February 27th 2024.
T.I. recently reflected on his experience as a first-time actor in the 2004 film ATL, sharing his highs and lows during an interview with Brian "B High" Hightower on the radio show "B High TV". The rapper, who starred in the cult-classic movie, revealed that his ego was high and his ambition for acting was low at the time the film was being shot.
The "Whatever You Like" artist recalled being late to set and bringing down the morale of the cast due to his behavior and lack of dedication to the project. In one instance, he even arrived with marijuana smoke billowing out of his car, leading to a confrontation with the film's director, Chris Robinson, and producer, Charlie Mack.
In a clip captured by The Neighborhood Talk, T.I. shared that he was on the verge of being fired from the film but didn't seem to care. He was at the peak of his rap career and had recently received million-dollar payouts, making the $85,000 he was earning for "ATL" seem insignificant to him.
"I got all this money, and I got to go to work," T.I. admitted, explaining his mindset at the time. However, it wasn't until Robinson and Mack pulled him aside for a heart-to-heart talk that he realized the responsibility he had as the lead actor on set.
According to T.I., Robinson reminded him of the significance of having a first-time Black director and a first-time Black actor in leading roles, surrounded by a cast of experienced actors and rising talents. He couldn't just shrug off being fired and leave the rest of the cast and crew in a tough spot.
"I felt responsible at that point. I had to straighten up," T.I. shared. "And that's what made me care about the movie." He recognized the power he held as the lead and the opportunity to uplift his fellow actors and the rising talents working on the film.
Fast forward to 2021, and Robinson has released a teaser trailer for the long-awaited sequel, "ATL 2: Homecoming." The film sees the return of the original cast, including T.I., Lauren London, Evan Ross, Jason Weaver, Albert Daniels, Khadijah Haqq, Malika Haqq, and Big Boi.
The announcement of the sequel brought back memories of T.I.'s journey as a first-time actor and the lessons he learned along the way. The rapper also took the opportunity to address the issue of pay disparities in Hollywood, showing support for Black actresses who face criticism for demanding equal pay.
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