<p>The rapper known as T.I. is likely used to fans watching everything he does. He'll now have a private monitoring service using GPS to track his movements after a judge released him on bond Friday, and confined him to his home to await trial on weapons charges.</p><p>T.I, whose real name is Clifford Harris, walked out of the federal courthouse in downtown Atlanta after meeting with probation officials and posting a $3 million bond _ $2 million in cash and $1 million in equity on property he owns.</p><p>U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman agreed to the bond over government objections so long as Harris follows a laundry list of conditions, including remaining in a home in suburban Henry County except for medical appointments and court appearances.</p><p>Harris also was required to surrender his passport, not own any guns and stay away from witnesses and informants in the case. The only people who will be allowed to live with him are his girlfriend and children. Visitors will have to be approved by the court.</p><p>Baverman warned him sternly not to violate conditions of his bond.</p><p>The judge said that if Harris gets into any trouble or violates the terms of his release, "A number of very bad things will happen." That includes his bond being revoked and any sentence he receives later being potentially increased.</p><p>Observing that T.I has a team of highly qualified attorneys, the judge said, "You shouldn't do anything that will undermine their ability to represent you."</p><p>Harris, wearing a gray suit and no tie, told Baverman he understood the conditions.</p><p>Defense lawyer Ed Garland argued that based on the amount of money being put up, there was no reason not to release his client.</p><p>Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Alley argued that the facts of the case suggest that Harris should be kept in custody pending trial, but that if the judge ordered him released on bond, the government wouldn't further oppose it.</p><p>But, Baverman said he believed bond was appropriate.</p><p>Harris' attorney presented the court with two cashier's checks for the cash portion of the bond. The bond money came from several sources, including Harris and Atlantic Records. The judge authorized Harris to leave the courthouse after he met with probation officials.</p><p>A status conference in the case is set for Nov. 5.</p><p>A throng of more than 60 supporters _ family members, friends and fans _ stood outside the federal courtroom during the hearing. Some of the rapper's supporters held up signs with pictures of the rapper and wore shirts saying "Free T.I." on the front and "Let your haters be your motivators" on the back.</p><p>People in attendance at the hearing included his girlfriend, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle; Jason Geter, co-CEO of Grand Hustle Records, T.I.'s label, and rapper Young Dro.</p><p>Earlier Friday, federal agents and representatives of the private monitoring service searched the home where Harris will be staying and made sure it was free of contraband. They secured it and allowed no one else in since then.</p><p>Authorities say that on Oct. 13, about an hour before a scheduled performance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, Harris showed up to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers. He already had three guns in his car _ one of them loaded _ when he was arrested, authorities say.</p><p>Harris, 27, of College Park, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.</p><p>Harris grew up poor in Atlanta's Bankhead neighborhood, and was selling crack by the time he was a teenager. After years of hustling to launch his rap career, recording demos and flying back and forth to New York shopping for a record deal, his first taste of success came with his 2003 album, "Trap Muzik." But the following year, warrants were issued for his arrest on probation violations for a drug conviction and was sentenced to three years behind bars.</p><p>Sydney Margetson, T.I.'s publicist from Atlantic Records, said Friday the label is happy about the rapper's release.</p><p>"Better than last week," Margetson said, referring to the judge delaying T.I.'s release a week ago.</p><p>Aneria Johnson, a supporter of the rapper, said her 13 children are big fans of the rapper.</p><p>"I had to explain this whole situation to my kids," the Atlanta resident said. "I hope he takes this time after being released today and think about the upcoming trial and what he has to face."</p><p>Outside the federal courthouse, a woman driving by had written the names of two of T.I.'s songs on her minivan: "Bring 'Em Out" and "ASAP."</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. in Atlanta contributed to this report.</p>
