T.I. Talks Failing to Sign Chief Keef, Says The MC Represents America’s Youth

In recent months, T.I. has been adding new blood to his Grand Hustle Records, having enlisted the talents of Iggy Azalea, Trae Tha Truth, and Chip. The Atlanta rap star wanted to continue that expansion to bringing Chief Keef aboard, too. Even though he wasn't able to sign the buzzing Chicago MC, who instead inked a deal with Interscope, Tip still wishes him the best.

"The opportunity existed, but I never put my own personal wishes before the best interest of the next person," T.I. told MTV News of his courting of Keef. "I'm just happy that he's able to do whatever's best for him and his family and to move forward as a person and to progress in life. As long as he's doing that, I'm happy."

The Atlantic Records signed T.I., who will be dropping his new album Trouble Man, in September, praised Keef's ability to speak for a generation. "I feel like he represents a part of America," he continued. "He represents a part of the youth in America that ain't really got a voice right now. We looking at 'em, and we're seeing the results of their actions, but we ain't really listening to 'em, and I think you gotta have a representative of each generation in order to understand what they dealing with."

T.I. wasn't the only boss hoping to bring the 16-year-old rapper to his label. "I like him, he kinda remind me of us," Baby told MTV News last month. "[He's] out the streets, I think he swagged up and I'm definitely talkin' to his people and I'd like to see if we could get it to pop, see if I can get him to be down with the team."

Even so, Keef decided to go with Interscope, a move which he announced over the weekend. "I've been talkin' to a lot of labels, but I just noticed that Interscope got people like 50, Eminem," he said. "They was talking good to me. They was talking like I was talking, and I liked that. All these other labels, I was talking to 'em, but it's time anyway for me, and I'm going with Interscope." —Adam Fleischer (@AdamXXL)