Yesterday Q-Tip took to Twitter to give Iggy Azalea a lesson on the history of hip-hop. The series of tweets came after Iggy callously dismissed Azealia Bank's valid comments on the white washing of the genre. Now T.I. has tweeted in response to Q-Tip and in defense of his artist Iggy. He argues that not all white people want to exploit hip-hop and that the truly talented white artists are merely inspired by the culture.
Yes @IGGYAZALEA @QtipTheAbstract all these facts are true. This is useful info to absorb as U find yourself in da midst of several people
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
who U may not share many things in common with besides #HipHop. Understanding the plight assists U in knowing how to accept,respect...
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
& live in harmony even without a boatload of similarities.
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
Also what I think my big Bruh kinda left out is that OUR people (blacks in America,& HIPHOP) have had much less qualified White People
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
come along & manipulate our culture for their own pers gain. This lead to an almost incoherent overly defensive, paranoid sense of...
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
"All White People Wanna Steal Our Shit" mentality. Now as difficult as this is to believe.... We think all white people who do our shit...
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
gotta kiss our ass or we don't like em!!! "Dey shady!!!" (Lol No pun intended) But me knowing U,Eminem,and a handful of other...
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
(just so happen to be) white people who were inspired by our culture allowed ME TO SEE, that not all white people out to steal our culture..
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
There are some that merely wish to contribute to it. And I'd be less than ME if I didn't say that... If WE don't allow u guys the same...
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
...rights & respect we KNOW WE DESERVE in other areas of humanity... WE'RE ALL JUST A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES. AND THATS NOT HIP HOP!!!!
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
So in a nutshell, absorb da info...apply it where most useful,and above all KEEP SHINING,FOLLOW YOUR HEART,& STAY TRUE TO WHO U ARE!!!
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
I know u don't deserve all da negative shit that comes your way. But like I've told u before, it just kinda comes wit da territory...
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
when u gain so much positive attn SO FAST! It all balances out. I know u been broke,hungry& disgusted before,so I know u know just like I do
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
It COULD BE A LOT WORSE. If dis all U gotta put up wit/sacrifice to earn our very above average lifestyles....
— T.I. (@Tip) December 22, 2014
Soon after T.I. started tweeting, Banks responded by calling him "indoctrinated and "conditioned."
I'm REALLY starting to realize how indoctrinated and conditioned T.I is. And I don't think I should tease him about it anymore.
— CATTY NOIR (@AZEALIABANKS) December 22, 2014
He actually has no clue.....
— CATTY NOIR (@AZEALIABANKS) December 22, 2014
Meanwhile Iggy herself has been completely silent, not tweeting since early Saturday morning. We'll have more as this discussion continues to play out.
Update: Twitter has been quick to criticize T.I.'s comments with #WhenTipTweets. Check out some of the best tweets below.
#WhenTipTweets I want him to also explain these Iggy tweets. pic.twitter.com/CW2ZzxDKYR
— deray mckesson (@deray) December 22, 2014
#WhenTipTweets you wonder how he can type and tap dance at the same time.
— #BoycottAmerica (@Negro_Agitator) December 22, 2014
#whentiptweets I am reminded of how gravely important black studies courses are.
— Ella Septima-Hamer (@Jbrous14) December 22, 2014
#WhenTipTweets u realize other Black artists will cape for white ppl appropriating Black Culture as long as they also get benefits from it.
— JP Fairfield™ (@isitis) December 22, 2014
#WhenTipTweets pic.twitter.com/z3Zl6IIxjS
— Alyssa Miyagi (@alysSAWRAH) December 22, 2014
.@akacharleswade #WhenTipTweets pic.twitter.com/rd0PrvabKD
— Black Pariah (@CraigSJ) December 22, 2014