T.I. knows his fans have been patiently waiting for his next move, so the rap star will release his upcoming album 'Paper Trail' on August 12, a month before its original due date.

"There was a great demand for the product," T.I. said in a recent interview. "Once we put out 'No Matter What,' we got so much positive response that we moved up the date." 'No Matter What,' produced by Danja, hit the internet last week, but T.I. has yet to drop an official first single. The rapper is leaning toward releasing 'Top of the World,' featuring Kanye West and B.O.B. "It's a reflective song about our humble beginnings and how far we've come," T.I. said.

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Looks like T.I. might have a harder time serving his community than expected. The rap star has been barred from speaking at two Atlanta area school districts due to recent gang activity.

The Grammy award-winning rapper entered a guilty plea to three weapons charges last month and must perform 1000-1500 hours of community service, which includes speaking to youth about the dangers of gangs and guns.

Cobb County officials insist the rapper has not been permanently banned, but admit that recent troubles within the schools make T.I.'s appearance untimely. On the other hand, Fulton County schools said T.I.'s ban is a direct result of his gun conviction.

Looks T.I. is ready to begin "his long road of redemption." The rap star will co-headline the upcoming Turn Up the Vote National Hip-Hop Summit in Philadelphia, along with Russell Simmons and Ciara.

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia to participate in the Hip-Hop Summit," T.I. said in a statement. "We are going to encourage young people to go out to vote. I personally know the value of having the right to vote and it taken away from you, but I will add my voice to help inspire others to take seriously this right and responsibility."

The Turn Up the Vote campaign, which is aimed at educating young adults on the issues in the upcoming Presidential election, will take place two days before the Pennsylvania primary. The HSAN and guest panelists are scheduled to discuss overcoming poverty, healthcare, education and the war in Iraq. Additional panelists include Jim Jones, Flo Rida, Webbie, Lil' Boosie and Styles P.

Grammy award-winning rapper T.I. entered a guilty plea to three weapons charges at the federal courthouse in Atlanta today.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Pannell Jr. scheduled the rapper's sentencing for a year from today. In the meantime, the rap star must perform 1000-1500 hours of community service and abide by his plea agreement. In accordance with T.I.'s plea deal, the rapper will serve 366 days behind bars once he's completed at least 1000 hours of community service. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, was also fined $100,000.

"While I'm not looking forward to being incarcerated, I have a long road of redemption to travel," Harris said outside the courthouse. "I am dedicated and committed to that." Read the full story.

T.I.'s free ... not exactly, but the rapper, who's currently under house arrest while awaiting trial for federal weapons charges, was granted permission on Thursday to attend an Easter Sunday service at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The court clearance allows T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, to leave his residence from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. for the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church's annual service. He'll be accompanied by a court-approved monitor and one of his attorneys during his first trip away from home.

T.I. was arrested on October 13, when he allegedly tried to purchase machine guns and silencers in a Walgreens parking lot in midtown Atlanta.

The rapper is currently working on music for his new album, dubbed 'Paper Trail.' "I've got about thirty-some tracks done, but I've got like sixteen that I'm in love with and I'm still working," T.I. told Rolling Stone last month.

In an effort to keep busy while on house arrest pending trial for gun charges, Atlanta-based rapper T.I. has designed a t-shirt for Playboy's second annual Rock the Rabbit program.

Playboy will offer the limited edition custom T-shirts at www.shopthebunny.com and select Bloomingdales nationwide. Playboy also plans to auction off the original bunny logo shirts to benefit the Rock the Vote organization.

T.I. was arrested on October 13, when he allegedly tried to purchase machine guns and silencers in a Walgreens parking lot in midtown Atlanta.

In addition to designing limited edition tees, the rapper is currently working on music for his new album, dubbed 'Paper Trail.' "I've got about thirty-some tracks done, but I've got like sixteen that I'm in love with and I'm still working," T.I. told Rolling Stone. "After you get those sixteen, you try to make sixteen more to top them and you pick the best."

Entry: murked (v.)
Definition: To be badly hurt or viciously killed
Synonym: mauled
Lyric: "So you finna get hurt, murked, put 'em in the dirt/Boy, you better catch me first" -- T.I., feat. Busta Rhymes and Alfamega, 'Hurt'

We'd hate to be on T.I.'s bad side after hearing the damage the Atlanta-based rapper claims he can cause. The self-proclaimed "King of the South" isn't into child's play ... can you blame him?

