B.o.B. Working With Taylor Swift

B.o.B will be working with country pop superstar Taylor Swift, which comes on the heels of Swift's live appearances with the Grand Hustle rapper and label head T.I. Tip himself confirmed that the rapper and the singer would be working together--despite B.o.B.'s attempts to keep mum about it.

“I can neither confirm nor deny such allegations,” said B.o.B. “I can. I heard it,” added T.I. “Taylor’s extended Hustle Gang. She’s a part of the crew. She just ain’t got her dog tags yet, but she’s a part of the crew now.”

“She came to Atlanta and she hit up Grand Hustle,” he said. “I wasn’t there. Tip was there and I eventually linked with her in Dallas and the rest is history.”

T.I. Announces New Year's Mixtape

Rapper T.I. has announced that he is releasing a new mixtape on January 1st, 2012 at the stroke of midnight. He made the announcement via Twitter, to an enthusiastic fanbase eager to hear new music from the star who spent most of the year behind bars.

“Breaking News! Its official…I’m puttin out a mixtape midnight Jan.1 2012 called #Fuckdacityup Wanna be the 1st thing yall hear nxt year,” T.I. tweeted. “When da ball drop…We drop!!!! Out wit da old,in wit da TRUE!!!! Atown…. Weeee Baaaaaack!!!!!”

Tip is currently starring alongside his wife, Tiny and their children in the VH1 reality series, "The Family Hustle." He is also hard at work on his next official studio album.

New Video: T.I. x Pharrell “Here Ye, Hear Ye”

Get More: T.I., Here Ye, Hear Ye, Here Ye, Hear Ye, Free Music Videos

T.I. Praises Nicki Minaj

T.I. may have spent a year (technically almost two straight years) in jail, but that doesn't mean he's stayed out of the loop on the latest 2011 hip hop headlines. Tip was asked about the recently-quiet Nicki Minaj/Lil Kim feud and the Atlanta rap star said that he hasn't given it much thought, but he has been watching Nicki.

And T.I. says that right now is Nicki's time.

"It's hard for me to take rap beef seriously," he says dismissively. "But I will say that Nicki's on fire now. She's a monster, literally."

T.I. On Taylor Swift

Rapper T.I. touched on his friendship with country pop singer Taylor Swift in a recent interview. Swift called up Tip to appear at her show in Atlanta last month right after he was released from prison. The "King of the South" says he was shocked by Swift's phone call.

"I was pleasantly surprised and confused," T.I. said. "I was confused because I know it's a phenomenal opportunity, but being T.I. -- the Rubberband Man -- and Taylor Swift being America's Sweetheart, I had just gotten out of prison like two days [earlier] and all of a sudden my phone rings."

"There were significant differences in a Taylor Swift show from a T.I. show," he adds. "You could take the biggest of the biggest hip-hop artists -- even a Kanye West or Jay-Z show -- and their concerts or tours, they gon' be just a world away from a [Taylor Swift] show."

B.o.B. Discusses Joint Project With T.I.

B.o.B. revealed that he and fellow Atlanta rap superstar are working on a joint album. The news comes after weeks of speculation that the two Grand Hustle rappers would be releasing a Watch the Throne-esque project together.

“Me and Tip working on The Man & The Martian project…It’s a collab album. You know, just something to have fun with. We actually have several songs,” B.o.B told Hot 97. “We actually have been talking about this for a while. Now that he’s back and we got time to record it’s a lot easier to manifest.”

He also discussed working with Lil Wayne on the single “Strange Clouds.”

“I felt like I needed to get somebody on the record who would really bring to life even more the concept of ‘Strange Clouds,’" B.o.B. said. "And the extraterrestrial side of it."

T.I. Inspired By Eminem

T.I. revealed to Billboard's The Juice that he looked to fellow rap superstar Eminem for inspiration during what Tip thought may have been a developing drug habit last year. T.I. says he was worried that he was becoming addicted to the prescription pills oxycontin and hydrocodone following some oral surgeries.

"I haven't had a chance to speak to Em since I've been home," T.I. said. "I heard that while I was down, he was trying to get in contact with me, but I don't know if the dots just didn't connect. [Eminem] overcoming his own adversities, winning the battle against his own demons and continuing to break the mold and re-set the standard of what it means to be the most successful hip-hop artist in the game ... I salute that to no end."

