FORMER CRIME MOB MEMBER, DIAMOND & T.I. LOVE THE ATLANTA KIDS; RAPPERS LEND THEIR SUPPORT TO AT-RISK YOUTH.

Female rapper Diamond (former member of Crime Mob) joined a great list of artists from the music industry supporting the It's Cool to be Smart Music Mentor Program for teen girls. Last month, Diamond spoke with 18 girls from the program hosted by Hot 107.9 in Atlanta. the It's Cool to be Smart 'Real Talk Career Day Series' with Radio One is an ongoing event that collaborates with community organizations such as the Carver Boys & Girls Club, Harland Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta and Nellies Hope. Curtis B., Executive Director of ICTBS stated, 'These artists really touch our girls' hearts with their real life experiences growing up with issues of peer pressure in school and communities such as what Diamond discussed with our organization.' At the event, Diamond stressed the importance of 'keeping it real' and 'staying true to yourself and not letting anybody take advantage of you.' Yeah, Diamond, those words are definitely words of encouragement. Hell, a stranger on the street could've told them that.

But Diamond isn't the only Atlanta-based hip-hop artist to lend her support to ATL's inner-city youth. Rapper T.I. (real name Clifford Harris) who has over a thousand more hours of community service to complete on his sentence also on board. On Monday (March 31st), Harris conducted an intense and powerful speech for the sole purpose of inspiring and motivating the young men who attended the at-risk program at the Inner Harbour for Children and Families and the Carver Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta. He explained the difference between the entertainment industry and real life. "What you see in videos and what you listen to is just entertainment," he said."But what I am talking to you about today is about gang prevention,positive reintegration into the community and school, establishing a positive pattern of behavior, and allowing yourself to trust positive people is real!"

BELOW ARE PICS OF T.I. FULFILLING HIS COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.


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The rapper also addressed the youth on topics centered on managing their anger and walking away from negative influences and environments.

ICTBS is more than just community hours for T.I. Hopefully his latest trials and tribulations will have a positive impact on each at-risk youth he reaches out to. Curtis B. says,'Other than music, I believe TIP really loves and enjoys working with the youth of America and it's really a blessing to witness his interactions with them." T.I. will head 'Stop Teen on Teen Violence which aims to lower overall rates of incarceration of young men and repeat offenders from entering back into the criminal justice system in Atlanta and other partnering cities across the country.