The T.I. Debate: Industry Insiders Discuss the King’s Fall From Grace

On Monday, November 1, T.I. will be reporting back to the Arkansas Forrest City federal jail facility for probation violations stemming from his 2009 conviction on gun charges. Tip’s new sentence follows his arrest in West Hollywood on drug charges and will find the rap star spending the next 11-months behind bars, just six months since being released from federal custody on his initial gun charge.

With the hip-hop community abuzz about Tip's recent legal woes, XXLMag.com gathered a handful of respected rap industry professionals—including DJ Skee, Jayson Rodriguez from MTV News, Young Sav from Best Of Both Offices, XXLMag.com contributor and one half of 2DopeBoyz, Meka Udoh, blogger Karen Civil, and a surprise pop in from former G-Unit Records President turned Def Jam exec, Sha Money XL—to speak about how this will affect the Grand Hustle general’s career over AOL Instant Messenger. It’s that time again; lock and load and AIM & Fire.

Jesse Gissen: I'd like to welcome y'all to AIM & Fire, XXL's new column where we discuss the latest trending topics in hip-hop over AOL instant messenger. Today's topic is T.I. First of all I’d like to get y'all first reaction when you heard that he was arrested last month.

Young Sav: Surprised

Meka Udoh: He's a jackass

DJ SKEE: Disappointed, he got out of an insanely bad situation he got off light and then got caught up on some relatively small stuff

JG: Why do you think he risked it? He knew he was gonna be tested for drugs.

Meka: Quite simple he's a jackass. He basically came from nothing to become one of the foremost players in urban music today. Only to get caught up, understandably, trying to buy a variety of military armaments reserved to catch terrorists after his friend was tragically murdered. Having spent time in prison, and losing out on a multitude of financial and familial opportunities, he gets out of prison, only to get caught holding drugs and being around fellow felons? Really? What kinda dumbass shit is that?

Young Sav: Being in the moment, not thinking

DJ SKEE: There's always ways around tests, so i dont know if that was the issue, but probably felt like he wasn’t going to be caught up for this, especially since he’s in a Maybach, not driving, etc. getting careless.

JG: Do you think the fans will stick by him this go-round? I see Meka isn't…

Meka: The sad shit is fans will STILL stick by him despite his, well, fuckery

DJ SKEE: I think as we've seen over and over hit records and good music clear any problems, in terms of perception by fans

Jayson Rodriguez: It was disappointing because Tip took responsibility, said all the right things, and didn't make any excuses. He owned it and he earned the respect of a lot of people. I remembering being in the courtroom when the judge sentenced him and he really talked up T.I. To see him make a mistake that soon again was family member-type disappointment.

Meka: To me he did all of that stuff, made a reality television show about trying to change the lives of "at risk" peoples and then he gets caught up doing the same thing he preached against?

Young Sav: The fans will stick by u as long as u have a hot record and continue to be relevant

Jayson: I think the fans will stick by him. it was odd to hear Tip sort of lash out a bit about people turning their back. he's arguably the most supported rapper, in terms of fans, community, etc.

JG: How do you think this will affect his new record, that's already been plagued with so many setbacks?

Meka: Which one: his musical or prison record?

Jayson: Ziiiing! Score, Meka

DJ SKEE: Ha... well, more stuff to talk about i guess

JG: The label seems set on releasing it by the end of the year, is that a good move or should they wait till he gets out?

Meka: He doesn't have a legitimate single out that has even a modicum of buzz right now

DJ SKEE: Correct, he needs a hit first. Right now he seems in and out so much I dont know if people care THAT much any more about prison, etc

Jayson: I think he should wait. What he was putting out didn't sound inspired, and the situation with him making a mistake again. really, an album doesn't seem to be the most pressing thing. And the album titled changed. I presume the content would, too. or else why change it?

DJ SKEE: Yes I’m a Tip fan but the latest stuff hasn’t made me as excited as his last few releases

Jayson: And really, albums where rapper's are going IN jail, are always better than the ones released right after. The B. Coming, Paper Trail, etc.

Meka: Not exactly. Me Against the World by 2Pac was a great album

JG: Let’s talk about he suicide jumper. Do we think that was a publicity stunt, despite what Tip said?

Meka: I wish T.I. could have convinced Yung Berg onto that ledge instead or Ray-J

Karen Civil: Anything positive that happens with T.I at this point will be looked at as a "Publicity stunt"..I really don't think it was.

JG: Does anyone else agree with Karen?

Meka: That whole thing was too odd for words. I'm not a fan of people killing themselves [even though i may say it in the proverbial sense every now & then]

[ED NOTE: Sha Money XL temporarily hijacks Young Sav's IM]

Young Sav Sha Money XL: ←--- this is Sha Money. Yo on some real shit suicide is nothing to joke around about so if this was a stunt I doubt it, Niggas is really suffering out here. As for T.I. I know this time he gonna learn a real lesson.

Jayson: T.I. ain't G.I. Joe or Superman, so it was a bit odd the "Rubber Band Man" was saving folks.

