By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
I have absolute proof that there's more than meets the eye when it comes to T.I.
Yesterday afternoon, I joined the platinum selling hip-hop icon and what seemed like a 40-member entourage for a tour of the Upper and Lower Ninth Wards of New Orleans -- the income-challenged areas of the city most ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
For T.I., who is headlining the tour "Screamfest '07" -- which kicks off at the New Orleans Arena tonight -- it was a return to a startling reality. "This is not my first time here," he explained. "I done seen cars upside down," he said of the images he witnessed from his last tour of the city. "Before it was just inhumane at that time."
He does see the progress that has been made, but said that he always knew there was a level of devastation that wouldn't be able to be remedied quickly. "It's going to be an ongoing, uphill battle."
"This is home to me," said Larry Barabino, Jr., the Director of the New Orleans Recreational Department, who served as an official tour guide of the areas affected.
A New Orleans native, Barabino shared his story of how he and his family was displaced to Dallas after the storm. "I live in Gentilly," he explained. "I got back to the city in December 05. I rebuilt my home. I had six feet of water. I rebuilt my home and moved back in because it was home. I grew up in the St. Bernard Housing Projects so for me to own a home, I'm one of the first. I'm the first male out my family to even go to college. So this is personal.""So when you see people that's working in the city that stood here that went through the storm, it's personal," he continued.
As previously reported in The BV Newswire, the chart-topping rapper (legally known as Clifford Harris) has taken part in Urban Farming, a groundbreaking Detroit-area based initiative focused on eradicating hunger by planting gardens of food in on vacant lots, city building rooftops and even around office building landscapes.
"We're doing things within our own power to try to make things happen," T.I. said in regards to his involvement with Urban Farming -- which is working closely with developing a garden in the Lower Ninth Ward where the former Cash Money Records rapper B.G. said his family originated.
Urban Farming, a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, was founded by Taja Sevelle, a former Prince protégé with ties to the music industry. Since its inception in 2005, the foundation has partnered with The Home Depot, Atlantic Records, Starbucks, Whole Foods and the St. Louis Rams, among other major organizations.
"We feel that this is a vital and meaningful solution to the issues of hunger, food insecurity and providing healthy nutrition," she said about their efforts.
Throughout the expansive tour, the group visited areas such as Pontchartrain Park, located in the Upper Ninth Ward -- an area whose home ownership was all African-American and had the highest voter turnout rate than any other district in the city. The neighborhood had 10-14 feet of water in some areas, Barabino said.
It's now nearly vacant.
"This community has stood up and has walked really loud," Barabino said.
"And this is home, and we're coming back first and we damn sure wont be the last with the rebuilding effort."
"Whatever it is that I ain't able to make it here for, my man right here is hands on with it... he represents us, he represents me," T.I. assured Barabino about B.G. -- who was displaced to Detroit for a while after the storm but now is back home and taking charge of his life and career. "We're going to do as much as we can, as much as possible."
VIDEO: TI Takes Tour of Hurricane Katrina Devastation Nearly Two Years Later
1. He is one Rapper that DOES CARE? with his sexy self that just makes him even more handsome. Gotta give it to the brother. I will continue to support him and the people of new orleans are in my prayers. GOD BLESS
Regina Grundy at 6:14PM on Aug 3rd 2007