T.I. reflects on retirement and past mistakes

T.I. has spoken candidly about retirement, fatherhood and his long-standing marriage to wife Tameka 'Tiny' Cottle-Harris as he prepares to release what he says will be his final album, Kill the King.

The 45-year-old artist, whose career spans more than two decades, said he feels he has achieved everything he hoped to accomplish in music. 

Marking 25 years since his debut album, T.I. explained that stepping away from recording feels like the right time after a career that helped shape Southern hip-hop and produced hits including Bring Em Out and Whatever You Like.

Reflecting on his youth in Atlanta, the rapper acknowledged the reckless decisions that once defined his life, admitting he wishes he had focused more on developing skills and opportunities rather than getting involved in criminal activity. 

According to People, he credits maturity, faith and fatherhood for helping him grow beyond those experiences.

T.I. also spoke warmly about Tiny, revealing that he had admired the former Xscape singer long before they met. 

Moreover, the couple began dating in 2001 and married in 2010, building a blended family that now includes seven children. 

Despite legal troubles and public controversies over the years, he said their relationship has endured because they faced difficult moments together.

While retiring from music, T.I. is not stepping away from family life, as per the outlet.