In a candid chat on Fat Joe’s show, T.I. sets the record straight on longstanding rumors suggesting tension with Lil Wayne back in 2008, during their “Swagga Like Us” collaboration.
T.I. recently appeared on Fat Joe’s STARZ show where the two rappers reminisced about the creation of “Swagga Like Us,” a Grammy-winning collaboration also featuring JAY-Z and Kanye West. Despite rumors of a rivalry, T.I. insists that any talk of a rift with Lil Wayne was just gossip. “Many we got many records together,” T.I. said, dismissing the rumors as mere chatter.
Reflecting on how “Swagga Like Us” came together, T.I. explained that they weren’t actually in the studio simultaneously. “To my knowledge, how I knew it, I was first,” he shared. The beat, produced by Kanye West, came his way through Gee Roberson with Kanye already on the hook, sparking the idea of adding Wayne and Hov to the mix.
The song not only achieved commercial success but also snagged nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 51st Grammy Awards, ultimately winning the latter. “You can watch an exclusive preview of Fat Joe and T.I.’s conversation below,” noted the source, before highlighting the upcoming episode release on the STARZ app.
In 2016, the duo’s relationship faced some turbulence when T.I. publicly criticized Wayne’s dismissive remarks about the Black Lives Matter movement. T.I. didn’t hold back in his Instagram post, calling out Wayne’s behavior as “unacceptable.”
This online spat prompted Wayne’s daughter, Reginae Carter, to jump into the comments, questioning T.I.’s decision to air grievances online instead of communicating directly with Wayne.
T.I. later clarified his intentions during a Sway’s Universe interview, expressing that his comments came from a place of concern and respect for Wayne. “I feel like I have that relationship with him where I can say that,” T.I. explained, emphasizing his intention to protect Wayne from harsher public criticism.
Wayne eventually apologized for his remarks, emphasizing that his earlier comments stemmed from frustration during an interview. “Apologies to anyone who was offended,” he told TMZ, making amends for the misunderstanding.
Despite this public tension, T.I. and Wayne hadn’t spoken for a while. Yet, their friendship was mended when they reunited on stage in 2022 at J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival in North Carolina, signaling the end of their rift.
T.I. and Lil Wayne’s journey has shown that misunderstandings can happen, especially in the music industry. Their reunion marked a turning point, demonstrating that mutual respect can overcome rumors and distance.
