T.I. Discusses Reasons For Retiring From Rap Career
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While Tip did tip his hat to artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Big Sean, he did speak his mind on the diminishing art form of hip-hop and why he is considering stepping away from rap eventually. He feels as many older rappers do, that the art of hip-hop and rap has lost its essence and that many of the rappers who are hot now, are rapping about things that they've never experienced first hand. T.I. really feels as though it's so much easier for rappers to get ahead in the game now, and no one has to really grind and put in that work to make it to the top like it was when he first came up in the industry.
"No disrespect to any of the new talent that's coming out, 'cus there are a lot of guys that I tip my hat to and I salute their success like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Big Sean. There are a lot of cats out there that are grinding and doing it the right way, but there are a lot of things going on out there that quite honestly are a contradiction to what I've always stood for and represent. I just feel like in some ways the game is going in a direction that I can't follow, and I always told myself when that day comes I won't become the old man talking about 'Hip-Hop in the old days', I'll just find me something else to do.
"The authenticity has diminished in the game, now it's about what sounds good. And nobody is doing any fact checks, you know? And nobody is getting called on their bullsh*t either. I feel like the level of integrity that I have been able to maintain throughout my career, 11-12 years, I'm going to continue to maintain that same level of respect, that same level of integrity and I'm not going to compromise that for anybody. And if the day comes where the things that I represent ain't really marketable, ain't really fashionable to the consumer of the day, then I'm going to break."
Source: theboombox.com
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