T.I. also addressed addiction in general.

He also shared some words on what addicts can do to help kick their habits. "It starts with you on the inside," he said. "I can give all the advice in the world, but at the end of the day you just got to make that decision internally with yourself. You have to see that you are ready to make a change. Until that moment comes, all advice in the world is going to be in vain cause I'm going to be talking to a brick wall.

"Everybody can tell you what you need to do, how to do it, when you need to do it, how bad you need to do it," he continued. "But until you get that right ass whipping, as they say, and until you have hit rock bottom or have seen something in yourself that is so out of character and it displeases you so much that you just have no choice but to change it ... then you ain't going to see it."

50 Cent Has No Beef With T.I.?

50 Cent and T.I. seem to have smoothed-out whatever differences they may have had with each other. There have been some words passed between the two superstars over the past week, after T.I. took exception to some unsolicited commentary 50 Cent gave on Tip's 2010 drug possession arrest.

Despite the fact that he and T.I. had some 'tense' words back-and-forth on Twitter, the G-Unit head honcho says the two are okay.

"Look how much you fools have been tweeting about me and @tip I spoke to him last night you sh*t heads should be tweeting about streetking," 50 said.

T.I. Reveals Album Details

T.I. is finishing his new album and more details about the project are beginning to emerge. The Atlanta superstar has worked with Two Band Geeks, the production duo consisting of B. Kang and Stroud, and Dr. Luke for the album.

He also revealed the title of the project: Trouble Man, a nod to the 1970s classic by Marvin Gaye.

"I have this one record [titled] 'Pyro' that I'm proud of. [...] 'Pyro' is a straight party record. It's nostalgic of those crazy nights, early mornings [but] just turned up," Tip revealed.

"A lot of times I'm taking myself out of my element," he explained. "This is the first project where I'm talking about things that I've experienced before that I'm not necessarily experiencing now cause I'm not doing a whole lot of partying. I do a little bit but not alot... nothing like when I was in that life."

Monica Hiding Pregnancy?

Is R&B singer Monica pregnant?

The rumor mill is buzzing with suggestions that the former Miss Thang-turned-current-Mrs.-Shannon-Brown may have a bun in the oven. She kept her stomach covered as she celebrated her 31st birthday this weekend in Atlanta with family and friends.

She was also spotted out enjoying the Scream Tour with her sons; alongside Jermaine Dupri and his daughter, and T.I.'s wife Tiny.

T.I. & Peter Rosenberg Make Amends

Rapper T.I. and Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg aired out their differences. Tip previously took exception to Rosenberg's comments following the rapper's release from prison. Rosenberg suggested that T.I. was spending too much time partying; Tip paid a visit to Ciipha Sounds and Rosenberg's show.

"That's my town, and the awards are in my town," he said. "My return is upon us, so why would I not go out there? Why would I not do what I do? Of course I've got other obligations that supersede the awards, that supersede... Would it be better for me to just let somebody from somewhere else come? [...] That means my presence is needed. In my absence, my city has been somewhat absent as well. So this is the return of me and my town. Prior to that, this is my job, this is what I do. Going to parties and doing that, that's part of what I do. I picked up paper at all them parties. And I've been gone for a while, so you don't want me to get my money?"

"If I choose to be one who lives his life in fear of what could happen instead of preparing myself for what I know may happen, I'm not going to be the T.I. that everyone's grown to love," he continued.

T.I. Wants To Kill the King?

As T.I. works on his comeback album, the Atlanta rapper revealed that he's been wrestling with titles for the project. One potential title was Kill the King, and Tip revealed that he thought the theme was appropriate considering what he's endured over the last two years.

"The first of two album titles I'm debating is Kill the King because in all that I've gone through I've observed how people respond to my circumstances, and I always wonder 'Why y'all coming at me like this?' But I thought, 'How do you expect them to act?'" he explains. "Life is a game of chess and the object is to kill the king. If you anoint yourself king, you have made yourself a target. The second one is self-explanatory - Trouble."

T.I. On New Album

T.I. says that he's hard at work on the follow-up to last year's disappointed No Mercy. The 'King of the South' says that he expects to release the new album sometime early in 2012. and that he plans to release it early next year. The Big KRIT-assisted single "I'm Flexin'" has already generated some buzz for the rapper.

