Late Thursday afternoon Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. granted his first sit-down interview since the convicted felon was arrested for, and pleaded guilty last month to, three firearms charges. He remains under house arrest.

And while what was going on in his head the day (Oct. 13, 2007) he's admitted he bought machines gun and silencers, and those specific charges, were off limits —- as he says that situation won't be over until he's done his 1,000-plus hours of community service, stays out of trouble and is sentenced to an expected 366 days in prison in March 2009 —- the 27-year-old, born Clifford Harris Jr., talked openly about a number of things: from the son he's expecting to the 24 hours before his life changed. Here are excerpts from the 30-plus minute conversation the AJC had with him at the Villages at Carver YMCA, right after he spoke to a handful of aspiring teen producers at a FOR ME Inc. workshop:

Q. Who is T.I. —- or Clifford Harris Jr., now?

A. It's hard to say because a lot of things are the same, and a lot of things have changed. I still have a huge amount of passion for what I do. I still have a huge amount of passion for doing what I can for the community. I still have my foundation —- remembering where I came from and principles that have been instilled in me. But at the same time I also have an acknowledgement of things that need to be left behind, let go. And also an acknowledgment that there has to be an about-face. A 180-degree turn, in order for us to continue on the path to success.

Q. Do you feel lucky?

A. I feel blessed. Lucky ain't the word. It's by the grace of God that I'm here.

Q. People don't hear you talking about God on record or in person.

A. When you do the amount of praying that anybody in a situation similar to mine spends the time doing, and for that prayer to work, and for you to have other people praying for you to get through the situation —- or to see the situation beginning to look up —- and not acknowledge that's what helped the situation, I think that's blasphemous.

Q. Going back to that day you pleaded guilty, that night you went out to Ruth's Chris (restaurant). Is that what you missed having to stay home?

A. I mean just the ability to do me. Whether it was going to eat with my family. Whether it was having my family to be able to come eat with me. Whether it was going to the grocery store for myself. Picking my kids up from school. Taking my kids to the movies and to basketball practice. Going to the studio. Handling my business at the office as I need to. Whatever doing me was.

Q. MTV was there that night, too. Are they doing something on you?

A. Well, there is some documentation being done. We're actually in the middle of negotiating exactly what it would take to be able to have that type of access to my life. But I think it's something that needs to be out there on a broad spectrum.

Q. Do you feel like at this point in your life, 'OK I need to be closer to my family. Spend more time there. Or like, 'Businesswise, I need to really get as much as I can'?

A. All of the above. They both take high priority. Absolutely.

Q. Are there any other projects in the pipeline —- besides [his CD] "Paper Trail" in September?

A. Akoo Clothing will launch the holidays of this year. Of course we're premiering Big Kuntry's album [in August] and Young Dro. We have other television shows [about comedians]. Also we have a Young Dro reality show. You follow this guy around long enough you're bound to be entertained, at the least.

And with my project, I'm still working.

Q. Is this going to sound like T.I. as your fans have heard you?

A. There are elements that are still there And then there are new elements. . . . But right now I think I'm about to do something with [retro soul vocalist] Amy Winehouse —- I don't know if it's for [my CD] or hers, but I'm definitely excited. [He added that he plans to have a new single on streetcred.com in the next two weeks.]

Q. Last business thing —- have you lost business since the arrest?

A. Of course. You can't be expected to take advantage of all of the opportunities that are there for you if you can't even leave your house.

Q. You had a very prominent car endorsement deal.

A. Sure. GM.

Q. Is that still in effect?

A. Nah. GM had to back up off of me. There are films that I missed out on. Not speaking of, of course, shows. Tours. Tons of business. I've probably lost about $10 to $12 million dollars.

Q. And you smile after saying that.

A. [Laughs harder] Sometimes you laugh to keep from crying. But you know, I'm blessed to be able to be out here to make $10 to $12 [million] more. Especially considering I brought this all on myself. So you know —- minimal injury. Maximum lesson learned.

Q. On to the personal, you're engaged right?

A. Yeah [to longtime on-and-off girlfriend Tameka "Tiny" Cottle].

Q. Plan to get married any time soon?

A. As far as a date, I'm not setting a date because then it's going to turn into a lot of fanfare.

Q. Another family thing, you have a son on the way. When is he due?

A. May 25.

Q. What kind of dad are you? Are you a disciplinarian?

A. Yep.

Q. You spank your kids.

A. Absolutely.

Q. Well, what about them being able to say, "Not only have you talked about guns or whatever on record, daddy, but in real life you've done those things, too?"

A. If they say something like that I'm prepared to deal with it: "I also had to pay the price, for all of the things that I did. And you're going to pay the price for what you just did. Come see me."

Q. Professionally, what did the night of the BET Hip-Hop Awards (Oct. 13) mean for you? You were the top nominee. It was happening in your city. That should have been a great day.

A. It was sort of like a, well, you remember the [last] Super Bowl, right? You know Jeremy Shockey? He broke his leg. He had to sit up in the press box and watch. He couldn't help his team win. He couldn't play. The greatest, most talked-about, most publicized Super Bowl in our time and he's sitting watching; instead of actually being able to participate. Terrible. . . . And I know, I know, I brought it on myself.

Q. Do you remember Oct. 12, 2007 —- that Friday before?

A. We had a very good time. We were living life, man —- partying. Celebrating. Celebrating success. Being hot. Being hot, working hard . . .

Q. Sounds like you were having a really good time before . . .

A. I was. [Smiles] I was. . . . But I think my future's brighter than my past. Still.