Empire Rising: T.I. Claims the Throne in ‘King of the South’ (2025)

Atlanta, Oct. 13, 2025 – In a blaze of Southern grit and hip-hop royalty, King of the South storms theaters on May 23, 2025, channeling the raw ambition of Atlanta’s underground into a high-stakes crime drama. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer), this Lionsgate powerhouse stars T.I. (aka Tip Harris, the self-proclaimed “King of the South”) as Darius King, a shrewd hustler ascending the criminal ladder after his cousin’s assassination exposes fractures in their empire.

Drawing from T.I.’s own Atlanta roots and rap legacy, the film weaves a tapestry of power grabs, betrayals, and redemption amid the city’s neon-lit traps and boardroom battles. Darius navigates rival crews, corrupt officials, and family loyalties tested by temptation, all while building a media mogul facade that masks his street empire. Fuqua’s signature intensity amps the action – think drive-by symphonies and tense negotiations – with a soundtrack pulsing with trap beats from Future and Lil Baby.

The ensemble reigns supreme: Queen Latifah as Darius’ iron-willed mentor, Mahershala Ali as a shadowy enforcer with divided allegiances, and Taraji P. Henson as a fierce love interest caught in the crossfire. Newcomers like rising rapper Latto add fresh fire to the crew. Penned by Kemp Powers (One Night in Miami), it probes themes of legacy and inequality, echoing real Southern dynasties without veering into straight biopic territory.

Early buzz from a Toronto Film Festival sizzle reel calls it “Fuqua’s street symphony – raw, rhythmic, and relentless.” With T.I. fresh off Dope Is Dope and Fuqua’s streak unbroken, King of the South isn’t claiming the crown – it’s forging it in fire. Bow down; the South’s got next.