VH1'S "THE BREAKS" ADDS TIP "T.I." HARRIS

NEW YORK, NY (October 10, 2016) - VH1 announced today that Grammy-award winning rapper, actor and entrepreneur Tip "T.I." Harris will join "The Breaks" in a recurring role. Based on the critically acclaimed original TV movie that aired earlier this year, the new scripted series is slated to premiere January 2017.

Harris will portray Paul Anders, a powerful lawyer who comes to Barry Fouray's (Wood Harris) defense after a public scandal.

Inspired by The Big Payback, a narrative history of the hip-hop business written by journalist Dan Charnas, "The Breaks" is executive produced by Seith Mann ("The Wire," "The Walking Dead," "Homeland") and John J. Strauss ("Mozart in the Jungle").

The original film which aired on VH1 in January to much fanfare, followed three young friends fulfilling their hip hop dreams in New York City in 1990. The series will continue to explore their triumph and heartbreak trying to make their mark in a new and complex hip hop culture.

Harris' acting credits include "Ant-Man," "Get Hard," "House of Lies," and "Roots," and he stars in the upcoming "Sleepless" alongside Jamie Foxx. His highly rated series "T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle" just completed its fifth season on VH1.

He joins a cast that includes: Afton Willamson (HBO's "The Night Of... "), Wood Harris ("The Wire"), Mack Wilds ("90210"), Antoine Harris ("Ballers"), David Call ("The Magicians"), Evan Handler ("Sex and the City"), Melonie Diaz ("Fruitvale Station"), Sinqua Walls ("Power") and Ali Ahn ("Billions"), with Teyana Taylor(G.O.O.D Music/Def Jam Recordings) and Gloria Reuben ("Mr. Robot") as recurring characters.

Mann, Charnas, Strauss, Bill Flanagan and Darren Goldberg are executive producers on "The Breaks." Maggie Malina, Chris McCarthy and Amy Doyle will serve as executive producers for VH1.

VH1 is the dominant pop culture brand for adults 18-34, creating their pop culture today while celebrating the pop culture of their past. VH1 is available in 93 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including the VH1 App, VH1.com and @VH1, the hub for all things music and pop culture. Fans may also access current and retro VH1 programming via the VH1 App, the network's three-in-one video, new form content and co-viewing app, available for free on iOS and Android platforms. VH1 is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.