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.
Chooz U
T.I. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yea I dig her but I figure, I'm wasting this girl time
I'm running from relationships, scared to commit
Mad at monogamy, sexually, I'm a misfit
But this shit's, way too much fo me
Usually I can take'em and make'em a cut buddy
Yo mama probably see me, and say that I'm no good
I was born in the burbs, I was raised in the hood
Shawty been legit and I just started to rap now
I ain't tryin' to act now, I'm being real with you
Really, I just wanted to kick it and chill with you
But the picture got bigger, 'fo I could even paint it
Thoughts got deeper befo' a nigga could think
A player like me on this, strange ain't it?
One thing bout yo feelins is this, you can't change it
Yo perception on me, I don't think I can maintain
We flirting with disaster, this game we playing is dangerous
You the best thing that happened since I don became famous
But sometimes I think we should of remained strangers
[Chorus: Jazze Pha]
I, I chose you baby
(Stay with me now, stay with me, sing it for me shawty)
I, I, I, I, I chose you baby
(Ah, come on, uh, uh, uh see'mon)
I like you to pursue, but still I respect it to let it go
Give it time, give it room to breathe and let it grow
I'll just tell her when I'm ready to change, I'll let her know
Hate to say it, but til then be friends and nothing mo
Even though another time, another life, anotha place
I swear I know we could of been great
But rather than great, you lil' heart take the smile of yo face
So I can treat you right, I'm willing ta wait
And ain't shit fake, I know it sound funny coming from a felon
But I think I got a piece of was up in heaven
So to keep from, blocking mah blessings, think I better back up
Last thing a nigga need now is bad luck
But if my life was perfect shawty, I'da had her
I guess, I guess I don't deserve it, ballas tell me you ain't worth it
So I gots to hit the surface, I'll holla when I holla
Act like I don't want to see ya, and I'on want to call'er
[Chorus: x2]
T.I.'s song "Chooz U" is a raw and honest reflection on the conflicting feelings of love and fear of commitment within a romantic relationship. The lyrics speak to the internal struggle of the rapper, who is torn between his desire for companionship and his aversion to the expectations and limitations of monogamy. He is attracted to the woman he is with, but he fears that he is wasting her time because of his inability to fully commit or be a reliable partner.
Through his lyrics, T.I. acknowledges that he and the woman are from different backgrounds and lifestyles and that they are at different stages in their lives. He is "flirting with disaster," knowing that the game they are playing with each other is dangerous. He recognizes that the woman is the best thing that has happened to him since he became famous, but he also feels that they should have remained strangers. Ultimately, the rapper decides that it is better for him to be friends with the woman and take things slow rather than struggle in a romantic relationship that he is not fully ready for.
Line by Line Meaning
They say love blind, so why can't I picture this girl mine?
People say love is blind, but I can't seem to envision this girl as mine.
Yea I dig her but I figure, I'm wasting this girl time
I do like her, but I am aware that I'm not giving her what she really deserves.
I'm running from relationships, scared to commit
I am avoiding relationships because I am afraid of committing to someone.
Mad at monogamy, sexually, I'm a misfit
I am frustrated with the idea of being with one person only, and I feel like I don't fit in sexually.
But this shit's, way too much fo me
Usually I can take'em and make'em a cut buddy
This situation is too heavy for me to handle. Usually, I can turn things into a casual sexual relationship.
Yo mama probably see me, and say that I'm no good
I was born in the burbs, I was raised in the hood
Your mother may judge me and say that I am a bad influence, but I come from a middle-class background and was raised in a disadvantaged neighborhood.
We from two separate sides of life, two different backgrounds
Shawty been legit and I just started to rap now
We come from different worlds, and you have been living a legitimate life while I am just starting my journey as a rapper.
I ain't tryin' to act now, I'm being real with you
Really, I just wanted to kick it and chill with you
I am not trying to pretend or deceive you. Initially, I just wanted to casually hang out with you.
But the picture got bigger, 'fo I could even paint it
Thoughts got deeper befo' a nigga could think
The situation escalated more quickly than I had anticipated. I had many deeper thoughts before I even had a chance to process them.
A player like me on this, strange ain't it?
One thing bout yo feelins is this, you can't change it
It's strange for a player like me to express these emotions. But one thing about your feelings is that they cannot be altered.
Yo perception on me, I don't think I can maintain
We flirting with disaster, this game we playing is dangerous
I don't think I can handle the way you see me. We are risking a dangerous game with our actions.
You the best thing that happened since I don became famous
But sometimes I think we should of remained strangers
You are the best thing that has happened to me since I became famous. However, sometimes I think it would have been better if we had never met.
