T.I. was the last celebrity I had a chance to talk with yesterday at the nominations. Of course we talked about his 5th album T.I. vs. T.I.P, which is set to be released on July 3rd. The rapper with the charismatic swagger explained the album’s title, saying, “it’s basically a battle within myself. There’s not nobody out there doing what I do as well as I do it, so I see myself as worthy competition for myself.” The first (street) single off the album will be “Big Shit Poppin’” which is produced by Mannie Fresh and co-produced by T.I. The single was released to radio stations on April 17th.

He elaborated that T.I. is his more commercial side while T.I.P. is his more gritty side. T.I. recently appeared on Billboard’s Magazine cover for May 2007. According to his interview, he’s in talks for a network sitcom, a Viacom reality show and a T.V. program through Tracey Edmonds’ own Edmonds Entertainment. So I asked him directly about the ventures in progress and here’s what he had to say:

“I am in talks to have my own network sitcom. The opportunity for the reality show I’m not to sure about. And, I have sold two of my films to Tracey.”

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T.I mentioned that he doesn’t see himself rapping for another 10 years and that he makes sure that he has other investments outside of the music industry like his construction Company, New Finish Construction, which he started in 2001. T.I. said the first house his company refurbished was the house that he used to sell crack out of!

(Don’t ask me what T.I. is doing in this picture. Can you spare some some change?)

There was also a rumor that T.I was going to be on Mariah Carey’s upcoming tenth studio album. You know I had to ask about that!

In response, T.I stated:

“I want to work with Mariah! I have wanted to work with her for a long time. I have produced beats for her to use, tried to get her on this album and will work with her on her new stuff. I will do whatever Mariah wants! Tell Mariah to call me, I’m down. Call me Mariah!”

I don’t know if he would fly to Anguilla where Mariah has booked the country’s largest villa and had a studio built in, but they need to work something out!

Here’s T.I. announcing a few of the nominations. His swagger is unparalleled.