Rapper says jail officials approved his video shoot

<p>The rapper known as T.I. says he thought his controversial video shoot at Fulton County Jail was approved by officials.</p><p>The 23-year-old artist, whose real name is Clifford Harris, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the Thursday video shoot _ which Sheriff Jackie Barrett said she never approved _ was intended as an introduction to a concert performance in Atlanta on Saturday.</p><p>The video showed him in a jail cell, apologizing to fans for not appearing at the event. Then, it showed two uniformed officers escorting him out of the cell shortly before he took the stage at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre.</p><p>Harris said he planned the video because "basically, it was a lot of speculation _ he say, she say _ about my incarceration. I chose to take advantage of that."</p><p>Harris was serving jail time in neighboring Cobb County on a probation violation when he received permission to leave the jail to make the video at the Fulton jail, Cobb County Chief Deputy Sheriff Lynda Coker said.</p><p>Fulton County sheriff's officials can't agree on who gave the rapper clearance to be in the maximum security area of their jail. Under orders from his attorney, T.I. won't say. The rapper will meet with Fulton investigators Monday.</p><p>Harris' second album, "Trap Muzik," was a best seller last year, spawning the hit single "Rubber Band Man." He plans to put out his third major-label album, tentatively titled "Urban Legend," in late fall.</p><p>Harris said publicity from the jail video won't hurt his image.</p><p>"I'm like a UFO. I'm like a myth," he said, adding of the video controversy, "I'm the easiest person to pass the blame on."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x286641c)</p>