Rapper T.I. Makes Surprise Appearance At Dallas High School
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - His music has millions of fans. He fills concert halls. He has performed with Justin Timberlake and virtually every major music star today. On Monday afternoon, he shocked 450 students at Madison High School with a surprise appearance.
T.I. or Tip, as he's known today, is a huge music star. He showed up at the South Dallas campus to continue his campaign to reach out to students who live in low income, crime ridden areas. "I come from a neighborhood just like this," he told the crowd of students in the school's auditorium.
"My message is don't be me, be better than me," he said.
Tip was born Clifford Harris Jr. He grew up in Atlanta and was an admitted street drug dealer as a teenager. He served time in prison... why would he be someone educators would willingly open their doors for students to see?
"He has a story of motivation that's real for our students," Principal Gayle Smith said. Smith said the rapper understands the influence he has over fans, and his decision to speak to them directly was impressive. "He grew up with some of the same things they see. He's telling them to do better."
Tip encouraged the students to reach for the trinkets of success - cars, houses, money. But he emphasized that students must also reach for improving their education and working harder than anyone else to achieve those goals.
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