It is indeed very cool to be shortlisted at different ceremonies and receive awards. What is even cooler is to miss the ceremony and to be thought too busy and important to attend them, and people will think higher of you.

And this is the sole reason rapper TI got arrested and charged with weapon offenses just a few hours before an Atlanta ceremony at which he received nominations in nine categories.

Clifford Harris, alias TI, was suspected of illegal possession and collection of gun machines and silencers. TI was arrested in a city car park, a few hours before he was to receive the awards at the BET Hip-Hop gala.

The police found in his car three firearms, one of which was loaded and a further investigation conducted at his home  revealed another six weapons, of which five were loaded.

The investigation began at the end of this month, and his arrest followed as a result. TI’s bodyguard confessed that he was the one that bought the rapper nine of the guns, receiving money from the hip-hop star on four occasions. Harris is facing a charge of possession of firearms by a convicted felon, given the fact that he has already a criminal record.  

TI’s absence at the BET awards was replaced by Wyclef Jean that performed his song You Know What It Is, helped by comic Katt Williams imitating TI.