RIAA Brings Out the Platinum for T.I.

"URBAN LEGEND" Certified as "Bring Em Out" Crosses Over to Pop Radio & "U Don't Know Me" Explodes at Urban Outlets; Nelly Tour Kicks Off Next Week

"URBAN LEGEND," the chart-topping album from Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I., has been certified platinum by the RIAA for U.S. sales in excess of one million units. T.I.'s second label release, "URBAN LEGEND," made an explosive debut upon its release last November -- premiering in the #1 spot on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" chart and in the #7 spot on the Billboard 200. Now in its fourth month on the national charts, "URBAN LEGEND" remains in the top five this week on the R&B/Hip-Hop list.

"URBAN LEGEND" has thus far spawned a pair of smash singles. The first, "Bring Em Out," hit the top five at Urban radio and the top ten at CHR/Rhythmic outlets. The single is now making major inroads at CHR/Pop radio, ranking as the #1 "New & Active" track on this week's R&R chart.

Meanwhile, the album's second single, "U Don't Know Me," has already bulleted into the top ten at Urban and into the top 15 at CHR/Rhythmic. The companion video is in Heavy rotation at BET, where it is the #1 most-played video of the week. T.I. is being featured in a string of BET programs, including "106 & Park" (where he performed live on March 2nd), "Access Granted," "Rap City," "BET Style," and "Rip The Runway." The "U Don't Know Me" video is also in Big Ten rotation on MTV and is enjoying major play on MTV2, MTV Jams -- where it is in "Blazin'" rotation, and Fuse -- where it is "Oven Fresh."

Coinciding with the success of "URBAN LEGEND," T.I. is getting ready to hit the road with Nelly. The two-month itinerary, which will play major venues from coast to coast, is set to get underway on March 18th and wrap up on May 21st. Also on the bill will be T.I.'s Atlantic labelmate Fat Joe.

In the online world, T.I. has performed for Sessions@AOL, the exclusive program of AOL-produced in-studio performances and interviews. His live performance has been among the Top 10 most played on AOL Music. T.I. has also performed for Rolling Stone Originals, where the audio is available for download and streaming via REAL and Rhapsody. On the wireless front, T.I. continues to have top-selling ringtones across a number of Atlantic's wireless partners.

"URBAN LEGEND" has been winning press raves and major media coverage since its release. Most recently, T.I. garnered the spring cover of Trace magazine and will be featured on the May cover of XXL.

"URBAN LEGEND" finds the Atlanta-based rap sensation joined by a crew of special guests, including Pharrell, Nelly, Lil' Kim, Trick Daddy, Lil Jon, Lil Wayne, Jazze Pha, and others. The album is the follow-up to T.I.'s breakthrough 2003 Grand Hustle/Atlantic premiere, "TRAP MUZIK," which included the hits "24's," "Rubber Band Man," and "Let's Get Away."

In addition to the original "URBAN LEGEND," an entirely remixed version of the album -- "URBAN LEGEND: CHOPPED AND SCREWED BY PAUL WALL" -- was released last month. For this special release, the set was completely retooled by acclaimed underground mixmaster Paul Wall, incorporating the psychedelic sound of "screw" to create an all-new musical experience.

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