In 1994, 14-year-old aspiring rapper “TIP” appeared as a musical guest on an Atlanta public television program called “Ya’ Destiny.”
One of the female hosts described TIP as “second to none” and “he’s on his way.”
Little TIP performed a song he wrote, titled “Y’all Don’t Hear Me,” a song about a young street hustler selling crack and gangbanging. He also said his elderly father “Buddy” sends him fly clothes, “But things would be better if he was living with my mom and me.”
TIP’s immense talent caught the attention of Atlanta record executive Kawan “KP” Prather (left), who signed TIP to LaFace Records on Arista in 1999.
Like the host said when TIP was only 14, he was on his way. The only obstacle in his way was his nickname. “TIP” was too similar to his Arista label-mate Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest.
As TIP explained it: “We were both on Arista and we was trying to release my first album. The people who had to market, promote, and, you know, just spread the word on it communicated that it was somewhat difficult or confusing to have two Tips in one building.”
KP came up with the suggestion to shorten TIP’s nickname to T.I. – and the rest is history.
