As President Barack Obama prepares to hand over the reigns of the White House to President-Elect Donald Trump, T.I. took a moment to honor the legacy and contributions of America’s first African-American commander in chief. In the first of a series of open letters, Tip shares his thoughts on what President Obama has meant to him and the entire country.
The Atlanta rapper and actor sat with the New York Times and explained the impetus behind the letters is “using my platform to be a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves.” This comes after a pair of politically-charged releases from T.I. in 2016 with the Us Or Else EP and the full album, Us Or Else: Letter To The System.
With a renewed sense of purpose to use his platform for social change, T.I. continued that track in the open letter:
“You entered humbly into our worlds from the streets of the South Side of Chicago and galvanized a generation. You resonated from the barbershops to the airwaves to the streets of every hood across America. Many of US did not know your name, nor did we truly understand the impact you would have on the world in the years, months and days that followed.
“As I reflect, I am filled with gratitude, outrage, grief, anger, humility and appreciation, both for the things you helped bring to light and the many things we still have yet to realize.
“For years you fought to keep this nation from the very thing we have now become.”
The Obama family held its final party last night at the White House, which was attended by the likes of Wale, Usher, and several other stars.
The entire letter and T.I.’s conversation with the Times can be viewed here.
Words from an ignorant felon who glamorizes crime and violence, glorifying poisoning his own people with drugs.
…who couldn’t even stay true to glamourizing crime and violence, fell off from gangsta rap since he seen some big money.
I’m proud of Obama’s presidential run.Not much change has happened but there were improvements.We just have to get smart and have better common sense on how we live our lives and influence on one another.Much respect for Barack Obama on showing us that anything is possible.Work and study for improvement. Thanks and best of luck to the Obama’s.If anybody hating, don’t bother post your opinion because it’s obviously your are deplorable Donald Skunk supporter that has no business expressing your thoughts on this hip-hop site, aren’t they county hick sites
Yeah lets celebrate a black president that orders children killed via Drones all across the world including Africa. You niggaz deserve to be deported back to Africa and go celebrate BLACK POWER over there.
This lil snitch should shut the fuck up already.
Same hometown streets of Chicago that had over 780 homicides in 2016 and recently one of the most disturbing videos you’ll ever see.. But such savageness is glorified in the hip hop community.. But you’re “fighting to keep this nation from the very thing we have now become” ? Come on TIP you have a platform to motivate young men and woman in this little farewell but instead you decide to pull down your skinny jeans and take a dump on the future. You don’t owe Trump shit, but he will be the President and all of the sensitive celebs with a voice that would rather whine and spew hatred rather than motivate need to snap out of it.
Some where along the line ignorance has been glorified from the music to movies that’s all they force feeding the youth today the devil has control of the earth but his grip is slipping that’s why we have so much crazy things going on the killings and any other foul thing going on today ! Congrats to out going President Barack Obama we should be proud but just watch how many ignorant statements are typed on this site only those who hate themselves spew such hate and ignorance , the storm shall past God will win in the end !
Israel dictates entire US foreign policy. Obama nothing but a puppet of the zionists just like Trump and Hillary.
Word? Any links to back that statement up?
Links don’t work here.
Someone who says WORD would hardly understand World Politics and whats really going on around the World. Just shut up and listen to lil Yachty and get more retarded. For everybody else just look up AIPAC and how they BUY every policitican in America. Trump is also a Zionist puppet
Yeah, don’t forget every december there’s a big ass hanukah menorah lighting ceremony with rabbis and heads of state on the fuckin white house lawn. It’s ridiculous.
Shoe shining c00n!
US is all that matters huh? Black supremacist? Absolutley! Guy needs to open his eyes african americans only represent 13% of the entire united states population its unrealistic just to say fuck everyone else make everything for just 13% of the country all because of horrible events from HISTORY because back then african americans represented under 5% of the population during that horrible time so he believes that 87% of a country now should suffer? Im sorry it was horrible but suffering does not defeat suffering forgiveness prosperity equality and progressing forward…black people arent the only ones subjegated in this country caucasians hispanics middle eastern citizens orientals all of us are being terrorized by our own police our own government and it needs to stop and it will never stop as long as 1 side thinks it has it worse we all need to unite and realize its a problem and stop fucking segregating blacks to whites whites to blacks or what the hell ever and stop fighting eachother and fight our corrupt power systems and let them know we are the people and if they fuck with us then there will be consequences
AMERICA, it’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.
Im proud to be an american always will be just sicks what the idiotic majority does unfortunaley
Donald Trump salutes YOU TI, and your buddy Killeen Mike, for helping to get him elected with your race baiting hypocritical whining bullshit. Us or else? I’m guessing the “else” is theirs automatic weapons and silencers you did a fee Years for, right felon? LOL. Hopefully people stupid enough to listen to you will realize what a hypocritical tool you are, you rascist piece of shit.
I agree. He is juxtapositions ridiculous hypocritical BS for anyone that is silly enough to listen. TINY won!
I get his point in a sense all that he surrounds himself with are african americans as well who hes close to and loves and his own wife and children that he loves above anything else are all black so he wants whats best for what he sees but hes short sighted and needs to realize theres more suffering strife and indifference in this country hell just the other week the GOP basicaly made it impossible to convict them for any corrupt crime prior to 2011 and if they do commit a corrupt crime the GOP is to establish a committee to decide if it will go to authorities or not so in other words they clearly just passed a law putting themselfs above all other people in the U.S after seeing whats happening to hillary and the police and federal task forces do the same create laws that shield and benefit themselfs above the common man hes right about the US or else shit but its US as in all of the american citizens needing to rise up against corrupt power structures and show them we are all man and we are all equal
obama is from hawaii
The Legacy of Obama is the same as Bush. They are war criminals/War Lords that kill a lot of children around the world. T.I and the rest of the Black Supremacists can go FUCK themselves. A Black hole in outta space is more useful than you black hoodlums. Trump will be no better.
Hussian Obama the WORST KENYAN PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME!!
T.I stick to making wack music and letting mayweather fuck your wife without repercussions YOU CUKOLD ASS MUTHAFUKA YOU!
On sum real ish, TI and all of hollywood need to gtfoh. If hilary won wed be in so much beef with the rest of the world. Ppl call trump a rascist because of his policy of immigration ? Wtf? And hilary is known to work with kkk and other shadow elite groups who wipe out countries. Im so happy trump won and ppl need to open their eyes obomba wasnt nothin but a paid puppet of wallstreet takin orders. Gtfoh
“Letter to the system” ? The likes of Obama and Hillary are part of that system, Trump isn’t a typical political figure in the system, he’s a business man.
No one that likes rap also likes trump
You 4chaners losers stop trolling this site
What an ignorant opinion.
It’s kinda true. Trump said all blacks are dumb and poor.
Make America great again like it was in the 1930s? Why else do the kkk love him?
Trump wants to stop n frisk blacks
Kick out Mexicans
Ban muslims
Trump wants America for whites and you dummies support that?
Simple minded ignorant comment
Explain it’s all true
F trump
Maybe if you spent as much time dealing with your wife and kids your ass wouldn’t be getting divorced now chump. Quit worrying about Trump and Obama and deal with your fucked up situation you has been.
Id love to have ti ride my ass while obama kisses my lips mmm daddy