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T.I.

Date: Apr 20 2009

Themes: Music, News

Grammar: Simple Present Tense

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

It’s one thing to write songs about being in prison. Plenty of rappers do that. But only a lucky few actually get to experience the real thing. Now T.I. is one of them. He was recently sentenced to one year in prison for owning illegal weapons.

Now T.I. is using his last few weeks of freedom to help some troubled teeangers turn their lives around with a new reality show called T.I.’s Road to Redemption. But can T.I. turn his own life around before it’s too late? Find out what Marni and Ella think.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Ella

Marni

Ella: Marni, I’m so sad! T.I.’s going to jail.

Marni: Oh, yeah. For a weapons purchasing?

Ella: Yeah, he was trying to buy automatic weapons . You know, it’s a rapper thing to do!

Marni: Yeah, I mean isn’t that like the standard issue? You’re a rapper, you need to buy automatic weapons.

Ella: Yeah, but he’s gonna be there for I think less than a year, so he’ll be out, but…MTV’s been doing this big follow-up. It’s called T.I.’s Road to Redemption, this TV show.

Marni: Yeah, he’s helping at-risk youth.

Ella: Yeah, each show is a little…different kid who’s kind of living in the streets, in the hood, and he’s trying to show them the better life, you know, and then the worse life. He takes one kid to the mortuary and shows him a gangbanger that got beat up and killed, just to show them this is what could happen. But then he rewards them, like takes them to an awards show in one and helps pay for school in another.

Marni: He’s doing some good then with his…

Ella: Yeah, he’s doing lots of good.

Marni: Well I think it’s interesting. He’ll pay his dues to society and then…I’m glad that he’s already sort of on the road to redemption.

Ella: Can’t wait for him to come back to the rap scene.

Marni: Yeah. He will be missed.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

Ella is sad because T.I. is going to jail for possessing illegal weapons. Lots of rappers talk about owning weapons, so it’s a little surprising to hear about one actually getting arrested for it. Many people see guns, violence, and jail as part of the rapper image.

Now T.I. has a TV show in which he tries to help at-risk kids by showing them what might happen to them if they don’t behave better. He also shows them how good their lives could be if they become better citizens. Ella believes that T.I. is on the road to redemption himself.

Do you believe that T.I. will keep getting in trouble with the law? Is it really possible for people to turn their lives around?

Comments

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leearena

Malaysia

who's T.I??never heard his song..hmm maybe someday I'll find out by my self..no wonder he has so many fans.. he's kind hearted..

Tew

Thailand

He's a cool rapper!

pizzachuwave

Thailand

just like his song "Live ur life"

Everyone has their own way of life

云淡风轻

China

I love his song—whatever u like :)

siberian tigger

Mexico

Everybody is able to improve his or her life style even though most of them are not aware of this powerful tool to reorganize their own lifes.

Thanks a lot fellas

cowboy53

Thailand

OMG!!!! think it's not seriously case. I really love his song.

sleep like a log

China

i agree with you .

ovrecome myself!

MmLLoO

Germany

I don't really know much about T.I and his relationship with the law but i think every person is able to change his or her live if he o she really wants this and believe in this of course….i know it's easier said than done but i think thats the only way out of bad things

ciberd7

Brazil

People can turn their lives around just reconsider all the mistakes they did in the past and try not to do ´em again.
It´s a pity to make a mistake, but You have the strength to overcome and become yourself into a new person. It´s hard to change and forget the past, otherwise, you´ll have experience and time to think over and over before making a new mistake,
T.I. will have to think over and over, He´s a rich chap and soon he´ll find a way to pay with money and dart off jail I mean in a legal way

Liaa

Russian Federation

I've never heard songs by T.I. And I think weapons could not be part of the somebody's image, except police.

But I also think it is really possible for him to turn his lives around.

horse.n

Maldives

iam afraid that the day will come when the weapons is available to all.

another important thing each person deserves a second chance

ciberd7

Brazil

People can turn their lives around just reconsider all the mistakes they did in the past and try not to do ´em again.

It´s a pity to make a mistake, but You have the strength to overcome and become a new life. It´s hard to change and forget the past, otherwise, you´ll have experience and time to think over and over before making a new mistake,

T.I. will have to think over and over, He´s a rich chap and soon he´ll find a way to pay with money and darf off jail I mean in a legal way!

id_oriental

Uzbekistan

to appreciate freedom at it`s all value.. man needs to lose it.. after that if he`s wise, he`ll revise his veiw of life..

ciberd7

Brazil

People can tunr their lives around just reconsider all the mistakes they did in the past and try not to do ´em again.

T.I. will have to think over and over, He´s a rich chap and soon he´ll find a way to pay with money and darf off jail I mean in a legal way!

Zambuka

United States

i'm totally agree with Bartek! every person has the second chance, and we must give him the right to use it ! especially when he understands that he has done a bad thing!