T.I. On Lil Wayne's Black Lives Matter Comments: "You're Better Than This"
T.I. performs at the BET Experience. | Photo: Ural Garrett
T.I. has had a personal and professional friendship with Lil Wayne over the years, but after Weezy's controversial comments surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement, Tip is taking him to task.
Wayne drew criticism from all over this week, when an interview with Nightline showed him dismissing the Black Lives Matter movement that is rallying against police brutality and racial injustice.
I don't even know why you put a name on it. It's not a name. It's not 'whatever, whatever.' It's somebody got shot by a policeman for a f**ked up reason, Wayne said. ...I am a young, Black, rich motherf**ker. If that don't let you know that America understand Black motherf**kers matter these days, I don't know what it is."
T.I., who has come into his own role in the movement with the politically-chargedUs Or ElseEP this year, was one of many who was bothered by Wayne's comments. He called his fellow lyricist out in a lengthy new Instagram post.
"I don't know what you gointhru, or what you are attempting to avoid but this sh*t is absolutely unacceptable," T.I. said. "You're disrespecting yourself, bringing shame on your family name and tarnishing your legacy.
"...Our people are being oppressed!!! We are being hunted,captured & slaughtered out here daily!!! You have to get outta that bubble that you've been living in & get out here & educate yourself on what's going on around US," he continued. "I'm always here to share whatever knowledge or understanding I may have to assist your growth & development, but u MUST STOP this buffoonery & coonin' you out here doin."
In Wayne's interview, he said that the only allegiances he has are to his four children. T.I. said that Wayne's children should provide extra motivation for him to be involved in the movement and speak about it eloquently.
"You have children (including mines prior to now) that have looked up to you. You have sons & a daughter that depend upon your leadership," he said. "Bro if you don't stand for something out here, all the money, jewelry, cars, mansions bandannas & hit records don't mean shit!!!!"
Vic Mensa also criticized Wayne's comments, calling them "very ignorant, selfish and isolated" in a Reddit Ask Me Anything.
Since the video, Wayne has apologized for his comments. He said that he was offended by interviewer's question about whether he would be upset if his daughters were referred to asout of their name, the way that he does in his music.
"When the reporter began asking me questions about my daughter being labeled a bitch and a ho, I got agitated," he told TMZ. "From there, there was no thought put into her questions and my responses."