I like you to pursue, but still I respect it to let it go
Give it time, give it room to breathe and let it grow
I want us to continue seeing each other, but I also respect if you decide to move on. Let's give it time and space to grow naturally.
I'll just tell her when I'm ready to change, I'll let her know
Hate to say it, but til then be friends and nothing mo
I will tell her when I am ready to change the way I feel. Until then, let's just remain friends and nothing more.
Even though another time, another life, anotha place
I swear I know we could of been great
If we had met in another time, life, or place, I am confident that we could have been great together.
But rather than great, you lil' heart take the smile of yo face
So I can treat you right, I'm willing ta wait
But instead of being great, this relationship is causing you pain and taking away your happiness. I am willing to wait until I can treat you the way you deserve.
And ain't shit fake, I know it sound funny coming from a felon
But I think I got a piece of was up in heaven
I am not pretending, even though it may seem ironic coming from someone with a criminal record. But I truly believe that I have a bit of goodness in me that comes from heaven.
So to keep from, blocking mah blessings, think I better back up
Last thing a nigga need now is bad luck
To avoid hindering my blessings, I think it's best if I step back from this situation. The last thing I need right now is bad luck.
But if my life was perfect shawty, I'da had her
I guess, I guess I don't deserve it, ballas tell me you ain't worth it
If my life were perfect, I would have gotten with you. But I guess I don't deserve it, and my friends tell me that you're not worth it.
So I gots to hit the surface, I'll holla when I holla
Act like I don't want to see ya, and I'on want to call'er
So I have to come back up for air, and I'll talk to you when I talk to you. I am going to pretend like I don't want to see you and I don't want to call you.
[Chorus: x2]
Repeating the chorus:
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLIFFORD HARRIS, CLIFFORD J. HARRIS, PHALON ALEXANDER, PHALON ANTON ALEXANDER, WILLIE HUTCHISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Valencia
They say love blind, so why can't I picture this guhl mine?
Yea I dig her but I figure, I'm wastin this guhl time
I'm runnin from relationshipz, scared to commit
Mad at monogamy, sexually, I'm a misfit
But this shit's... way too much fo me
Usually I can take'em and make'em a cut buddy
Yo mama probably see me, and say that I'm no good
I was born in the burbs, I was raised in the hood
We from two seperate sides of life, two different backgrounds
Shawty been legit and I just started to rap now
I ain't tryina act now, I'm bein real witchu
Really, I just wanted to kick it and chill witchu
But the picture got bigger, 'fo I could even paint it
Thoughts got deeper befo' a nigga could think
A playa like me on this, strange ain't it?
One thang bout yo feelins is this, you can't change it
Yo preception on me, I don't think I can maintain
We flirtin with disaster, this game we playin iz dangerous
You the best thang that happened since I don became famous
But sometimes I think we shoulda remained strangers
[Chorus - Jazze Pha]
I... I chose you baby
(Stay with me now, stay with me, sing it fo me shawty)
I, I, I, I... I chose you baby
(Ah, come on, uh, uh, uh c'mon)
[Verse 2 - T.I.]
I like you to persue, but still I respect it to let it go
Give it time, give it room to breathe and let it grow
I'll just tell her when I'm ready to change, I'll let her know
Hate to say it, but til then be friendz and nuthin mo
Evendoe anotha time, anotha life, anotha place
I swear I know we coulda been great
But rather than great, you lil heart take the smile of yo face
So I can treat you righ, I'm willin ta wait
And ain't shit fake, I know it sound funny comin from a felon
But I think I got a piece of whuz up in heaven
So to keep from, blockin mah blessings, think I better back up
Last thang a nigga need now is bad luck
But if my life was perfect shawty, I'da had her
I guess, I guess I don't deserve it, ballaz tell me you ain't worth it
So I gots to hit the surface, I'll holla when I holla
Act like I don't wanna see ya, and I'on wanna call'er
lbgreat30
This album is criminally underrated.
Marriel Johnson
You said something then
God Imaj
Such a crime
shaabo Squeezy
I feel like the beats on "I'm Serious" album just wasn't on par with TiP lyrical ability, for it to get the exposure and it's just deserve. Cause bruh was really spitting that 🔥🔥🔥
Shannon Johnson
Ll
RamChunx337
Young jeezy tare
Nigel Felder
Man this "I'm Serious" album is really underrated & T.I. is very lyrical on this entire album.
sadie
Still #1 in my eyes!! Spectacular rapper and very smart with self-control. Keep going Tip, Everyday is a new project waiting to be discovered.
K Pezzy
that's when rap was at its best
tr33tr33
K Pezzy I still play this from the first to last song