Its been almost a year since rapper T.I. has been of out of the public eye, and Friday he sat down for his first interview with Atlanta’s V-103 radio station to talk about family, public perception, and future plans. During his interview he explained that prior to his drug charges he felt that he had become so caught In being a role model for the youth that was really reaching to live up to others expectations of himself. He stated that he felt that it influenced his music, and not necessarily in a good way.
T.I. said “When I went through everything I was going through, I became the new, sophisticated, Paper Trail, upper echelon . “All of those people who liked this new T.I. were the ones quickest to give me their back pockets to kiss. The ones who really stayed down with me was them Bank Head natives. The ones who supported them first two albums. So I feel like I’ma stay down with who stayed down with me.”
Tip said he knows people are disappointed in his actions, but he doesn’t feel the need to explain those actions as he has himself and his family to consider first.
During the interview he added “I owe that to myself. I really don’t owe anyone any explanation. I think I had to grow to that point. I can’t live for ya’ll. Ya’ll like my music and I appreciate that. Ya’ll like me as a person and I appreciate that wholeheartedly. However, I don’t owe all these explanations to all these different people I don’t even know. If you have disagreements with the way I move, with the way I operate, that’s fine, you’re entitled to it. But at the end of the day, I got to live my life for these people. For my family, for my children, and I’m going to do what’s best for them. You don’t have to believe me. And I can’t make you believe me. There’s nothing I can say to make you believe me. But I got to live my life for my family.”
I’m glad hes out, and I can’t wait to see what comes next from this ATL rapper. More movies perhaps? Who knows, but what I do know is that the music is definitely going to be banging. You can check out the entire interview with Atlantas V-103 right here!
