow for the streets
I rap for the streets.
I do it for y'all
I make music for my fans.
Every weekend see who in the mall
I enjoy meeting my fans at the mall.
Still in the trap signing your shirts giving you dap
I still sign autographs and shake hands with fans in rough neighborhoods.
Kicking it with you then get you and your folk in the club
I enjoy hanging out with fans and sometimes getting them into the club.
Posing for pictures with girls
I love taking pictures with female fans.
Give them kisses and hugs
Sometimes I even give my female fans kisses and hugs.
Pouring out liquor at shows
I pour out liquor as a tribute at my shows.
Passing niggas the dro
I share weed with my friends.
One of the realest rappers niggas will know
I'm one of the most authentic rappers in the game.
But niggas be hating
But some people still hate on me.
To the point that they be calling the station ?Don't play his record?
Some people go so far as to call radio stations asking them not to play my music.
But they respect it cause I'm ready and focused
However, they still respect me because I'm dedicated and focused.
And I see they petty and bogus
I can see through their petty and fake behavior.
I want you to know this
I want you to understand this about me.
But most of you know this
Most of you already know this about me.
Niggas in the game ain't real
Many people in the music industry are not authentic.
Gotta stay selling records cause the fame ain't shit
I have to keep selling records because fame is not enough.
And fuck the units that they name will sell
I don't care about the records other artists sell.
It'll break your heart to see your favorite rappers lame as hell
It's disappointing to see your favorite rappers fall off.
Some of the people some of the times pick with rhymes
Some people criticize my lyrics on occasion.
But they may not like one of the lines
But they only dislike one or two lines.
I'll tell you what
Here's what I have to say about that.
I'll let you criticize me one at a time
I'll accept your criticism one at a time.
Those of you who think I'm too cocky get in front of the line
Those of you who think I'm too confident can go first.
Whether you don't like my ego or my arrogant flow
Whether you don't like my confidence or my style.
Don't like that when you say I'm tight I say I already know
You might not like it when I agree with your compliments.
Don't like how I was talking shit before my album could blow
You might not like it when I talk confidently before achieving success.
Thinking I need to calm it down be like the average Joe
You might think I should tone it down and be more humble.
So, fuck you, them thoughts, and that little house you think I'm in
I don't care about your opinions or where you think I live.
Get a Benz I'll value your opinion then
If you get a Benz, I might value your opinion.
Think I give a fuck how many time my record spin
I don't care how many times my record plays.
Fuck what you recommend
I don't care about your recommendations.
I'm back again! (Look pimping)
I'm back in the music game and ready for more.
People hating on T.I., but he's not giving up on his dreams.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BENNY ARNETTE TILLMAN, CARLOS VALDEZ THORNTON, CLIFFORD HARRIS, CLIFFORD J. HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind