T.I. bids farewell to music with heartfelt message behind final album

T.I. is preparing to close the chapter on his music career, revealing that his latest album, Kill the King, is both a farewell to hip-hop and a heartfelt thank-you to the fans who have supported him throughout the years.

The 45-year-old rapper, born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., released the project in June and says it will be the final album of his career before officially retiring from the music industry.

Speaking to People, T.I. explained that stepping away from music has been on his mind for several years.

“So I had been living a retired life for some time, probably since the pandemic,” he said. “I just kind of got used to being home and being around, and I just didn't want to do so much, for lack of better words, work.”

Although he had already begun slowing down professionally, the rapper said he didn't want to disappear without giving fans a proper goodbye.

“I don't think that I could just disappear all of a sudden and nobody know why I've never put nothing out [again],” he said.

“So I think that to have a project and say, ‘Hey man, this is it. Thank you for all the love and support. I'll catch y'all on the flip side.’”

T.I. also revealed that the album's title carries special significance, referencing the "King of the South" nickname he embraced early in his career.

Before adopting the title, he said he sought the approval of respected artists who came before him.

“I consulted with many of my respected predecessors when I decided I would present myself to the world as the King of the South,” he explained. “I asked them all how they felt about it and asked them for their blessings and they all gave it.”

The rapper recalled advice he once received from Outkast star Big Boi, who warned him that claiming the title would come with added pressure.

“Big Boi said, ‘Just understand you're going to put a bullseye on your back,’” T.I. remembered. “He said, ‘Chess is a game of life. The game of the game in chess is to kill the king.’”

That conversation stayed with him throughout his career and ultimately inspired the title of his farewell record.

“At that moment, I knew that that would be the title of my last album,” he said.

While T.I. is stepping away from releasing new music, he admitted he still enjoys recording and performing. However, he believes the timing feels right, particularly as his sons begin building their own careers in hip-hop.

“I still enjoy recording and performing, but I think maybe because my sons... are getting so much older and they entering into the business,” he said. “It just feels like, man, I've gotten everything I prayed for from the game.”