A tip is a voluntary monetary payment made by a customer to a service worker, such as a waiter, bartender, or taxi driver, in addition to the standard charge for goods or services rendered, typically as recognition of satisfactory performance.[1][2] The practice, deeply embedded in the United States where it supplements base wages for millions in the service sector, traces its roots to medieval Europe as a reward for exceptional service by serfs or retainers, later imported by affluent travelers and solidified in America after the Civil War amid labor market shifts that allowed employers to minimize fixed pay.[3][4] Economically, tips represent a major income component, enabling median hourly earnings of $23.88 for full-service restaurant workers as of late 2024 when combined with base wages, though they introduce variability tied to customer discretion and economic conditions.[5][6] Tipping has faced growing scrutiny for fostering incomeinstability, enabling discriminatory payout patterns based on worker appearance or customerbias, and expanding into non-traditional settings via digital prompts, prompting widespread consumer frustration and calls to eliminate it in favor of higher employer-paid wages.[7][8]
Linguistic and Everyday Meanings
Gratuity
A gratuity, commonly known as a tip, refers to a voluntary monetary payment given by a customer to a service provider, such as a waiter, bartender, or taxi driver, in addition to the base price of the service, as recognition for satisfactory performance.[6] This practice supplements the worker's wages and is distinct from mandatory service charges, though it has become a cultural expectation in many sectors like restaurants and hospitality. In the United States, tipping originated in the late 19th century, imported from European customs where affluent travelers encountered it during the post-Civil War era; by the 1920s, it was entrenched as workers, including many formerly enslaved individuals, relied on tips to offset low base pay set by employers.[3][9]Historically, tipping traces back to medieval Europe as a feudal custom where superiors rewarded subordinates for extra effort, evolving into a class-based gesture among the aristocracy.[10] In the U.S., this system gained traction amid labor shortages and wage suppression after emancipation, enabling restaurant owners to pay Black porters and waitstaff minimal wages under the assumption that tips would cover the shortfall—a practice upheld by courts in the early 20th century despite worker protests.[11] By 2023, tipping accounted for dozens of billions in annual U.S. transactions, forming over half of income for nearly 70% of restaurant servers.[6][12]Tipping norms vary globally, with the U.S. and Canada expecting 15-20% on restaurant bills for good service, while many European countries like France or Germany include a service charge (often 10-15%) in the bill, rendering additional tips minimal or optional at 5% for exceptional cases.[13][14] In Japan and South Korea, tipping is generally discouraged as it may offend by implying the service was not adequately compensated through salary.[15]Australia and New Zealand rarely practice it outside upscale venues, aligning with higher statutory minimum wages.[16]Economically, gratuities provide incentives for quality service but introduce income volatility for workers, as tips fluctuate with customer traffic, bill sizes, and subjective evaluations—median hourly earnings for full-service U.S. restaurant staff reached $23.88 including tips as of September 2024, yet tipped minimum wage remains $2.13 federally, with employers required to supplement to $7.25 only if tips fall short.[5][9] This structure correlates with higher poverty rates among tipped workers compared to non-tipped peers, exacerbated by discrimination where servers of color receive 20-30% lower tips on average.[9] Businesses benefit by offloading wage costs to consumers, a form of price discrimination that extracts surplus value.[17]Debates on gratuity's fairness center on its role in perpetuating wage inequities versus motivating performance; proponents argue it aligns pay with effort, while critics, including economic analyses, highlight how it shifts labor costs to patrons, enables substandard base pay, and fosters harassment as tips depend on customer whims.[6][18] A 2023 Pew survey found 72% of Americans perceive tipping expectations expanding beyond traditional services like restaurants to retail and delivery, fueling "tipflation" fatigue.[7] Recent state-level reforms, such as eliminating tip credits in California and New York, aim to mandate full minimum wages, though federal persistence underscores ongoing tensions between custom and equity.[9]
Advice or Suggestion
A tip, in the sense of advice or suggestion, denotes a concise piece of practical or expertinformation intended to guide action or decision-making, often in specialized contexts such as business, sports, or daily tasks. This usage emphasizes brevity and utility, as in a "hot tip" conveying insider knowledge for potential advantage, like betting outcomes or investment opportunities.[19][20]Unlike comprehensive advice, which may involve extended reasoning, a tip typically offers a targeted, actionable insight, such as a technique to improve efficiency or avoid common pitfalls. Examples include culinary tips for achieving crisp textures in frying or travel tips for navigating customs regulations efficiently. This distinction arises from the term's connotation of succinctness, making it suitable for quick dissemination in guides, manuals, or informal exchanges.[21][19]The etymology of "tip" in this advisory sense remains uncertain, though it likely evolved from earlier verbal meanings related to light contact or disclosure, with first recorded uses as a noun for confidential information appearing by the mid-16th century. By the 19th century, it had solidified in English as synonymous with hints or suggestions, particularly those implying exclusivity or timeliness.[19][20]
