In the three-plus years that T.I. has managed Iggy Azalea, he’s always been extremely protective of her. He’s even referred to her as his “little sister.”
Think about it. Ever since signing her, it’s been second nature for Tip to clap back at anyone who comes for her. He’s never hesitated to defend her at times he felt it was necessary.
That brings me to the topic at hand—his protective nature towards Iggy. Let’s take a close look back at all of the times Tip was more of a bodyguard to Iggy than her manager. There’s quite a few.
The Snoop Dogg Drama
Last year, Snoop randomly came for Iggy via Instagram. Making fun of her with a series of memes, Snoop couldn’t stop with the social media shade. He even called her a b-tch on several occasions. Iggy was taken aback by the insults and expressed on Twitter that she didn’t understand where this was all coming from. But did you think that stopped Snoop? Nah.
That’s when Tip stepped in and made a phone call to Snoop to kill the drama. “It was basically like, ‘I’m in the crossfire, big dog. What’s going on? You know what I mean. I can’t dodge anymore,’” Tip told New York radio about the phone conversation. He added, “It didn’t get into an elaboration…When I called him and asked him what’s happening, he said, ‘I know what you’re calling for…and guess what? It’s over.’” Just like that, the Snoop/Iggy drama was dead.
The Azealia Banks Drama
its funny to see people Like Igloo Australia silent when these things happen… Black Culture is cool, but black issues sure aren't huh?
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) December 4, 2014
If you're down to ride with us bitch you gotta RIDE ALL THE WAY
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) December 4, 2014
And the media needs to STOP trying to move igloo in on what Nicki has established.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) December 4, 2014
Azealia isn’t here for any cultural appropriation and if any people know that, it’s Iggy and Tip. Never holding back when she addresses Iggy’s music, Azealia shaded her for failing to speak about racism, police brutality and more. Azealia has also accused Iggy of failing to respect the genre. Her point is, if Iggy wants to be a part of hip hop culture so badly, she needs to speak up for social injustices affecting the people of color that look up to rappers to be their voice. After both Azealia and Iggy went going back and forth on Twitter on several occasions, T.I. still had his signee’s back. Azealia even came for Tip’s family, but he later shut that down as well with a cryptic Instagram post.
The Q-Tip Lesson
@IGGYAZALEA HipHop is a artistic and socio-political movement/culture that sprang from the disparate ghettos of NY in the early 70's
— QTip (@QtipTheAbstract) December 20, 2014
@IGGYAZALEA now u are fulfilling your dreams … BUT!
— QTip (@QtipTheAbstract) December 20, 2014
@IGGYAZALEA you have to take into account the HISTORY as you move underneath the banner of hiphop. As I said before
— QTip (@QtipTheAbstract) December 20, 2014
Most likely hearing Azealia Banks’ interview about Iggy and reading her tweets, Q-tip jumped in to school Iggy. His detailed tweets about the origin of hip hop towards her were very constructive with no ill malice, but Tip felt the need to step in this situation as well.
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
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
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
The Nicki Minaj Shade
During her BET Awards Female Hip-Hop Artist acceptance speech at the 2014 BET Awards, Nicki insinuated Iggy used ghostwriters. “What I want the world to know about Nicki Minaj is, that when you hear Nicki Minaj spit, Nicki Minaj wrote it,” Nic said. But later on in an interview with Detroit’s Hot 107.5, Tip said, ”I mean, I ain’t no ghostwriter. Iggy got her own ideas and thoughts that she presents to the world her own way. I couldn’t write a lot of the sh–t she say. I couldn’t put her thoughts into words as articulate as she does. She just has a different way of presenting herself and her art.”