It appears the final time fans will see veteran rapper T.I. gracing the stage to perform will be on December 19. During an interview on 96.1 The Beat’s “Rari at 2” show, the Bring Em Out rapper announced he’d be retiring from performing after the radio station’s annual iHeartRadio Jingle Ball at the State Farm Arena, BET reported.
T.I., whose real name is Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., is among the star-studded artists billed to perform at the December 19 event. But the 44-year-old said that could be the final time he performs before an audience.
“I appreciate y’all for offering me my last working gig because I do not need the money anymore and I will not be performing,” the award-winning rapper said. “I don’t want to do it anymore… I don’t want people to pay me to hop around and sweat for their entertainment anymore.”
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The show’s host, Ferrari Simmons, also asked T.I. if he’s likely to perform at a different event. “Of course, I’m going to answer the phone to tell them that I will not be performing,” he replied.
The rapper, however, stated that he has not fully closed those doors, explaining that if he ever performs again, it will be on his terms.
T.I.’s announcement comes after he and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris won a $71 million lawsuit against MGA Entertainment over claims the toy company infringed the intellectual property rights of OMG Girlz – the teen pop girl group that the plaintiffs founded, Face2Face Africa reported.
Per Rolling Stone, the plaintiffs won their third court trial over allegations that MGA Entertainment’s “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” line of dolls mimicked how the group dressed for some of their previous public appearances. The couple was ultimately awarded $17.9 million in real damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages.
“I mean, wow. They did more than I thought they would,” Tiny, who is a member of the award-winning girl group, Xscape, told the news outlet after the verdict. “I would have been happy with whatever. They blessed us more than beyond. We wanted to thank the jurors so bad, but we didn’t get the opportunity.”
The couple filed the lawsuit alleging that 30 dolls that the toy company rolled out infringed the intellectual property rights of OMG Girlz. The jury agreed that 13 of the dolls MGA Entertainment released violated the trade dress and misappropriated the name, image, and likeness of OMG Girlz. The jury also agreed that a 14th doll the company released infringed the group’s trade dress and also concluded that a 15th doll misappropriated the name, image, and likeness of OMG Girlz.
“I think justice was served. I think it’s a testament to the relentlessness and resilience of my wife, daughter and nieces,” T.I. also said. “We’re just happy we were able to come out on top and fight for creatives and our intellectual property that large corporations seem to think is just public domain and free for all to come and grab and use.”
The rapper also said the decision by the jury signaled a victory for “the people who actually put hard work and effort into building and creating things from nothing.”
