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T.I. Kicks Off U.S. Tour Today, Hot on Heels of #1 Chart Debut for "King"; Rapper to Perform During Jordan All-American Classic

Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I. kicks off his headlining U.S. tour today in Nashville, TN, at Tennessee State University. Grand Hustle/Atlantic label mate Young Dro and Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South recording artist Yung Joc will support T.I. on select dates (see attached itinerary).

The tour follows the spectacular premiere of T.I.'s new album, "KING," which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and passed the half million mark in its first week. "KING" also debuted at #1 on both Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts -- where it remains for the third consecutive week, as well as #1 on iTunes and #1 on the Top Digital albums chart.

T.I. will also be performing tomorrow, April 22, at Madison Square Garden during the 2006 Jordan All-American Classic, presented by Foot Locker and Boost Mobile. The annual event showcases the top high school players in the country and throughout the New York City region. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit The Children's Aid Society.

"KING" features the current smash single, "What You Know," which has leapt to #1 at mainstream Urban radio and into the top 5 at CHR/Rhythmic outlets nationwide. It ranks #1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it earned the Greatest Gainer/Sales designation this week. On the same chart, T.I.'s new single, "Why You Wanna," has earned him Greatest Gainer/Airplay status, bulleting into the #22 spot.

"What You Know" is also #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, while its companion video is the #1 most-played clip this week on both MTV and MTV2, following its previous #1 ranking at BET, where it holds down the #2 spot.

Coinciding with the release of "KING," T.I. made his acclaimed acting debut in the Overbrook/Warner Bros. Pictures film "ATL." The movie was the #1 live action debut of the week, ranking as the #3 film overall.

Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist Young Dro will release his label debut, "BEST THANG SMOKIN'," on June 27th. Its first single, "Shoulder Lean," featuring T.I., has already impacted airwaves across the country. Young Dro has been featured on label mate DJ Drama's "GANGSTA GRILLZ" mixtape series.

Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South recording artist Yung Joc is set to release "NEW JOC CITY" on May 23rd. Its first single, "It's Goin' Down," which appears on virtually every southern hip-hop mixtape, has already bulleted into the top ten at Urban radio and into the top 30 at CHR/Rhythmic outlets.

T.I. Tour
With Yung Joc and Young Dro

April
21      Nashville, TN           Tennessee State University
23      Boston, MA              Avalon Ballroom * ^
25      Cleveland, OH           House of Blues * ^
27      Detroit, MI             State Theatre * ^
29      Milwaukee, MI           Eagles Ballroom * ^

May
2       Cincinnati, OH          Bogart's * ^
3       St. Louis, MO           The Pageant * ^
9       New Orleans, LA         House of Blues * ^
24      Anaheim, CA             House of Blues * ^
25      San Diego, CA           4th & B Concert Theatre * ^
26      Los Angeles, CA         House of Blues * ^

June
1       New York, NY            Apollo Theatre *
2       Washington, DC          Love Night Club * ^
3       North Myrtle Beach, SC  House of Blues * ^
5       Lake Buena Vista, FL    House of Blues ^

* = With Yung Joc
^ = With Young Dro

Distributed by Market Wire