Exclusive: ‘Prison Break’ baddie confirms he’s doing ‘Breakout Kings’ for A&E in early 2011

Image Credit: Michael Caulfield/WireImage.comWelcome back to TV, T-Bag! Robert Knepper told EW exclusively that he has closed a deal to resurrect his classic Prison Break convict T-Bag in the A&E fugitive-themed drama Breakout Kings. The decision by Prison Break producers Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora to court Knepper for their new A&E show was first reported by The Ausiello Files. “We’re done. We inked a deal. I’m gonna do it! T-Bag will live again!” Knepper told EW on Thursday. “What I realized by saying yes to that is that now they’ll entertain the possibility of a T-Bag spinoff. Like a Hannibal Lecter-type series. Or a doll line. It’d be big with the kids!”

He’s kidding…we think. Anyway, Knepper told EW he’ll begin filming right after Thanksgiving. Kings, which is described as an “action-packed ensemble drama following an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run,” received an 11th hour reprieve last spring from A&E after Fox opted not to pick it up. It’s set to premiere in early 2011.

“I have to dust off the Southern accent. I have not seen a script. I am putting my faith in these guys’ hands. The only thing I asked was that T-Bag doesn’t die. And they said, ‘Oh, no don’t worry. He won’t.’ He came close many times but managed to cheat and escape death. He’s Teflon.” — With reporting from Carrie Bell

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Lil Wayne To Be Released From Prison Early Thursday, Drake Says - MTV.com

The long wait for Lil Wayne is almost over. The superstar MC's protégé Drake announced Wednesday (November 3) via Twitter that the Young Money/Cash Money head will be a free man early Thursday.

"Between the hours of 1 - 2am ...WEEZY IS COMING HOME," Drizzy tweeted. Two different sources close to the rapper maintain that Weezy will be released early Thursday.

Weezy began serving a prison bid at New York's Rikers Island in March stemming from a 2007 gun arrest after a concert at Manhattan's Beacon's Theatre.

On Tuesday, the superstar lyricist penned a final letter for fans as he prepared to return home and back to the music game.

"As I greet you all in my last days on this island, I must reflect," Wayne began his post on WeezyThanxYou.com. "I think back to when I first arrived and I had no clue what I'd be experiencing. I was never scared, worried, nor bothered by the situation. For that, I thank God, my family, and you, my amazing fans. I prayed for you all every night, as I'm now aware that I was in y'alls prayers as well."

Speculation about Weezy's post-prison plans has reached a fever pitch. His family has suggested an intimate celebration with all of his children is in the works.

"[Wayne's daughter Reginae] said that she wanted to celebrate her birthday when her dad comes home," Wayne's ex-wife Antonia "Toya" Carter told MTV News. "She just wanted to get all her siblings together along with me, Lauren [London], Nivea, Sarah, everybody with her dad and just celebrate her birthday. We were all just gonna go to Miami or whatever and just spend some time with him, 'cause he's been gone for a while and she misses him like crazy. I will feel complete again when he comes home, 'cause it's like a lot of weight was shifted on me. She took it so hard, because her and her father have this great relationship and she's not able to talk to him when she wants to all the time. It kinda bothered her for a while, so it's gonna be a big relief. We all gonna be so happy when he comes home."

Drake recently hinted that the MC could make a surprise appearance at the Toronto hip-hop star's upcoming Light Dreams and Nightmares tour stop Saturday in Las Vegas.

"I would just advise you to book a ticket out there. If you can get tickets to that show on the 6th, I would strongly advise it," Drizzy told MTV News.

Stick with MTV News throughout the weekend for up-to-the-minute reports on Lil Wayne's prison release as we follow him from Rikers Island to his celebrations at home and beyond. Follow us on Twitter @MTVNews for instant updates and bookmark weezywatch.mtv.com for complete, round-the-clock coverage.

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TI Receives 11 Months In Prison For Probation Violation - MTV.com

Looks like Roscoe Dash's prayers worked.

T.I. headed to court in Atlanta today (October 15) where a federal judge sentenced the rapper to 11 months in prison during a probation hearing, where Tip was found to have violated the terms of his supervised released, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

You're probably asking yourself, 'he's still serving jail time, so why's this a good thing?'

Well, the prosecution was aiming to send T.I., born Clifford Harris, back to prison for two years, according to The Associated Press. But the rapper pleaded with the judge to lessen his punishment and instead help him with his drug dependency. Despite the circumstances, any time less than the maximum on the table is a win.

Last month in Los Angeles, the T.I. was arrested after a traffic stop when police discovered drugs on him and his new wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. It was this incident prompted this afternoon's hearing.

According to police documents obtained by several media outlets leading up to the hearing, at the time of his arrest, the rapper tested positive for opiates, was in possession of Ecstasy, and was also associating with a felon, who was present in his vehicle during the bust.

T.I. was released from a halfway house earlier this year after serving seven months in a low-security facility in Arkansas. The prison time stemmed from an October 2007 arrest when T.I., a convicted felon, attempted to purchase illegal firearms. He was able to reach a unique plea deal at the time — upon the condition that he would speak to youth, complete community service and would be placed under house arrest — and he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. After his release, he was placed on strict probation.

According to TMZ, T.I. has two weeks to turn himself in to the authorities. Sigh.

Do you think that T.I. was fairly sentenced? Do you think it was too much? Tweet us at @MTVRapFix or tell us in a comment below!

Tags 11 months, jail, T.I.

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