Endpoint or Apex
In English, "tip" denotes the pointed or extreme end of an object, often implying a tapering or summit-like termination, synonymous in certain contexts with "apex" as the uppermost or culminating point.[19][22] This usage applies to both literal extremities, such as the tip of a finger or arrow, and elevated points, like the tip of a mountain or steeple, distinguishing it from broader endpoints by emphasizing narrowness or sharpness.[21][23] While "apex" derives from Latin for "summit" or "peak" and frequently connotes geometric vertices or peaks of achievement, "tip" carries a more vernacular connotation of a practical, observable termination, as in the tip of the tongue in anatomy.[24][25]The term's etymology traces to Middle English "tip" around 1175–1225, referring to a pointed end, with uncertain origins possibly from Scandinavian or Low German roots implying a strike or tap that forms a point; it lacks attestation in Old English or Old Norse but appears cognate with forms denoting light contact or projection.[26][22] By the 13th century, it evolved to encompass protective or capping elements at ends, such as metal tips on canes, reflecting practical adaptations in material use.[19] This sense predates modern associations like gratuities, grounding the word in physical descriptors rather than abstract or social ones.Common examples illustrate its application: the tip of a pencil as its writing extremity, enabling precise marking; the tip of a pyramid or cone as its converging vertex; or the tip of a wing in aerodynamics, where it influences airflow and lift.[22][23] In typography, "tip" may describe stroke terminations, though "apex" specifically denotes the peak where strokes meet in letters like "A".[27] Figuratively, it extends to peaks of intensity, as in "the tip of the iceberg" for visible summits masking greater masses, a phrase originating in the 19th century to denote partial revelation.[28] These usages underscore "tip"'s role in denoting finality or prominence without implying hierarchy beyond physical form.
Tilt or Overturn
The verb to tip, in the sense of tilting or overturning, refers to causing an object to lean or topple from a stable position, often resulting in it falling over.[19] This usage typically involves a transitive action, as in applying force to knock something askew or upset its balance, and is frequently paired with "over" to denote complete overturning, such as a vehicle tipping over on a curve due to excessive speed.[29] The term implies a tipping point where gravitational stability is overcome, leading to rotation around a pivot.[21]This meaning of tip originates from Middle Englishtippen, first attested around 1300, signifying "to knock down, overturn, topple, or knock askew."[26] The etymology is uncertain but likely derives from Middle Dutchtipen or Middle Low Germantipen, both meaning "to tip, drip, or pour," evoking the motion of spilling or slanting contents.[30] Earlier roots may trace to Scandinavian influences, though no definitive Proto-Indo-European cognate is established, distinguishing it from the nountip denoting an endpoint.[26]Intransitive usage appears by the 16th century, describing self-initiated tilting, as in a ladder tipping backward under uneven load.[19] Idiomatic extensions include "tip the scales," from the 16th century, where tilting a balance metaphorically means providing a decisive advantage, as in one argument tipping the scales in a debate.[31] Physical applications persist in modern contexts, such as engineering warnings against tipping loads in cranes, where center-of-gravity shifts can cause overturns documented in safety reports from the 20th century onward.[22] Empirical studies, including those on vehicle dynamics, quantify tipping thresholds using formulas like the static stability factor (SSF = track width / (2 × center-of-gravity height)), where values below 1.0 indicate high overturn risk.[19]
Contextual and Domain-Specific Uses
In Gambling
In gambling, a tip refers to a recommendation or prediction for a wager on the outcome of an event, such as a horse race, sports match, or other uncertain contest, typically provided by a tipster claiming specialized knowledge or analysis.[32][33] The term "tipster," denoting one who sells or shares such advice for betting purposes, first appeared in English in 1862, coinciding with the expansion of commercial horse racing and formalized wagering in Britain.[33] Although informal betting counsel existed earlier, organized tipster practices emerged in the early 18th century alongside the growth of public race meetings, where enthusiasts exchanged insights on horse form, jockey performance, and track conditions to gain an edge over bookmakers.[34]Tipsters disseminate advice through diverse channels, including print media, online platforms, and paid subscriptions, often focusing on high-volume markets like soccer, American football, or thoroughbred racing.[35] In horse racing, specialized terms denote tip quality, such as the "nap" for the day's strongest selection or "double" for paired bets, reflecting traditions from UK racing culture.