T.I. Covers VIBE's Year End Issue

Exclusive Excerpts From VIBE's T.I. Cover Story

T.I. on being skeptical of Bin Laden's death

The conversation shifts from Muammar Gaddafi’s death—which occurred five days prior—to Osama Bin Laden’s assassination to both Eastern giant’s once empowered relationship with the U.S. government. “It’s like everybody that the U.S. was besties with, years later they’re the worst person in the world,” says Tip. "My question is what character traits do they possess now that they didn’t possess when y’all were besties? What made it go astray, and who’s to say they were on the dishonest end of that?”

The politic’n doesn’t stop there. Before an article can be selected from the “Osama Bin Laden killed” search, T.I. twists his lips in sarcastic fashion and shoots, “If that really happened.”

VIBE:  So you’re skeptical about the legitimacy of Osama’s death?

T.I.: Man, I’m a conspiracy theorist by nature. You can’t experience the federal penal system and not be somewhat skeptical. 

T.I. on all Americans having equal rights

Man, I will say this, the funniest joke I ever heard Tracy say during a stand-up was, ‘C’mon man, I think gay people are too sensitive. If you can take a dick, you can take a joke.’ [Cracks up laughing.] That shit was funny to me. And it’s kind of true.’ While T.I. makes clear that he supports anyone’s sexual preference, he then connects, in his opinion, a current oversensitivity among gay people with a consequential and ironic offense of the First Amendment. “They’re like,‘If you have an opinion against us, we’re gonna shut you down.’ ... That’s not American. If you’re gay you should have the right to be gay in peace, and if you’re against it you should have the right to be against it in peace.’

T.I. on people criticizing Tiny for not taking the drug charge

“I’ma tell you, 50 Cent and anybody else, we not gonn’a  have no discussion about what my ole lady should’a, would’a, couda done for anything as it pertains to me,” begins his rant. “We ain’t gonn’a do that. I’m the only one in my family that’s gonna take a lick when it pertains to the legal system. Since me, none of my other family members have seen a jail cell. Nobody. I’m the last one. The buck stops here. I feel that a person that stands behind [his woman for a criminal charge] is a coward anyway.”

VIBE: I doubt she would have gotten any time.

T.I.: She wasn’t gonna catch it period, ’cause I’m there. That wasn’t even a consideration. Even if she asked me to I would’ve been like, “Nah, you trippin’. “ 

So you didn’t feel you were more valuable to your family, employees and business partners on the street?

That’s a discussion between me and another man. Not with the mother of my children. Not with the nurturer of my household.