T.I. may be called the King of the South, but he might as well just be crowned king of it all. His last two albums, King and T.I. vs. T.I.P. were the biggest selling hip-hop albums of 2006 and 2007, respectively. And despite being under house arrest awaiting trial on gun charges, T.I. is preparing to keep his big mo going by concentrating on his lyrics for his next record, tentatively titled Paper Trail as a result of all the writing he’s done for it. The Atlanta native has also branched into film in a big way, starring alongside Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in this past fall’s American Gangster.

What's it like hearing your song come on at a strip club and seeing girls go wild to it?

It feels like validation, man. Just feels good—all that hard work paying off. You pick the single and when that single hits it’s great. And there ain’t nothing wrong with getting that validation watching women dancing to it, you know.

There must be the thousands of hot groupies throwing themselves at you when you tour.

You’ve got to keep your feet on the ground. These women don’t know me personally; they know the fame, the fortune. You have to just keep your feet on the ground, eyes straight ahead, and realize that these women don’t know who you really are, they just know what you have. You can’t let this stuff get to your head.

Your last album, T.I. Vs T.I.P, was a double-CD concept album, you against yourself. It was successful both artistically and commercially. What do you do to top that?

That’s just it, you work hard. You just keep pushing myself, get better, do better. Thing is, you challenge yourself. You just keep challenging yourself. My next album I’m thinking of calling Paper Trail…because I want to spend more time working on my lyrics. Not just get up there and flow, which I can do and have done well, but to put in the time on the writing, each lyric, raise my game.

Are there any new artists or producers we should look out for?

Dangerhands, Lil C, Smash Factory.

What’s the deal with fake beefs? Are you into it? Is it all good so long as it helps sales?

50 versus Kanye wasn’t a fake beef, it was a competition. And it’s all good. Getting people into the stores, buying music—that’s good for the game, man. Beef is when you just don’t like someone, and you tell them about it. But competition, hey, it’s all good. It’s like Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade going at it, you know? Nothing wrong with getting people excited, getting them into the stores. And Kayne and 50 both did pretty good with it, too.

Anyone out there you’d like to compete against?

Hey, I’m at the top of my game: I’ll compete against anyone who challenges me. Anyone.

You’ve done a lot of community service work, donating not only your own money, but your time, for Hurricane Katrina relief and the Make-A-Wish foundation, among others. Are you trying to get other artists to realize good can be done with the fame and fortune?

I think it’s about whether you feel a sense of commitment or not. I’m going out doing what I’m doing for Katrina because I feel a commitment to do it. I want to do it. It’s not about trying to get other rappers to do their part. It’s all how you feel, where you’re from, what you believe in. Rappers from the suburbs can’t know what it’s like to live in the city, and they might not feel compelled to do something for a city. Rappers from the northeast might not feel as compelled to contribute to something down south, though some do. Judge each man individually. Rappers can do what they want, and a lot do choose to help out.