Georgia Entertainment Scene
Georgia Entertainment Scene

T.I. to receive ASCAP's inaugural Voice of the Culture Award

Atlanta rapper T.I. performed an energetic set at the Sept. 9 One Musicfest at Atlanta's Central Park. Photo: Melissa Ruggieri/AJC
Atlanta rapper T.I. performed an energetic set at the Sept. 9 One Musicfest at Atlanta's Central Park. Photo: Melissa Ruggieri/AJC
By Melissa Ruggieri
May 21, 2019

Atlanta rapper T.I. will receive a special award from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers next month.

The 32nd annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards will bestow its Heritage Award on Motown Records, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and present T.I., 38, with the inaugural ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award on June 20 in Los Angeles.

The new honor was created for songwriters and artists with a major influence on music and culture. T.I. (legally known as Clifford Harris), in addition to his business acumen (he’s the CEO of Grand Hustle Records and last year launched the BET reality show, “The Grand Hustle,” to find an executive for his company), is active as an actor (“Ant-Man,” “Takers”) and philanthropist.

His non-profit organization, Harris Community Works, has benefited the Atlanta community through several ventures. Every Thanksgiving, T.I. hands out hundreds of turkeys to seniors. He also contributed to Colin Kaepernick’s Million Dollar Pledge and organized a voting rights effort in the city.

Other awards to be presented at the 2019 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards include ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song, Top Rap Song and Top Gospel Song.

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About the Author

Melissa Ruggieri has covered music and entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2010 and created the Atlanta Music Scene blog. She's kept vampire hours for more than two decades and remembers when MTV was awesome.

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