King Me

WHEN T.I. BRINGS ‘EM OUT—MOST NOTABLY, HIS FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI AND VIPER TRUCK— HE CAN REV ENGINES WITH ANY OF HIP-HOP’S AUTOMOtive ROYALTY.

Story ADELL HENDERSON /// Photography MICHAEL BLACKWELL

Despite the popularity of his hit single, “U Don’t Know Me,” Clifford ‘Tip’ Harris, aka T.I., has been making it hard to maintain his low-profile status lately, rolling up to spots in his new Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. For most car enthusiasts the 12-cylinder Italian stallion four-seater would be the alpha and omega when it came to fulfilling their wildest automotive dreams. But for Tip it was merely a well-deserved Christmas present to himself, to celebrate how not being naughty can be so nice. Not only did the bold self-proclaimed King of the South wrap production on ATL, his Overbrook/Warner Brothers big-screen debut, in which he stars opposite Outkast’s Big Boi, but he also put the finishing touches on his fourth album, ambitiously titled King. In the midst of his busy schedule the stylish southern gentleman paused for our cause, to take flicks at his custom car shop, Elite Auto Concierge. Here’s his version of how it really goes down in the A, with a sample from his whip stable.

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