TI compares his wife Tiny Harris to Joe Jackson after more than half of their children pursued their own music careers

Rapper TI has several children who’ve followed him and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, into the music industry, making a path for themselves. But he insists he doesn’t want his seven-member group to be anything like him and his Grammy-winning wife.

During a visit to The Breakfast Club in late May, TI shared the very different approaches he and his wife take to their children’s careers.

DJ Envy mentioned that he heard that the Harrises were searching for their youngest child, daughter Heiress Harris. The Grand Hustle CEO clarified, “No,” but noted that the little singer moves under the aegis of her famous mother.

“He’s here with his mom,” she told TI, before clarifying some points and saying, “I’m really not forcing this industry on any of my kids.”

“Heiress is under the tutelage of her mother as a singer and performer and she just recorded a song with VanVan,” he continued, adding that even at age 8, “she’s a kick-ass MC.”

Like Heiress, VanVan is one other child star who rose to fame through Instagram videos and management by the legendary MC Lyte.

When asked by Charlamagne Tha God if the 2 are a house divided, with Tiny insisting on the youngsters being child stars like she did when she joined the platinum selling group Xscape, he replied, “Yes.”

“It’s definitely Josephine Jackson,” TI joked.

Josephine Jackson is a play on the name of Michael Jackson’s father, Joseph Jackson.

According to entertainment lore, Joe was a ruthless manager who made 9 of his 10 children with Katherine Jackson (Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, LaToya, Marlon, Michael, Randy and Janet) work tirelessly until they perfected their craft. Although he pushed his children, sometimes too hard, according to each Michael and Janet, all of them credited him with being the driving force behind their great success.

“I really want kids to be able to focus on being kids and developing all the fundamental principles they need in their lives and character,” TI continued through the interview.

According to the King of the South, their mother has a very different idea for her children.

“She likes to say, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ They will get it too, but they will have to work a little bit,” and I respect the undeniable fact that she wanted them to work earlier. I just know this game is ruthless,” the chart-topper said.

The Harris family is a mixed bag of seven children, several of whom are involved within the music industry, and one grandson. All of them were presented through the family series “TI & Tiny: The Family Hustle” on VH1.

Zonnique Jailee Pullins

The first person to enter the business was Zonnique Jailee Pullins, Tiny’s daughter from his previous relationship with Zonnie Pullins.

The 28-year-old started off in 2009 as a member of OMG Girlz, before deciding to pursue a solo profession. Tiny began the group for her daughter, working with Kiesha Miles, one of the unique members of the Tiny Xscape group. They signed to her record label, Tiny’s Pretty Hustle.

Zonnique, nicknamed Miss Star, was joined by a solid that at various times included Bahja Rodriguez (Miss Beauty), Breaunna Womack (Miss Babydoll), Lourdes Rodriguez (Miss Lolo) and Reginae Carter (Miss Baby), who’s the rapper’s eldest daughter Lil Wayne.

Until 2020, long after the group disbanded. Zonnique has released several singles and EPs, and in December this yr she gave birth to her daughter Hunter with rapper Bandhunta Izzy.

Messiah, Your Majesty Harris

Messiah, 24, is the oldest son of TI and Lashon Dixon. He is a flexible artist, reality star and singer who has been performing rock and blues music under the pseudonym “Buddy Red” since 2022.

It’s unclear whether Messiah seeks music, song and financial advice from his dad or stepmother.

As Buddy Red, he can showcase his vocal and guitar skills, unlike his siblings who lean towards rap and hip-hop music.

As an actor, he has appeared in movies equivalent to 2018’s “Products of the American Ghetto,” 2019’s “The Trap” alongside his dad and Teyana Taylor, and 2022’s “Sons 2 the Grave.”

Uriah Harris tomorrow

Domani is 23 years old and is TI’s second oldest son. He also began his musical profession at a young age. The rapper released his first EP, “The Process,” in 2016 and earned a Tony nomination for his work on “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical” with his dad. Domani’s mother can be Lashon Dixon.

Blessed with lyrical talent, the 23-year-old has received huge praise for his lyrics and wordplay from greats like J. Cole and comparisons to Kendrick Lamar.

Also within the interview, TI said that he had previously told his son that he “sucked.” But now he describes Domani as one of the “most articulate rappers working today.”

Clifford “King” Joseph Harris III

One of Harris’ hottest children (largely due to his headline-grabbing antics) is the primary child that T.I. and Tiny share. Born in 2004, King is a rapper and festival creator, at all times focused on business. He has also made a reputation for himself as an influencer who straddles the road between embracing the life of a reality star and rejecting the wealth that comes with it.

In 2016, he released an album titled “Nightmare on Wolff St” and sometimes performed under the name Kid Saiyan.

TI said King also took an ideal liking to boxing and stated, “If he decides to pursue it, it would be something he could pursue if he took it seriously.”

Heiress Diana Harris

Heiress is the youngest star the family has shared with the world. Her vocal skills may very well be admired not only alongside her mother and father. She most recently showcased her vocals with the Essence Children’s Choir through the 2023 holiday season.

The 8-year-old has been taking singing lessons with a coach for years and sometimes practices with songs from Tiny’s Xscape catalogue. Her efforts were recognized with a guest appearance on a song by social media superstar VanVan.

A young artist can create a stage anywhere, and her mother does every little thing in her power to make her daughter successful. On June 9, Tiny posted a video of Heiress sitting against a wall in a squat position and being coached by singer Regina Love

“I’m the worst poster but the day after PL it’s time for VL with my family @iamreginalove as you can see. Regina put her on a rigorous regimen to strengthen her vocals through that diaphragm. Give my baby a few more years so she can be in @beyonce Real Beast mode!!” wrote Little.

She continued, “Greatness takes time, discipline and dedication! Thank you Regina and all #HeiressTeam for every little thing you do!! Have a blessed Sunday.”

The two Harris children are pleased not to run the family business:

Deyjah Imani Harris

TI’s eldest daughter – she turns 23 on June 17 – is a well-liked social media influencer with almost two million followers on Instagram. Deyjah serves as a brand ambassador for Fashion Nova and other brands. He is using his social media platforms to address the stigma around mental health and the controversy surrounding his father’s statements which have come to light again.

The “Trap Muzik” rapper faced backlash for telling the world that he takes Deyjah on “annual trips to the gynecologist” to check on the status of her virginity. Deyjah has since forgiven her father for learning to think before she speaks when it comes to women’s bodies.

In a July 2020 episode of “The Breakfast Club,” TI revealed that he had apologized to Deyjah for publicly revealing something that ought to have been a personal matter.

Major Philant Harris

Major, the youngest of the group, prefers to stay within the background, but still wants to take up his pen, says his father.

“(Major) just brought so much joy to my heart when he said, ‘No, I don’t want any parts (of the music). I just want… to be an author,” she told TI on “The Breakfast Club.” “Like, he wanted to write books and tell stories, so that was a relief for me.”

The 16-year-old celebrated his birthday earlier this month. However, social media fans only notice Major when he attends school dances or when his mother Tiny posts posts of Major and his girlfriend.