Rap Star Sings a New Tune

T.I. Delivers Message to Youths on Making Good Choices

Reginald Mungo, 14, sat fascinated as one of his rap favorites, Clifford Harris, better known as T.I., the one with the Grammy, the videos and the top-selling CDs, had a revival-style meeting for young men at a Boys and Girls Club branch in Southeast Washington.

"Let's have a show of hands: How many of you want to be your own boss, the CEO, president of your own company?" Harris said. The hands of almost all 100 at the meeting shot up.

"Now, how many of you are willing to go to school year-round to prepare yourself, with no spring breaks and no summer vacations?"

Most of the hands of the youths at the club on Mississippi Avenue SE dropped to the sound of nervous giggles.

"You see how many bosses we have left now? The bottom line is, if you want more than anyone else, you have to learn more and work harder than anybody else," Harris said.

The message was one of a dozen Harris delivered yesterday at an event sponsored by It's Cool to Be Smart, a nonprofit program based in Atlanta, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.

Harris also talked about making good choices, avoiding crime and obeying adults. His speech culminated in an anti-violence forum that also featured Anwan Glover of Upper Marlboro, an actor, singer and radio personality, and D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8.)

Alfred Washington, Sam Brown and Joshua Moore, all 13, and Tre Sims, 14, came from Prince George's County, where they are members of Carolina Missionary Baptist Church. To hear from someone of Harris's stature meant something, they said.

"It tells you that somebody like T.I. thinks it's important to help others, not just think about themselves," said Joshua Moore, who is from Upper Marlboro."

As part of yesterday's program, Harris was seen in a video taped for BET, in which he discussed his recent guilty plea on gun charges. During his speech in Southeast, he told the young men that he wanted to help them avoid the mistakes he had made.

Harris, 27, was sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service and a year in jail, which is to be served next year.

He told the audience that citing him as an excuse for lawbreaking would cut no ice in court.

"The judge is going to tell you, 'T.I. is in enough trouble. You need to make your own decisions.' "

In another a call-and-response session, he asked what the young men would do with $1 million.

"Invest in the global market," one shouted.

"Invest it and live off the interest," another said.

"Invest in the stock market," a third young man said.

Harris was pleased and told his audience that "the art of success is learning how to do those things you don't want to do so well that people won't know you don't want to do them."

In a brief interview, Harris said he believes that celebrity is an aid in reaching youths but also lets them know that fame is no shield "from making mistakes."

Harris told the young men that he knew his advice might not take all at once.

"I know that none of you are going to leave . . . and say, 'I heard T.I. today. I'm going to turn my life around,' " he said to chuckles.

"A couple of you will catch on right now," he said, adding: "A couple of you will have to bump your heads a little more."

In time, Harris said, he expected to meet them "at the top."