T.I. to play Rites of Spring before starting jail sentence

Grammy-winning Atlanta rapper Clifford Joseph Harris aka T.I., has been added to this year’s Rites of Spring Music Festival at Vanderbilt University on Alumni Lawn. He will appear April 17 with Electrik Red, Run with Bulls, Blueskyreality, K’Naan, Okkervil River, Santigold, the Battle of the Bands winner and Q-Tip.

Pico vs. Island Trees, Stardeath and the White Dwarfs, Erick Baker, Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek fame, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Grand Ole Party, N.E.R.D. and Flaming Lips are set for April 18.

Gates open at 3 p.m. April 17 and 18. General public weekend passes are $45 in advance, $55 on the day of the show. Single day tickets are $40. Vanderbilt student tickets are $20 (one ticket per student). Single day tickets go on sale April 6 at 10 a.m.

T.I. has been extremely popular since his 2001 debut release I’m Serious. He’s garnered nine Top 10 and three No. 1 singles, including “My Love” with Justin Timberlake and “Live Your Life” with Rihanna. His most recent CD Paper Trail is his third consecutive chart-topping release. T.I. was also featured in the 2007 film American Gangster with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.

Lately T.I. has been in the news as much for legal problems as making hits. Federal agents arrested him Oct. 13, 2007 after having a bodyguard buy machine guns and silencers. A 1998 drug conviction makes it illegal for him to own guns as a convicted felon.

But T.I. has toured the country in recent months speaking to thousands of young people about the dangers of drugs and guns, and completed more than 1,000 hours of community service. His efforts have been chronicled on the MTV reality show T.I.’s Road to Redemption.

Prosecutors have hailed his efforts, especially since the bulk of his audiences have been at risk youth. He may do more appearances after the completion of his prison time. T.I. was sentenced to one year and one day March 28, but that may be further reduced by 15 percent with good behavior.

His appearance at the Rites of Spring Music Festival is among his final performances before May, when he will surrender as part of an arrangement worked out in US District Court.

Tickets for the Rites of Spring Festival can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com or at 255-9600. Tickets can also purchased at the Sarratt Box Office, 2301 Vanderbilt Place (322-2435). For general information call 343-3361.