T.I. a little anxious about jail stay

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. hip-hop star Clifford Harris Jr., known professionally as T.I., admits he is a bit anxious about his upcoming stint in prison for weapons possession.

The rapper's album CD "Paper Trail" is No. 1 on the U.S. album chart and his song "Live Your Life" is at the top of the country's record chart.

He was sentenced in a Georgia court to seven months of house arrest, 1,500 hours of community service and a year behind bars.

Asked if he is scared about starting his prison sentence in March, T.I. told CNN: "I wouldn't describe it as fear. I would describe it more as concerned. Concerned, and I am a little anxious. Sooner I get started, sooner I get finished."

The performer said for people to understand why he had the weapons, "you will have to put yourself in my shoes."

"You know how many attempts have been made against my life?" he asked CNN. "There are people out there that would rather kill you than to tell you, 'Good luck' or 'I am happy for you.' So, until you understand that, you wouldn't understand my train of thought. Not to say it was right. It's just my best explanation."

T.I. went on to say the biggest misconception about him is that he is "a hotheaded thug."

"Ignorant, cold-hearted, just another ignorant rapper who had a chance at success and has done nothing but horrible things with it. Nothing can be further from the truth," he said.