Hip-hop artist T.I. will make one of his final performances before beginning his jail sentence in May at Rites of Spring.
The Vanderbilt Programming Board's Music Group announced Friday that the Grammy-winning, 28-year-old artist will be the Friday night headliner of the annual two-day music festival.
After pleading guilty to federal weapons charges, rapper T.I. was sentenced to one year and a day in prison on Friday. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, tried to purchase unregistered machines guns and silencers in 2007 for protection following the murder of his best friend, Philant Johnson, in 2006. As part of his sentence, T.I. will also face a $100,000 fine.
Although T.I. pleaded guilty last March to the charges, he was not sentenced until Friday because of a community service deal where he was asked to speak with young people about the negative implications of violence, guns and drugs.
After Johnson was killed at party, T.I. testified that he thought the bullets were intended for him. He was then arrested in Atlanta after his bodyguard tried to buy weapons for him from an undercover federal agent. T.I. is expected to go to prison sometime after May 19. He has already completed approximately 1,000 hours of community service and is due to complete 470 more hours.
Music Group co-chair and senior Zach Reiner said the group is pleased to be able to say the artist will make Vanderbilt's Rites of Spring one of his last performances before jail time.
"His sentence begins in May, so this is the last time most people will get a chance to see him," Reiner said.
The group originally chose T.I. based on the success of other hip-hop artists at events like Quake and past Rites of Spring, Reiner said. "After Quake last year, which was so successful, we thought T.I. would be a good fit."
Reiner also said that the student survey responses and T.I.'s success factored into the decision to have him at Rites of Spring.
According to Reiner, the group has received positive feedback and created a buzz of excitement.
"I think we definitely made the right decision," Reiner said. "There's a real possibility we might sell out."
Reiner said the group did consider the ethical implications of having an artist with a criminal record perform.
"It would be a mistake to not consider those types of things. Obviously, when you bring an artist facing gun charges to campus, there are going to be people who are offended."
In the end, Reiner said, "We decided it was the best move. The goal of our group is to bring the best of music."
Despite T.I.'s recent sentence, students seem to be pleased with the selection.
"It's awesome, all of my friends are going to go. All their Facebook statuses were like T.I. is coming," said first-year student YJ Ko.
"I didn't know a lot of the people so I wasn't excited, but when I got the e-mail about it I changed my mind and bought a ticket ... I think T.I. will sway a lot of people who normally may not go to Rites," said junior Morgan Fingleton.
T.I. has already made 262 public appearances at schools, community centers and churches to educate the American youth. In addition, T.I. also worked to increase voter registration and had his own MTV reality show, "Road to Redemption," which was intended to shed light on the negative consequences of violence. Neither of these counted as part of his community service.
Following his release from jail, T.I. will face a three-year probation and an additional 60 days of home detention. He has already served 305 days of home detention.
According to MTV.com, T.I. has previously been convicted for violating a state controlled substances act, giving false information, violating probation and possession of firearms and marijuana.
The Music Group also took the opportunity to announce other smaller bands that will perform April 17 and 18 on Alumni Lawn.
As of March 27, the line-up includes the Flaming Lips, T.I., N.E.R.D., Q-Tip, Okkervil River, Santigold, K'NAAN, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Grand Ole Party, Sara Watkins (of Nickel Creek), Erick Baker, Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Run With Bulls, Blueskyreality, Pico vs. Island Trees and Electrik Red.
Tickets for are on sale now for students and the general public at Ticketmaster locations. Weekend passes are $20 for students and advanced weekend passes are $45 dollars for the general public. Student tickets cannot be purchased online.
The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.