"I've narrowed it down between two album titles, and I haven't chosen which one it's going to be yet," he explained. "However, I recorded between 25 to 30 songs so far, and I'm trying to get the album shaped and ready to go for early next year."

"I don't know about a mixtape, champ. I'm focused so much on the album that if I do a mixtape, it'll be a collective effort with me and the new priorities at Grand Hustle," he said. "I'm doing a lot of work to rebuild and reshape the structure of this company, and once we finalize exactly what that's going to be and who that will consist of, I will take those new pieces and we will together probably do a mixtape, introducing that new outfit to the world."

T.I. Dismisses Critics

T.I. had some words for those of his critics that are still chastising the rapper for his back-to-back prison stints stretching from 2009 to 2011. In an interview with Funkmaster Flex, Tip explained himself, but remained defiant about his legal troubles and the peopel who refuse to forgive him for his mistakes.

"I've been rippin' and runnin' and doing what I've been doing since I was 12, 13, 14 years-old okay?" he said. "I'd say I [first] got in trouble when I was 27 years-old. That's thirteen years when I was doing what I was doing. So since I was 27--I'm 31 now--that's four years. So you mean to tell me that I can develop all these habits over the course of thirteen years, and you want me to kick [those habits] before four years? All of them? Ya'll gon' have to work with me."

"You might say, 'I don't see why he did that again'…It might not have took that long for you because you did not begin in the place where I began," he added. "Your circumstances were not my circumstances...People who know my circumstances and where I came from, they are applauding me. Standing ovations."

"In a day and age where a man is judged more on the mistakes that he makes, more so than the character of that man and the pure intent within his heart--so you mean to tell me that if I made no mistakes and kept a clean face but I was just a dirty, grimy slimeball--you mean to tell me you'd rather have that T.I?" he said. "Or would you rather have the guy that struggles within himself because he still cares about people?"

Taylor Swift Appreciates T.I.

Country pop singer Taylor Swift spoke about her admiration for T.I. and her surprise at his appearance at her show in Atlanta last month. Swift has worked with several rappers in the past, and said that she's honored to have been shown so much love from rappers in general.

Even after that little 'misunderstanding' with Kanye West two years ago.

"I'm a huge hip-hop fan, and it's been so amazing to have so many incredible artists come out and to get to sing the hooks on their songs that I've been blasting in my car for the last couple years," Swift explained in an interview. "It's been awesome. I couldn't have asked for more amazing special guests on this tour, and we're not finished yet."

"I called T.I. the night before the show, so I felt like [since] it's such short notice that [he wouldn't do it with me], and he's just like, 'Hey, yeah, sure'," she recalled. "And it was just amazing. I was so excited 'cause I'm such a fan and I thought, 'This is such short notice, this is so ridiculous', that I'm asking him to do this the night before. And he's like, 'I'll be there'," she continued. "And he showed up for sound check and we were all just so star-struck."

T.I. Criticized For Partying?

T.I. has been making the club rounds since he came from an Atlanta halfway house after serving 11 months for violating his probation. But not everyone is feeling T.I.'s post-prison club-hopping. After Hot 97 DJ Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg made some public comments questioning Tip's judgment for being out at nightclubs, the 'King of the South' quickly fired back and defended his actions.

"Quick question to Rap Radar, Cypher sounds, & whoever else felt I shouldn’t have celebrated my return, why NOT?!?!?! Didn’t haters celebrate when I left?" Tip asked via Twitter. "FYI in addition to parties I also attended my two sons football games, my oldest daughters first concert, and took my kids to the awards. What’s the BIG DEAL?"

"No explanation…just a question. If I sat back & let somebody else who wasn’t from my city home in & takeover all weekend would they’d agree with that?!?" he continued. "Actually I was hoping the people I mentioned would’ve answered those questions for me. I’m listening, Chyper Sounds, Peter Rosenburg, Rap Radar. Where you at?"

Cipha responded to Tip's comments.

"Yo @TIP I’m MORE than happy you are home…I’m never ever a hater. Me & @Rosenbergradio are just worried about the trouble in clubs..Let’s golf," he said. "Damn, now people think I’m hating on @TIP. That’s my dog for life…I wish him only the best. This @HOT97 sh*t is too strong."

