T.I. Says He’s Lost Money Pursuing Stand-Up Comedy Career

T.I.‘s passion for comedy is so strong that he’s willing to pursue it even if it means his pockets taking a hit.

On Monday (November 20), the Atlanta rap legend hosted the premiere of his latest film, Da ’Partments, in Los Angeles.

HipHopDX caught up with Tip for a brief chat at the event, during which he talked about his grander purpose as a veteran in the entertainment industry.

“Chase the money, not the women,” he explained, before pivoting and giving equal emphasis to following one’s dreams. “I learned something else — after that, I learned chase the dream, not the money.”

When asked if he has ever turned down money because it doesn’t align with his goals, he answered: “I do it every time I choose to do comedy instead of go and do music.”

Earlier this month, T.I. and his wife Tiny Harris officially opened the doors to their affordable housing complex in Atlanta, Georgia that’s been years in the making.

The pair hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Intrada Westside, which includes 143 apartments and 25 special units for homeless youth.

The site they built on, which sits across Center Hill Park in northwest Atlanta, was once a grocery store where Tip’s grandmother would shop.

“The arts and entertainment industry in this city has been able to collaborate and be, I guess, profitable enough to offer the community so many things that are much-needed,” the “Whatever You Like” rapper said while talking to local news outlet WSB-TV.

T.I. first announced plans for the housing community in back 2021, writing: “Checkin’ on my development here in Bankhead. Right here used to be the old K-Mart … now we got affordable housing … 143 units going up, mixed-use community, you dig? We about 40 percent done. We supposed to be done sometime next year.

“Since everybody’s from here, what you done did for here? I ain’t finna do a whole bunch jaw-jacking. I’m gonna show mine. But, you know, this is our first project as developers. We’re proud of it.”

He added towards the end of his post: “Don’t look at me. Look at my work. Look at my moves. Shit, we can kill all the cap.”