Rapper T.I. released from prison, moved to halfway house

The Grammy Award-winning rapper/actor, whose given name is Clifford Harris, was sentenced in March (09) to one year and one day in prison on federal weapons violations.

The 29-year-old hip-hop star was sent behind slammer for trying to buy unregistered machine guns back in 2007.

Rapper released early
Harris, who has been serving a 366-day sentence on weapons charges since March, got an early Christmas present Tuesday, when he was released just seven months into his jail term.

Harris’ attorney Steve Sadow told The Associated Press that his client was expected to report to Dismas Charities halfway house in Atlanta on Tuesday night to begin a stay of two or three months.

Sadow said the Atlanta-born rapper "did his very best to adjust to his circumstances" in prison and knew he had to pay for his crime, according to AP.

The hip-hop superstar was originally scheduled to be released on March 10, 2010.

Early release is not unsusual
Sadow said Harris’ early release is not an unusual move.

"It happens across the board as long as the inmates are eligible," he told E! Online. "They decided that three months in a halfway house would assist him with reentering society."

After spending time at Dismas Charities Atlanta West, he still has 500 hours of community service and about 23 days of home incarceration to complete in addition to a $100,300 fine.

Harris’ 2007 arrest
The self-proclaimed "King of the South" was arrested in 2007 in Atlanta for possession of machine guns and silencers. The rapper was nabbed by the federal agents during a sting operation when he sent his bodyguard to buy three machine guns and two silencers from an undercover cop posing as an arms dealer.

He pleaded guilty last March to three charges of illegal weapons possession.

Harris originally had faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count when he had pleaded not guilty. But, the rapper performed more than 1,000 hours of community service, including visit to the Oak Hill Youth Center in January as part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, thus reducing his prison time.

About the multi-talented artist
Born on Sept. 25, 1980 in Atlanta, Georgia, Harris Jr. is best known by the stage name T.I.

A man of many talents, the multiplatinum recording artist has hits such as "Live Your Life" and "Whatever You Like". He made his acting debut in March 2006 in ATL, an American movie that was directed by Chris Robinson with a screenplay by Tina Gordon Chism.

The father of six won two Grammy Awards in 2006 for best rap solo performance and best rap/sung collaboration. Harris released his sixth album Paper Trail on Sept. 30, 2008.

He has had three straight No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, including "Paper Trail." Harris will be appearing in the film Takers in February 2010.