Atlanta rap star T.I. is expected to be moved to a halfway house shortly after the first of the year as he nears the end of his federal prison sentence for illegal firearms possession and for possessing a gun as a convicted felon, officials confirmed Tuesday.

T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., began serving his sentence of a year and a day at a low-security prison in Arkansas last May. He is expected to be released from Bureau of  Prisons custody on March 23, after serving 85 percent of his sentence.

Bureau of Prisons spokesman Edmond Ross said it was customary for an inmate to transition from prison to freedom via a halfway house if there is no danger to the community and if there is space at a facility near where he is to live after his prison time.

Usually that process begins when there are 18 months remaining on a sentence, but in this case it would have to start sooner. Its not uncommon for inmates to be placed in community corrections for the last portion of their confinement to help with his transition.