T.I. signs with Sony/ATV

CROSSING THE “T” & DOTTING THE “I”: T.I. is now totally on the Sony side of the street, having just inked a worldwide publishing deal with Sony/ATV. Paperwork, the rapper/writer/producer’s first album after taking his Grand Hustle imprint to Columbia, was released this week. The deal includes his piece of the mega-smash “Blurred Lines,” his writing for Paperwork and all future works. “T.I. is an all-round talent [with] an extensive catalog of hit songs and albums behind him, and there is plenty more to come,” Marty Bandier noted in today’s announcement. T.I. is “looking forward to the opportunities that will come of this new venture,” while Sony/ATV’s Shawn Holiday is “thrilled” that his pubco “will now be part of this exciting new journey.” Shawn and T.I. then began that journey by taking the Q train to Brooklyn. (10/24a)