[36] Modern services may employ statistical models, historical data analysis, or proprietary algorithms to generate tips, yet profitability hinges on achieving yields exceeding the bookmaker's vigorish—typically 4-10%—over thousands of bets to overcome the market's built-in disadvantage.[36]Empirical evaluation of tipster efficacy relies on long-term records, as short sequences are prone to random variance mimicking skill; statistical tools like the t-distribution assess whether profits deviate significantly from expected losses under bookmaker odds.[36] Analyses indicate that few tipsters sustain positive returns net of fees, with many services incentivized by affiliate commissions from induced betting volume rather than client success, leading regulators in markets like the UK to mandate transparent performance disclosure under frameworks such as the Gambling Commission's codes.[36] Successful outliers, often employing quantitative edges like arbitrage or value detection, underscore that reliable tipping demands rigorous, data-driven discipline over anecdotal hunches.[36]
In Law Enforcement
In law enforcement, a tip refers to unsolicited information provided by the public or informants regarding suspected criminal activity, often submitted anonymously to encourage reporting without fear of retaliation.[37] Such tips typically include details on potential crimes like drug trafficking, gang involvement, or fugitive locations, and are channeled through dedicated tip lines operated by agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or U.S. Marshals Service.[38][39][40] These mechanisms allow submitters to remain unidentified, with systems like WeTip or NCIS Tips providing unique reference numbers for follow-up communication while preserving anonymity.[41][42]Tips play a critical role in initiating and supporting criminal investigations by supplying leads that may otherwise remain undetected, particularly for offenses reliant on public observation rather than forensic evidence.[43]Law enforcement agencies prioritize tips based on specificity, credibility indicators (such as verifiable details), and alignment with ongoing cases, integrating them into broader intelligence processes.[44] For instance, programs like Crime Stoppers facilitate anonymous submissions that have enabled police to solve crimes by corroborating tip information with surveillance, witness statements, or physical evidence.[45] However, anonymous tips alone cannot establish probable cause for arrests or searches under U.S. constitutional standards, requiring independent verification to mitigate risks of fabrication or error.[46]Empirical data underscores tips' effectiveness when properly vetted: schools implementing anonymous reporting systems saw a 13.5% reduction in student-reported violent incidents compared to those without.[47] Similarly, tip technologies have aided in preventing criminal acts and resolving cases, such as through discreet reporting in human trafficking investigations.[48] Despite these benefits, challenges persist, including high volumes of unsubstantiated reports that strain resources and the need for robust cybersecurity in digital tip platforms to protect user data.[49] Overall, tips enhance proactive policing but demand rigorous corroboration to ensure investigative integrity.[50]
In Waste Disposal
In British English and certain other Commonwealth dialects, a "tip" denotes a designated site for the disposal of household, commercial, or construction waste, often functioning as a municipal dump or landfill where materials are deposited for burial or processing. This usage stems from the verb "to tip," meaning to unload or dump refuse, with the earliest recorded landfills emerging around 3000 BC in ancient Crete, where waste was placed into soil-covered pits to manage urban refuse.[51] By the 19th century, unregulated tips proliferated in industrializing regions like the UK, leading to open dumps that posed health and environmental risks through uncontrolled leaching and methane emissions, prompting the development of systematic landfilling practices in the mid-20th century.[52]Modern tips in the UK are regulated under environmental permits, requiring operators to classify waste, prevent contamination of groundwater, and capture landfill gas for energy recovery or flaring, as mandated by the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016.[53] Many contemporary sites, often rebranded as household waste recycling centers (HWRCs), emphasize segregation of recyclables like metals, plastics, and organics to divert materials from burial, with access typically restricted to residents via booking systems to manage volume and ensure compliance.[54] For instance, prohibited items such as hazardous substances or certain electronics cannot be tipped without prior treatment, reflecting stricter controls to minimize long-term ecological impacts compared to historical open dumps.[55]In commercial contexts, "tipping" refers to the process of unloading bulk waste at transfer stations or landfills, enabling efficient sorting and reducing transport distances to final disposal sites, a practice integral to UKwaste management hierarchies that prioritize reduction, reuse, and recycling over landfilling.[56] Despite advancements, tips remain a primary endpoint for non-recyclable residuals, accounting for a declining but significant portion of municipal solid waste—around 27% in England as of 2022—amid ongoing shifts toward circular economy models.