Who said being confined to your home is reasonable punishment? T.I., who's under house arrest while awaiting trial for federal weapons charges, and longtime girlfriend Tameka "Tiny" Cottle of '90s girl group Xscape, are expecting their second child together. This will the rapper's fifth.

According to PEOPLE, Cottle announced the news that the on again, off again couple are expecting a baby boy on her Myspace page.

The Atlanta-bred rap star was arrested and charged with possession of unregistered machine guns on October 13. If convicted, the Grammy winner faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Fortunately for T.I. -- who's monitored around the clock -- Cottle and his children are the only people permitted to live with him.

It's been more than two months since T.I. was arrested and charged with possession of unregistered machine guns, and the rapper will now have to wait another six weeks to convince a judge to throw out evidence obtained when he was arrested in an Atlanta parking lot on October 13.

T.I.'s attorneys claim the search was illegal because it was executed without a "warrant, consent or probable cause," according to a motion filed in November. Judge Alan Baverman postponed the suppression hearing -- originally scheduled for Thursday -- until February 19.

In the meantime, T.I. is reportedly working on material for a new album, dubbed 'Paper Trail,' and remains on house arrest while awaiting trial.

In a recent video, Atlanta rapper T.I. thanked his fans for their support and insisted that he's innocent.

"It's a very trying time right now, but I want to let everybody know that I pled not guilty and I gotta stress my innocence," T.I. said. "And I look forward to being exonerated on all charges. And I say that with the utmost sincerity. I can't stress that enough to ya, ya dig?"

T.I., who's currently under house arrest while awaiting trial for federal weapons charges, also confirmed that he is working on his upcoming album, 'Paper Trail.'

The rap star appeared positive in the video as he thanked his team of lawyers while proclaiming his faith in the Lord: "I'm just listening to what God got to say right now." He added, "I'm abiding by all the stipulations, all of the criteria of my bond and of my release, and I got faith in God and I got faith in the system. You know, America is a wonderful country."

T.I. is putting his time indoors to good use. The rapper -- currently under house arrest while awaiting trial for federal weapons charges -- is working on a new album entitled 'Paper Trail.' T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., has already recorded six tracks for the new project in his home studio.

Harris was arrested on October 13, when he allegedly tried to purchase machine guns and silencers in an Atlanta parking lot. The ex-convict was released from federal custody on October 26 after posting $3 million bond.

Harris' last release, 'T.I. vs. T.I.P.,' sold almost 500,000 its first week on the shelves, but still fell short of the success of his Grammy-nominated fourth album, 'King.'

T.I. withdrew his request to host Thanksgiving dinner, just two days after asking a judge for permission to have a list of family members celebrate the holiday at his home in Jonesboro, Georgia. Lawyers for T.I. -- born Clifford Harris Jr. -- dropped their request when prosecutors refused to bend the terms disclosed in his bond conditions.

"The defendant is asking this Court for the very kind of special treatment to which this court made clear the defendant was not entitled," prosecutors said in response to Harris' request.

According to federal prosecutors, Harris submitted a list of 95 names for his Turkey Day dinner. The Court would have been responsible for conducting criminal background checks on all 95 guests.

"His constant requests for more visitors, recent complaint about 'delays' in the approval of visitors, and request for maintenance workers and a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with 'family' show that the defendant does not ... appreciate the generousity of the Court in granting his release."

Attorneys for T.I. filed a motion in federal court requesting that the Atlanta-based rapper be allowed to host Thanksgiving dinner at his Jonesboro home. T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., is currently under house arrest while awaiting trial on federal weapons charges.

The ex-convict was arrested on October 13, when he allegedly tried to purchase machine guns and silencers in a Walgreens parking lot in midtown Atlanta. As a condition of his release, Harris is allowed no more than three approved visitors at a time, with the exception of his girlfriend and children.

Harris is requesting that a judge approve a group of visitors on November 22, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The rap star has also asked the judge to allow workers to come and clean his home in preparation for the possible celebration. If approved, Harris will be required to beef up security and pay for additional guards.

Meanwhile, the rapper-turned-actor can be seen enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with Denzel Washington in a scene from his latest flick, 'American Gangster.'

Atlanta Judge Alan Baverman ordered T.I. be released on $3 million bond, but requested that the rapper be placed on house arrest while he awaits trial on weapons charges.

T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, has been in federal custody since he was arrested on October 13 for allegedly attempting to purchase a machine gun and two silencers from his bodyguard.

In accordance with the judge's order, T.I. will be monitored around the clock by a private monitoring service that he must pay for. If convicted, the Grammy winner faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.