T.I. 'working on new LP in halfway house'

Rapper T.I. has reportedly started working on new material in a halfway house following a seven-month stint in prison.

The rapper, who was handed a one-year sentence for a federal weapons charge, is said to be writing songs for his seventh studio album.

According to previous producer Jim Jonsin, T.I. is permitted to use a recording studio during the week, but not on weekends.

"He was so upbeat, his spirits were up, and he's excited to be out and working. He hasn't changed, he sounded exactly like he did when I talked to him months before he went in," RWD quotes him as saying.

T.I. is expected to be fully released on March 26, but will be subject to an audit of his finances, drug counselling, DNA testing, and random searches of his property.