The lineup also includes psychedelic alternative rockers The Flaming Lips, the popular funk group N.E.R.D. as well as rapper Q-Tip and avant-garde artist and critical darling Santigold.

Hailing from "Hotlanta", world renowned hip-hop artist, T.I., hit the ground running with his 2001 debut album, I'm Serious, and has been cranking out hits ever since. T.I. first gained mainstream notoriety with 2003's, "Rubberband Man" and continued with a string of powerful hits including "U Don't Know Me," for which he received his first Grammy nod. He continued to drop jaws with 2006's King album and earned Grammy nominations for several successful collaborations. Most recently, T.I.'s career has managed to soar to new heights with the release of Paper Trail in the fall of 2008. With his unique sound of super-hyped beats and equally charged, yet insightful lyrics, it's no surprise the album spun multiple hits including "Live Your Life" and "Whatever You Like," becoming the most successful of T.I.'s career thus far.

After generating a slue of musical accolades, this Atlanta native continued to challenge himself with a variety of projects, including his recent MTV series "T.I.'s Road to Redemption." An intimate look at the artist's life, T.I. was taped as he motivated seven at-risk teens across the country in the hope of changing their lives, before his recent sentencing to prison for one year and one day.

"Given T.I. is one of the hottest hip-hop artists on the music scene today he was a natural choice as one of the headliners," says Dwayne Elliott, Director of Student Campus Events at Vanderbilt University. "With The Flaming Lips, N.E.R.D. and all the other great artists performing this year, The Music Group has done a great job securing a must-see line-up for this year's festival."

RITES OF SPRING LINE-UP
(* denotes artists just announced)

Friday, April 17, 2009

• Battle of the Bands winner
• Electrik Red*
• Run with Bulls*
• Blueskyreality*
• K'Naan*
• Okkervil River
• Santigold
• Q-Tip
• T.I.*

Saturday, April 18, 2009

• Pico vs. Island Trees*
• Stardeath and the White Dwarfs*
• Erick Baker*
• Sara Watkins (of Nickel Creek)*
• Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
• Grand Ole Party
• N.E.R.D.
• Flaming Lips

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