Tip Get The King Medallion

freddyo12

March 23, 2009

All hail the King. Atlanta showed up and showed out for T.I. as Tip was presented with a king medallion fit for the man who has carried this city on his back for years. FreddyO was in the room for the moment — family, friends and Grand Hustle folks all around — as the King of the South got his crown in jewelry form. Say what you want, but nobody can tell Atlanta’s story without T.I., and this night was the city giving its king his flowers.

Look at where Tip is right now. “Paper Trail” is the biggest album of his career — “Whatever You Like” and “Live Your Life” with Rihanna both hit No. 1, “Dead and Gone” with Justin Timberlake is everywhere, and he just took home Grammys. The kid from Bankhead who told the world “I’m King” on “King” back in 2006 has made it plain fact. So when that medallion goes around his neck, it doesn’t look like a costume piece — it looks like it was always supposed to be there.

Everybody in Atlanta also knows Tip has a serious stretch in front of him, with his court date right around the corner, which is exactly why a moment like this matters. This is his people — his family, his team, his city — letting him know they are riding with him no matter what. T.I. has given Atlanta anthems, given young artists a blueprint through Grand Hustle, and put Bankhead on the map for the whole world. A king takes care of his kingdom, and his kingdom remembers that.