T.I. Addresses Diddy Rumors

Rapper T.I. has decided to address the ongoing Web speculation surrounding the incident involving him and mogul Diddy at Atlanta's Compound nightclub this past weekend. T.I. diffused an altercation between Diddy and some club patrons, but some have interpreted it as a conflict between the two superstars. T.I. says that couldn't be further from the truth.

"I've been seeing a lot of embellishment going on online," Tip explained in an interview. "First of all, me and Puff, we go way, way back. That's like a brother to me. So whatever was said by me was said out of love. I made no attempt to belittle him or to check him. Puff's a grown man, he do what he want to do. I just felt it was necessary for me to separate for myself from the situation that was going on, just so people knew that I wasn't involved because of my personal circumstances. That's the kind of activity that I can't afford to engage in right now."

"We spoke that night, spoke the next day, spoke today. Me and Puff, we like brothers," he added. "We cool, we good. He one of the first people on his level to reach down to me when no one knew who T.I. was. He's always been very supportive and just an extreme example of how to get where I'm trying to be."

Diddy Involved In Club Incident

Hip hop mogul Diddy was in the middle of a confrontation that occurred this weekend during BET Hip Hop Awards Weekend. Diddy was MCing a party at popular Atlanta club Compound alongside newly-released rapper T.I. When Diddy allegedly spotted a few patrons holding up bottles of Grey Goose instead of Ciroc--which is the vodka company Diddy promotes, of which he also has an ownership share--he went into a tirade on the microphone and threw a drink across the room

"Put that sh** down. It's Ciroc Boys in the building," he yelled. "What you gonna do? This is my house!"

Early reports suggested he was yelling at Kenny Burns, but that rumor was dismissed.

T.I., who just came from an 11-month prison stay, diffused the situation immediately.

"What's going on in this muthaf-ka?" Tip said. "I'm going to tell you like this, you will not f-k my hundred million up for nothing in this muthaf-ka. I don't give a f-k what's going on. I ain't for that fight s-t. I will get the f-k on out of this b--h and let ya'll have it. I've done enough time. Ain't nobody else in this muthaf-ka talking about fighting and have did time. I ain't trying to do it. Puff you got too much money for that sh-t nicca. Let that n*gga drink what the f-k he wanna drink, f-k that s-t. They ain't getting money for drinking that sh-t, they paid to drink that sh-t. I love you and will go to war for you but come on man!"

T.I. Gives Post-Prison Interview

T.I. officially returned home this week after serving an 11-month sentence for violating his probation in September of 2010. He talked to V-103 about his outlook and his time locked away.[video here] He also revealed that he wasn't happy with the 'new T.I.' that emerged in 2009 after he was sentenced to prison for weapons possession.

"When I went through everything I was going through, [I became] the new, sophisticated, Paper Trail, upper echelon T.I.," he said. "All of those people [who liked this new T.I.] were the ones quickest to give me their back pockets to kiss. The ones who really stayed down with me was them Bank Head natives. The ones who supported them first two albums. So I feel like I'ma stay down with who stayed down with me."

"I owe that to myself. I really don't owe anyone any explanation. I think I had to grow to that point. I can't live for ya'll. Ya'll like my music and I appreciate that. Ya'll like me as a person and I appreciate that wholeheartedly. However, I don't owe all these explanations to all these different people I don't even know," he continued. "If you have disagreements with the way I move, with the way I operate, that's fine, you're entitled to it. But at the end of the day, I got to live my life for these people. For my family, for my children, and I'm going to do what's best for them. You don't have to believe me. And I can't make you believe me. There's nothing I can say to make you believe me. But I got to live my life for [my family]."

T.I. Prepping New Single

DJ Drama informed Power 105's DJ Clue on Thursday that, not only is he working with several young artists including Roscoe Dash on new projects and hosting his syndicated radio show; he's also been prepping some tracks with recently-released superstar T.I.

Though T.I. is in a halfway house for a few more days, he's still been able to produce music.

"Tip just came home. I was in the studio with him," Drama said. "He's actually about to drop a new song next week."

"He's in a halfway house but when you're in a halfway house you can still get to work," Drama added. "So he's been in the studio during work time and he's banging out. Actually [his time in the halfway house] ends next week. So he'll be in the streets by the B.E.T. Hip Hop Awards."