Technology has undeniably transformed the world as we know it. However, rapper-turned-entrepreneur, filmmaker, comedian, and more, Clifford “Tip” Harris, emphasizes that no matter how far innovation advances, it can never replace the human emotions that ignite creativity.
During the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference, Harris took the Innovation Stage to discuss technological advancements and how he has remained authentic to himself and the community he has served for over two decades.
When he first arrived on the scene in 1996, he befriended fellow Atlanta rapper Big Kuntry King, selling mixtapes out of the trunk of their cars in hopes of making it big. Initially, he was known to the world as Tip before changing his stage name to T.I. Today, aside from music, his portfolio includes filmmaking, restaurateur, and more. As one of the trailblazers of trap music, he is also the founder of Atlanta’s Trap Music Museum, an interactive cultural space that celebrates the history, evolution, and impact of Hip-Hop on the world.
“If I didn’t invest in myself, then that entity, that asset, that brand that we built, it would not exist to invest in myself as a filmmaker,” said Harris of his Trap Music Museum endeavor. “Me and DC Young Fly, we’ve had conversations, we’ve been walking in and out of streamers and networks to sell a show that would speak to our community and our generation. And I saw people that didn’t look like me. We saw people who didn’t look like us sit across from us and tell us how we should and shouldn’t be speaking to our people, which let us know, man, we just need to do it ourselves. And we did. I’m on my third film now, and also becoming a comedian, just deciding to step outside the box of conformity, do the unexpected, and just take a journey and learn a new craft.”
Staying on the topic of self-investment, the “You Don’t Know Me” rapper revealed that he has relied on little to no outside investors for most of the business ventures he has added to his portfolio over the years.
“I don’t know if this is to my benefit or detriment, but I don’t have many investors,” said Harris. “I’m pretty much the only investor I got, but I think being blessed with opportunities and knowing where my blessings come from, I follow my heart. I let God guide my steps. And I feel like wherever He takes me is where I’m supposed to be.”
When it comes to the recent rise of innovation in AI, he says that he will always remain rooted in sharing narratives and products that uplift and inspire the culture.
“Black culture, it’s the only culture I got,” Harris expressed. “I ain’t got nothing else to offer. This is what it is. I grew up, I was born Black, I’m going to die Black, and everything in the middle. It is not that other cultures aren’t important; however, you must maintain authenticity in anything that you present to the people. So, if I’m going to present to you the thing that I know best, which is men, and then I’m back, it’s not a great decision to make there. I remain true to who I am, where I come from, and the people I represent, and anybody interested in that or who wants to learn more about that or want to involve themselves with it is free to partake.”
Moreover, the Atlanta native says that although technology is evolving at lightning speeds, it can not recreate one human element.
“They can imitate the way a person talks, the words a person might say, but what they can’t imitate, they can’t imitate this pain, the pain and the lessons that I’ve learned from these life experiences,” said Harris. “They just can’t do it. It’s only one of me, so I will continue to hold on to that asset and present it to the world as long as it has value.”
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He concluded, “But there are useful ways to incorporate AI into your business, like, I’m designing a new room in my house, building a new room in my house, and looking for what color tile I should use. I could just swipe across the screen and take a picture, and it’ll show me exactly how to do it. That’s useful. I just don’t necessarily think art is the best use for AI. There are other ways to utilize it, but I feel like art is a human experience.”
Planning to attend AFROTECH™ Conference 2025? Secure your early bird tickets now for Oct. 27–31, 2025, in Houston, TX.
