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T.I.'s Arrest Is Another Setback in Hip Hop

By The Hilltop Editorial Board
Black College Wire

To the dismay of many hip-hop fans, multi-platinum record selling artist T.I., born Clifford Harris, was arrested following an extensive two-week sting operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Saturday, Oct. 13.

www.streetcred.com Hip-hop artist T.I.

T.I. was picked up in the parking lot of a shopping center near the venue of the BET Hip-Hop Awards trying to buy three machine guns and two silencers from undercover ATF operatives.

T.I. had nine nominations and was scheduled to perform at the awards show that same night.

The issues surrounding the case are simple. There could not have been any intent to register these weapons because as a convicted felon, T.I. isn't allowed to own so much as a handgun, let alone three machine guns.

Convicted of drug violations in 1998, T.I. is no stranger to the law and legal system. Conditions and terms of his probation were made clear with his first conviction.

Why did he feel that it was necessary to have what is being compared to an arsenal in his possession?

As a chart-topping artist making the amount of money T.I. is making per year, the notion that he would jeopardize his position as a recognized and respected staple in the hip-hop community with his alleged actions is mind- boggling.

T.I. recently participated as a panelist on the BET broadcast of "Hip Hop vs. America," chosen to represent the hip-hop community to speak against the negative perception of hip-hop in America.

If one was to compare T.I.'s comments on the show to his actions, one could easily see him as a hypocrite and a victim of his own bad judgment.

"Now don't get me wrong, do some artists need to be held responsible for their actions and for their lyrics and for them taking it too far sometimes? Absolutely," T.I. said during the BET broadcast of "Hip-Hop vs. America."

Now that he is, in fact, being held responsible for his actions, it is questionable whether T.I. was genuine in saying that in the first place.

With many rap artists' music being a depiction of the life they have led, T.I.'s should have been just that, a verbal illustration of what was and no longer is his lifestyle.

The fact that T.I. is still involved in the criminal lifestyle is at the very least disturbing when taken into account his status in hip-hop society.

How many artists today claim that their music is an expressive form of the life they have left behind for a better one?

Although not all rap artists are involved in the criminal lifestyle, T.I.'s actions do bring the whole genre under scrutiny because he has said one thing and was caught doing another.

The hip-hop community is already struggling to fight negative stereotypes and a bad reputation, both in America and internationally. T.I. has made the fight that much harder.

With the rate of crime being as high as it is in America and the scrutiny being placed on hip-hop and its fans for the music's alleged contribution to the rate of crime, one would think that artists would be mindful to not perpetuate the situation.

T.I.'s activities have done nothing but worsened the relationship between hip-hop, fans and America.

It is disappointing, aggravating and shows that an artist's words on camera may not be worth as much as fans believe they are.

Articles in the "Voices" section represent the opinions of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Black College Wire.

By the editorial board of the Hilltop at Howard University. To comment, please e-mail . To comment, please e-mail Black College Wire.