Science, Technology, and Computing
Computing and Software
In Unix-like operating systems, tip is a command-line utility designed to establish a full-duplex terminal connection to a remote host, typically over a serial line or modem, simulating a direct login to the remote system.[57] The tool, originating in BSD Unix variants, supports features such as file transfer between local and remote systems using protocols like ZMODEM, and it handles modem dialing sequences defined in configuration files like /etc/remote. It remains available in modern systems such as FreeBSD and AIX, where it is bundled with Basic Networking Utilities (BNU), though its usage has declined with the prevalence of network-based tools like SSH.[57]In early computer networking, Terminal Interface Processor (TIP) denoted a specialized packet-switching node deployed on the ARPANET in September 1971, enabling asynchronous terminals to connect directly to the network via dial-up telephone lines without requiring an intermediary host computer.[58] Developed as a variant of the Interface Message Processor (IMP), the TIP supported up to 63 serial terminals through multi-drop lines and functioned as a terminal server, forwarding user input to ARPANET hosts and relaying responses back, thus democratizing access to the network for remote users.[59] This innovation, implemented by BBN Technologies, marked a key evolution in distributed computing by decoupling terminals from mainframes, with initial deployments facilitating broader experimentation on the precursor to the modern Internet.[58]In the context of distributed version control systems, particularly Mercurial, tip specifically identifies the most recent changeset (commit) in a repository, representing the latest head or the changeset with no children. The reserved revision specifier "tip" allows users to reference this latest revision in commands, such as hg update tip to switch the working directory to the newest state, or hg log -r tip to inspect its details including hash, user, and date.[60] This concept underscores Mercurial's design emphasis on linear history tracking within branches, where "tip" dynamically points to the repository's current endpoint, aiding in workflows like merging or rollback without altering underlying data structures. Unlike Git's HEAD, which can be detached or branch-specific, Mercurial's tip is inherently tied to the most recently added content across heads, promoting straightforward navigation in decentralized development environments.[61]
Other Technical Applications
In scanning probe microscopy techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), the "tip" refers to the nanoscale probe at the end of a cantilever or manipulator that interacts directly with the sample surface to enable atomic-scale imaging, manipulation, and property measurement. These tips, often fabricated from materials like silicon or coated with conductive layers, must achieve radii as small as 1-10 nanometers for high resolution, with innovations like carbon nanotube-attached tips improving durability and imaging fidelity by reducing wear and enhancing aspect ratios.[62][63] For instance, chemical vapor deposition methods using iron catalysts have been employed to grow multi-walled carbon nanotube tips directly on standard AFM cantilevers, yielding probes with lengths up to several micrometers and tips sharper than 10 nm, as demonstrated in experimental validations achieving sub-10 nm resolution on gold surfaces.[62]In turbomachinery and fluid dynamics, "tip" denotes the radial extremity of rotating blades in compressors, turbines, or propellers, where tip leakage flow occurs as high-pressure fluid escapes across the small clearance gap between the blade tip and stationary casing, reducing efficiency by up to 20-30% in axial compressors and contributing to stall margins. This phenomenon, driven by pressure gradients, generates tip clearance vortices that interact with the main passage flow, as quantified in computational fluid dynamics simulations showing leakage mass flow rates scaling with clearance height and rotational speed.[64] In aeronautics, wingtip vortices form at the tip of finite-span wings due to spanwise pressure differences, rolling up into trailing helical structures that induce drag—accounting for approximately 30% of total induced drag in conventional aircraft—and persist for distances exceeding 10-20 wing spans, influencing wake hazard spacing in airport operations. Mitigation strategies, such as winglets, reduce vortex strength by 20-40% through altered tip loading.