T.I. has to explain to the judge why he does not belong in prison. AP noted that his efforts in talking a man out of killing himself may help his cause, but the rapper says he is not looking to use the spontaneous intervention for his own benefit.
T.I., born Clifford Harris, was just released last March, after serving a 10-month long sentence in prison and a halfway house. T.I. had pleaded guilty on federal weapons charges, which stemmed from a 2006 arrest. He will be returning to court, shortly, after being arrested in Los Angeles on drug charges in September.
On Wednesday, T.I. heard of the man’s plight and told police officers that he wanted to help the man, who said he was going to jump from a 22-story building. Authorities said that the man came down to have a few minutes with the rapper.
“Something in my heart told me to go there and help,” T.I. told AP. “I told him it ain’t that bad. It‘ll get better, to put the time and effort into making it better. It looks bad right now, but it can turn around. I told him, ’You know I know.'”
He said that he didn’t use the incident to gain publicity or favor with the judge.
“I honestly feel that God put me in the position to do what needed to be done,” he added, according to AP. “I was just there to help. I can’t take no credit. This is God’s work. I didn’t have plans this morning to go down there like that.”
