Watch: T.I.'s New Video for 'No Mercy'

In the just-released video for the title track on T.I.'s new album No Mercy — out on Tuesday — he's got prison on his mind. Not surprising, since he'll still be behind bars for a parole violation when the album comes out.

In this clip from the video, T.I. pulls up to a church in a sports car, then is seen rapping inside accompanied by The-Dream, who co-wrote the song and sings its self-pitying hook: "No mercy for me, no crying myself to sleep... Good morning, reality/ Will I wake? We'll never know/ I'm late for my date with destiny."

He doesn't directly address prison in the song's lyrics, but they're a bleak reflection on his situation nonetheless, as he compares himself to Tupac in the song's second verse.

"Everybody's standing and waiting and they're hating/ Gospels say they should forgive me, they'd rather hand me to Satan/ Blatant displays the day of hypocrisy, boy you got to be kidding/ Could it be possibly the second coming of Pac is me?/ Remember that, when he was here/ And when he died you realized you need him here."

Video: T.I. Performs "Rubber Band Man" on VH1 Storytellers

Along with the "No Mercy" video and the album, T.I.'s VH1 Storytellers will air on the channel Friday, just three days after No Mercy comes out. The MC talks about his 11-month prison sentence during the show.

T.I. Shows 'No Mercy' In Video Premiere [MTV News]

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

More Song Stories entries »

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