[65]In microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), tip-tilt-piston mechanisms enable precise angular and linear adjustments in devices like micromirror arrays for adaptive optics or display technologies, where electrothermal actuators deform to achieve deflections of ±5-10 degrees in tip and tilt modes with sub-micrometer piston motion, integrated with on-chip position sensors for closed-loop control. These configurations, fabricated via surface micromachining, support applications in laser beam steering with response times under 1 ms.[66]
Arts, Entertainment, and Culture
Music
In string instrument performance, the tip refers to the distal end of the bow, opposite the frog (the hand-held portion), where the horsehair bundle is secured by a metal tip plate and wedge. This design allows performers to execute lighter, more controlled strokes with reduced pressure and weight compared to frog-initiated bowings, influencing tone production by minimizing string vibration intensity. Bow tips typically feature a mortise for hair attachment and may include decorative ivory or synthetic replacements in modern restorations, with historical bows from the 18th century onward emphasizing ergonomic balance for agile tip usage in techniques like spiccato or sautillé.[67][68][69]In percussion, particularly drumming, the tip denotes the striking end of a drumstick, engineered in varied shapes (e.g., acorn for focused attack, barrel for fuller resonance) and materials (wood for warmer timbre, nylon for brighter projection on cymbals). Wooden tips produce a mellow, less piercing sound due to energy absorption, whereas nylon tips enhance clarity and volume on metal surfaces by reflecting more high frequencies, a distinction rooted in 20th-century innovations like Vic Firth's nylon prototypes in the 1960s. Tip dimensions—often 0.5 to 1 inch in diameter—affect rebound and stick definition, with performers selecting based on genre; jazz drummers favor defined tips for crisp articulation, while rock applications may prioritize durable wood for sustained volume.[70][71]
Institutions and Organizations
Educational Institutions
The Technological Institute of the Philippines (T.I.P.) is a private, non-sectarian tertiary institution specializing in engineering, computing, and related technical fields, with campuses in Manila and Quezon City.[72] Established in 1962, it emphasizes practical, industry-aligned education to produce skilled professionals in high-demand sectors.[73] T.I.P. holds autonomous status from the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which grants it flexibility in curriculum development and program administration, and maintains affiliations with accrediting bodies such as the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) and the Foundation for Advancement of Basic Education (FAAP).[72][74]The institution offers accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in disciplines including civil engineering, computer engineering, information technology, electronics engineering, and business administration with technical emphases.[72] Its Quezon City campus, in particular, has received CHED autonomous status, reflecting sustained compliance with quality standards and effective outcomes in student performance metrics.[74] T.I.P. integrates hands-on training through laboratories and partnerships with industry, contributing to its reputation for graduates who excel in technical roles; for instance, its senior high school students have secured recognitions in national competitions as of recent years.[72]While various tuition incentive programs (TIPs) exist in U.S. states like Michigan and Wisconsin to support low-income students' access to community colleges and universities, these are state-administered financial aid mechanisms rather than standalone educational institutions.[75][76] Similarly, programs such as Duke University's former Talent Identification Program (ended in 2020) provided enrichment for gifted youth through an established university but operated as an initiative within Duke rather than an independent entity.[77] In contrast, T.I.P. in the Philippines functions as a dedicated higher education provider focused on technical instruction.