DJ SKEE: Ya that's a bit too scary/weird to make a stunt. whole situation was super weird tho

JG: Do you think Tip is a good candidate for a role model? They really painted him as one on the radio following the incident

Meka: Clifford Harris? ROLE MODEL? *Climbs onto ledge*

[ED NOTE: Now, partner Steve-O of Best of Both Offices hijacks Sav's IM]

Young Sav Steve-O: This is Steve-O of Best of Both Offices--------Well it depends on how u view T.I., its a yes and no for me. He’s making a lot of crucial public mistakes, but at the end of the day he is successful

Meka: At what cost though?

JG: How do we define success?

Meka: How can you be considered a role model when you, well, keep going to prison? That's like saying stanley "tookie" williams is a role model. He was instrumental in creating one of the largest gangs in the world, but after getting sent to death row he realized the error of his ways." That’s role model material for me

Young Sav Steve-O:←-Steve O ----- If he wasnt successful we wouldn’t even be having this debate

Jayson: Tip is a good dude, with a good heart, it seems. And he's done a lot of good things and owned up to even more. He may not be the most ideal role model to some with his past. But all kids aren't gonna respond to the dude from the suburbs who is volunteering after work. He's like a role model sidekick. You need another one who ain't going to jail

Karen: Ironically it appears as if T.I. has committed career suicide

Young Sav Sha Money XL: Sha Money here-------Success is a journey not a destination so just cause he got paper that don't make everything good

Meka: TI should be less concerned about being a role model to his "fans" and more of a role model to his kids

DJ SKEE: Tough one. He has built and empire from nothing, made mistakes, corrected them, and then messed up again. Look everyone screws up multiple times, maybe not on that level, but i think he has done a lot of positive things overall, changed many people’s lives. However, to keep messing up over and over... he doesn’t make it easy to support always, but like Jay said is a good dude and has done an amazing amount of positive stuff in his life. I think we wont be able to really judge that for some years

[ED NOTE: Sav finally gets his IM back]

Young Sav: Young Sav------- i think T.I. in sort of a way definitely needs to rebuild his character, but it’s not easy after two back to back stints in the bing!

JG: so just to reiterate we all agree that Tip will be able to survive this - all he needs is one more hit record. Thing is - will he ever be able to get back to that place after he first returned from jail. Will the endorsement deals come back. Movie offers? TV shows?

Meka: i'm sure they will

Jayson: Tip is a career artist, he has a story to tell and he's extremely talented. This isn't gonna wipe him out, but it will limit things on the movie side, etc.

Young Sav: All that will eventually come back. He knows how to make records

DJ SKEE: They can, it will take time, but look at Kobe and many others who have come back from negative situations. In Tip's case though, endorsements etc may take a much longer time, since its a pattern

Meka: Because it's going to take a lot of PR - and some quasi-cooning - to get corporate America to change their minds about him

Jayson: The farther you fall down, the longer it takes to get back up, and Tip isn't the young gunner anymore. I don't know if he has time to build that back up again to get the GM deals and mainstream movies.

JG: Here's an interesting question - with him gone and Jeezy seemingly struggling to get back into the convo - who will take on the role of king of the south in his absence

Meka: Here's the thing. That "King of the South" ideal hasn't been relevant in years now. There are a lot of artists from every coast putting out great music. So there's not going to be just "one" top artist from that region ruling over all

DJ SKEE: Ya i agree with that...

JG: I disagree - there are plenty of people that strictly making crazy noise down south and arent necessarily relevant up north or on the west

Meka: But for them to be considered "king of the south" they'll need nationwide acceptance. Which was what TI did

Young Sav: Name some?

Karen: I don't think there is necessarily one heir to the South thrown.. but Rick Ross definitely is a front runner.

JG: Plies for example - dude is making bank below the mason dixon at every show he plays - but he gets booed up here and what about Waka. Boosie before he got locked up, etc

DJ SKEE: Ya i dont know if there will be a "king" right now. i think there is a bunch of dope music and huge artists, but not someone who is going to step in and embrace that "King" role T.I. thrust upon himself

Jayson: Ross as the front runner is interesting. He's not cracking through on the uber mainstream level. but he's killing the streets. Whenever i travel down south, though, I can't still can't escape Gucci's music and Waka.

DJ SKEE: I don’t see anyone filling those shoes... T.I. took it and ran with it

JG: Do we think anyone is going to capitalize off of TI going back to jail

Young Sav: I dont think so, everyone mainly established already

Karen: Anyone.. it's anyones ballgame..

JG: What do you think is gonna happen to grand hustle in his absence?

Meka: B.o.B is doing a capable job of holding down grand hustle. A pretty damn good job

Jayson: I dont think grand hustle when i think bobby ray, though. do you all?

Meka: Nah, not really. Got hope for big kuntry king tho. Where the hell is yung dro anyways?

DJ SKEE: At the polo outlet

JG: What is the lesson to be learned from this whole ordeal

DJ SKEE: Dont get arrested!

Jayson: Don’t drive down hollywood blvd

Young Sav: Think first!

DJ SKEE: And don’t fuck with the sheriffs in West Hollywood esp on Sunset blvd! They pulled me over for a tint when my window was rolled down and 1 inch was showing

JG: LAPD don’t play! On that note - thanks for playing AIM & Fire y'all. Drive safely LOL.

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