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T.I.'s Road to Redemption (MTV)

common sense media says

Rapper's docuseries offers reality check for troubled teens.

parents & educators say
See all 4 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this reality series follows hip-hop artist T.I. as he mentors troubled teens as before being formally sentenced on weapons charges. There are discussions of violent criminal activity (including T.I.'s own criminal record) that are too strong for tweens and younger teens, but they're offered in the context of showing the serious consequences of this kind of behavior. Also expect references to drugs, strong language (with some bleeps), and potentially upsetting images (dead people in caskets, for example).

Positive messages: The series has strong messages about the negative and often fatal consequences of getting involved in destructive behavior like gang activity and drug dealing. It also discusses the importance of family and getting an education. Still, it's a little unclear whether T.I.'s efforts are motivated by genuinely wanting to help teens or by trying to get a shorter jail sentence. The majority of the teens T.I. mentors are African-American males.
Violence: Most of the discussions about violence (including drive-by shootings) are offered within the context of showing its negative consequences. T.I. discusses the death of a childhood friend and how this led to his arrest for weapons possession. Video footage of the guns seized from T.I. is shown. Some of the teens are involved with gangs.
Sex: Some of the teens are young fathers.
Language: Audible language includes words like "damn" and "hell." Stronger curse words (like "s--t") are bleeped.
Consumerism: The series is a promotional vehicle for T.I. It features music performed by him and artists, including PMG and N.E.R.D.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Many of the teens T.I. tries to help use and/or deal drugs.
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More on T.I.'s Road to Redemption

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why T.I. chose to do a reality show about his community service. What do you think his intentions are? Is it just a publicity stunt, or does he genuinely want to make a difference in the teens' lives? Families can also discuss the consequences of getting involved in things like drugs and gang activity. How can the media be used to teach kids about making more positive choices? Do you think that this show is a good example of how this can be done?

What's the story?

What's the story?
T.I.'S ROAD TO REDEMPTION follows Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. -- a.k.a. Grammy-winning rapper T.I. -- as he attempts to change the lives of seven troubled teens before facing formal sentencing for weapons charges in March 2009. After he was arrested for arms possession, the hip-hop artist agreed to complete 1000 hours of community service in exchange for a reduction in his potential 30-year prison sentence. So now the singer (who is currently out on bond and monitored at all times) offers tough love as he shows wayward kids some of the very real negative -- and often fatal -- consequences of dealing drugs, joining gangs, and ignoring the law. Meanwhile, T.I. offers his personal insights about his own life and the mistakes he's made as he counts down the days to his own incarceration.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The show is an interesting combination of self-revelation and mentorship as T.I. attempts to scare teens straight to help them avoid problems like the one's he's currently facing. But the series also kind of feels like a publicity stunt intended to score points with both viewers and the legal system. As a result, you can't help but wonder whether he's motivated more by the idea of helping kids or the hope of being spared a long jail sentence.

Regardless of T.I.'s true intentions, the series does offer some very positive messages about staying out of trouble, the value of getting an education, and the importance of family. It also shows how past mistakes can have a long-term impact. Granted, the show's detailed discussions about weapons, drive-by shootings, and other criminal activity are too strong for tweens and even some young teens. But for older teens who need a reality check, this show definitely offers some lessons worth learning.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: MTV
Cast: T.I.
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: MTV
This review was written by Melissa Camacho
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

silly_samsters
teen, 17 years old
13
 
PERFECT
This show is really good! It is about this rapper that is going to go to prison for atleast a year but before he goes he is going to show some teens that desobaying the law is not fun. He takes them to diffrent places and have them talk to people that made that same mistake. I think that every teen should watch this that have ever thought about disobaying the law or have disobayed the law!
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (4)
countryboy
parent of and 2 , 2 , 3 year old
2
 
i had cried because that was sad what them kids was going through
people care because they don't like to see us black mens going to jail or dying.
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
Prototype79043
teen, 16 years old
13
 
If you let your kids watch Lincoln Heights , this should be okay.
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)
kenni10
adult
15
 
"I'm lost"
I'm lost within what just happened to me. I lost what I really wanted within just 2 weeks after our 1 mouth together, thanks to some people who really can't stand the fact that i was with her. I told her that I love her and I really do love her, I told her that I don't want to lose her, and I really don't want to lose her. It's something about her that i really don't know what it is just yet but all I know is that I want her, and I really like her alot. She puts a smile on my face when I really don't like to smile. I love being with her for the fact that she makes me feel something inside of me that i haven't felt for a long time. She's something beautiful, something sweet, something loving to me. She's the first that has ever made me really truely feel this way about her. All I want is for her to know that I didn't/do what those people are tryig to say that I did/doing. I want her and only. I told her that i want to be with her for at lease untell 12th grade is over with and she told me that she wants that too. I asked her no matter what comes our way we'll work it out and she said yes, I asked her how she truely felt about me and she told me something that i never thought to hear coming from her. She is all I want, all I need, I just would like for her to hear me out and understand why I would not do nothing like that to her. I love her.
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (1)

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