Political and Governmental Uses
The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, produced annually by the U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, evaluates global governmental efforts to address human trafficking under the framework of the 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the UN Palermo Protocol.[78] The report categorizes 188 countries into tiers based on compliance with minimum standards for prevention, prosecution of traffickers, and victim protection, with Tier 1 indicating full compliance and Tier 3 signifying failure to meet standards despite significant efforts.[79] Released on June 24, 2024, the latest edition emphasized the role of digital technologies in facilitating trafficking while noting persistent challenges like forced labor and sexual exploitation, informing U.S. diplomatic pressure and restrictions on non-humanitarian aid to underperforming nations.[79][80] Critics, including some foreign governments, have argued the tier system serves U.S. foreign policy interests over objective assessment, though empirical data on prosecutions and victim identifications underpin the rankings.[81]In U.S. transportation governance, TIP refers to the Transportation Improvement Program, a mandatory four-year fiscally constrained plan developed by metropolitan planning organizations and state agencies to prioritize projects eligible for federal funding under the Federal-Aid Highway Act and related statutes.[82] The TIP integrates highway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian initiatives, ensuring alignment with long-range plans like Statewide Transportation Improvement Programs (STIPs), and is updated periodically to reflect funding availability from sources such as the Highway Trust Fund.[83] For instance, regional TIPs, such as New York State's 2023-2026 STIP, list hundreds of projects totaling billions in investments, facilitating infrastructure enhancements while complying with environmental reviews and public participation requirements.[84]During the 2008 financial crisis, the U.S. Treasury's Targeted Investment Program (TIP), enacted under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, authorized targeted capital injections into systemically important institutions to avert broader economic instability, imposing stricter terms than standard TARP programs including higher dividend rates and enhanced oversight.[85] This initiative stabilized entities like major banks by addressing unique risks not covered by general auctions, with investments yielding returns through warrants and dividends upon repayment.[86]In electoral politics, the Transition Integrity Project (TIP) conducted bipartisan scenario-based simulations in 2020 to model potential disruptions in the U.S. presidential election certification and power transfer, involving over 100 experts and concluding that institutional reforms were needed to mitigate chaos in close contests.[87] A 2024 iteration repeated such exercises to identify vulnerabilities ahead of the election cycle, focusing on legal, media, and governmental responses to contested outcomes.[88] These non-governmental efforts, while framed as integrity-enhancing, drew scrutiny for perceived partisan leanings in participant selection and recommendations favoring expanded votingaccess measures.[89]
Acronyms and Initialisms
Common TIP Expansions
The acronym TIP expands to various terms depending on the context, with several established uses in government, health, and education sectors. In transportation, Transportation Improvement Program denotes a short-term, fiscally constrained program of transportation investments developed through a collaborative process incorporating federal, state, and local input, typically covering a four- to five-year horizon as mandated under U.S. federal law.[90][91]In behavioral health, Treatment Improvement Protocol refers to a series of best-practice guidelines developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to address specific topics in substance use disordertreatment, drawing from expert consensus and evidence reviews.[92][93]Talent Identification Program, often associated with Duke University's initiative, identifies high-achieving students through above-level testing and provides advanced educational opportunities, serving thousands annually since its inception in 1980.[94]A persistent but unfounded expansion linked to gratuities—"To Insure Promptness" or variants like "To Insure Proper Service"—emerged as a backronym in the early 20th century, contradicting etymological evidence that "tip" derives from 17th-century English slang for a small gift, predating any acronym usage.[95][96]In software development, Testing in Production describes a methodology where applications are monitored and validated in live environments to detect issues missed in staging, gaining traction with agile practices despite risks to user experience.[94]
Notable Individuals
People Known as Tip
Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill Jr. (December 9, 1912 – January 5, 1994) was an American Democratic politician who represented Massachusetts's 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1953 until 1987, serving as Speaker from 1977 to 1987.[97] He acquired the nickname "Tip" during childhood, derived from James "Tip" O'Neill, a contemporary baseball player renowned for fouling off pitches until drawing walks.[97]James Edward "Tip" O'Neill (May 25, 1858 – December 31, 1915) was a Canadian professional baseballoutfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1883 to 1892, primarily with the St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Athletics.[98] His nickname "Tip" stemmed from his batting style of repeatedly fouling off pitches, "tipping" the ball, which frustrated pitchers and led to intentional walks; in 1887, he achieved a .435 batting average, hit 36 home runs, and led the National League in multiple offensive categories.[98]Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., known professionally as T.I. and formerly T.I.P. (an initialism for "Tip"), born September 25, 1980, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and record executive from Atlanta, Georgia.[99] He rose to prominence in the early 2000s with albums such as Trap Muzik (2003) and Urban Legend (2004), establishing himself as a pioneer of trap music, and has released ten studio albums, earning Grammy nominations and sales exceeding 75 million records worldwide.[99]Ḥamad ibn Muḥammad ibn Jumʿah ibn Rajab ibn Muḥammad ibn Saʿīd al-Murjabī, commonly known as Tippu Tip (c. 1832 – June 14, 1905), was an Afro-Omani explorer, plantation owner, and Arab-Swahili ivory and slave trader who exerted significant influence in East-Central Africa during the late 19th century. Operating from Zanzibar under Sultan Barghash bin Said, he led expeditions into the interior, establishing trading posts and facilitating the capture and transport of enslaved individuals and ivory, which contributed to the economic networks of the Sultanate of Zanzibar until European colonial interventions curtailed the trade.[100]