The set of T.I.’s “Whatever You Like” performance is going to feature many a resplendent scene: a sexy lady in a Marilyn Monroe-inspired body-hugging dress and furs (by the way, that’s Chanta Patton, who was in Kardinal Offishall’s “Dangerous” video), a swish women’s boutique with choice couture on display, and the requisite velvet rope keeping the unwashed have-nots away from the PYTs inside the swank fake club.
But the set’s most valuable player isn’t even T.I. himself. It’s the Rolls Royce Phantom (a 2007, I think, which I hear was an excellent year for Phantoms) that you’ll see T.I. jump inside during his VMA performance Sunday night.
Sticker price? A mind-bending $550,000, and procuring the car for the show was a nightmare of red tape, contractual woes and lots of acronyms like P.O., C.O.D., and SNAFU. But now the ride’s on lock -- literally -- and the whole set-up’s about as heavily protected as Britney’s going to be when she shows up tomorrow (and no, i DO NOT KNOW if she's performing...)
And in case you wanted to rent the ride for prom or a road trip, it runs about $5,000 per day, plus the $150 fee per mile for each extra mile over three miles that MTV rolls onto the Rollie.
Watch video footage shot at T.I.'s rehearsal last night, and check out more photos of T.I. -- and the star car –- at his rehearsal last night. And for all you Everybody Hates Chris fans, the “club” in the photo below is actually the hair salon featured on the show. Hollywood magic!
Stay up-to-date on everything about the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards at vma.mtv.com, and don’t miss the big show Sunday (September 7) at 9 p.m. ET/PT or the pre-show red carpet coverage that starts at 8 p.m. ET/PT.