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T.I. CANCELS 10-DAY JAPAN TOUR: Rapper arrested, jailed briefly for failing to perform community service.
*It’s been an awfully terrible week for rapper T.I. The Atlanta artist decided to scrap plans for a 10-day promotional tour through Japan after Florida officials accused him of failing to perform community service for a 2003 arrest – this after he buried his longtime friend and personal assistant, Philant Johnson.
The self-proclaimed King of the South was arrested and jailed for a short time in his hometown on Wednesday, just days after he spoke at Johnson’s funeral. Johnson, a 26-year-old native of Union City, Ga., was killed in a shootout along Cincinnati’s Interstate 75 on May 3rd. Police say the incident was sparked by a fight in a suburban after-hours club. T.I., who was in the same vehicle with his friend, was not injured.
Spokesman Sidney Margetson said T.I. was scheduled to leave for Japan on Sunday to promote his new album, "King," but opted to stay home instead in the wake of recent events
"I think everybody decided it's just a good time for him to take this week and regroup," Jonathan Leonard, an entertainment attorney for T.I. told The Associated Press Friday.
T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, pleaded guilty last year to battery on a law enforcement officer, trespassing and disorderly conduct in a 2003 incident at a mall in Tampa. He was sentenced to 18 months' probation and 75 hours of community service.
Another 150 hours were added by a Florida judge months later, after T.I. admitted violating his probation by driving on a suspended license.
Lawyer Dwight Thomas said the rapper had performed more than 75 hours of community service in Atlanta and that Georgia officials thought he was meeting his obligations. Thomas said T.I. was scheduled to appear today in a Tampa court to address the charges.
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