There are three things ATL-bred rapper T.I. takes seriously: his family, his reputation, and his title as the undisputed King of Trap Music. Unlike his fellow industry mates that are quick to offer an apology on social media, T.I. boasts the wealth and influence necessary to speak his mind. However, Tip is no newcomer - he remains careful to keep his beef grounded in substance, never to become tabloid fodder as little more than a trollish instigator.
"I have discrepancies with people I don’t’ see eye-to-eye with, but I keep it out of public consumption," says Tip, referring to his penchant to only make beef public when drawing attention to a larger issue at hand (racism, bigotry, the sexualization of minors, etc.). "When you do present those discrepancies in public, it becomes more like WWF wrestling than anything else. Sometime it goes overboard," he continued. "There’s good, there’s bad, on-camera and off-camera. I don’t let myself be part of it, because it usually all blows over in the end."
From lambasting fellow A-listers for showing off their Gucci duds amidst the fashion label's "blackface" scandal, to dragging Kanye for his association with Donald Trump, behold some of the "U Don't Know Me" rapper's most savage Instagram clapbacks.
Donald Trump
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Like almost every other celebrity on the planet, T.I. has no love for president Donald Trump. Before Trump even took office, Tip took aim at the then-Republican nominee and made his stance clear: on no uncertain terms would any of his fans ever be caught sporting a MAGA hat.
“Donald Trump, this message is for you. My name is Clifford “T.I.P.” Harris. I say this as non-violently, but unapologetically as possible: Fuck you and fuck what you stand for. Nobody who supports me will support you. End of message," said an emphatic Tip, in a 2016 Instagram video. "I know u got plans for my people that are contrary to OUR BEST INTERESTS. Make no mistake... WE AINT ON THE SAME SIDE. Whatever U ARE,IM NOT!!!! Be CLEAR!!!! I have a family, I have children, I have ancestors that I WILL NOT LET DOWN.”
Unsurprisingly, Tip also slammed President Trump for coming after Snoop Dogg on Twitter in response to his "Lavender" collaboration with BADBADNOTGOOD. Once Trump slammed Snoop Dogg's alleged "failing" career, T.I.'s gloves came off, showcasing some rather inventive name-calling to drive his point home.
"Snoop Dogg is a Fuckin Legend u Fucking Tangerine Tanned Muskrat scrotum skin, Lacefront Possum fur Wig wearing, Alternative fact, Atomic Dog diarrhea face ass man!!!!” wrote Tip, in a scathing Instagram message. “Leave our legends names out ya fuckin old ass puppy piss smelling ass mouth & continue to focus on dividing minorities, building barriers, alienating immigrants, &fuckin this country up like u been doin.”
Kanye West
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After publicly slamming Trump and his policies, its no surprise that Tip showed little love to Kanye West after the "Runaway" rapper threw his support behind the president. "This shit is next level, futuristic Sambo, Hopping Bob, Stephen off Django ass shit Ye!!!! This is the most repulsive, disgraceful, Embarrassing act of desperation & auctioning off of one’s soul to gain power I’ve ever seen," captioned T.I. alongside a video of Yeezy's highly publicized meeting with Trump.
"Now I recall you asking me to come with you to have this meeting and I declined (naturally)... but bro... if ain’time I would’ve been in there wit you and you behaved that spinelessly in my presence, I feel that I’d be compelled to slap de’Fuq outta you bro For the People!!!” wrote T.I. holding nothing back. “You ass kissing and bootlicking on a whole new level & I refuse to associate myself with something so vile, weak,& inconsiderate to the effect this has on the greater good of ALL OUR PEOPLE!!!!"
Lil Wayne
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Lil Wayne's commentary on the Black Lives Matter movement struck a chord with Tip, so much so that the ATL rapper felt compelled to slam Weezy on Instagram for his wayward beliefs. Disgusted by Wayne brushing off the movement on the basis that HIS life matters ("especially to his bitches") Tip put the "Don't Cry" rapper on blast, chiding him for refusing to use his elevated platform as a force for good.
"Bro if you don't stand for something out here, all the money, jewelry, cars, mansions bandannas & hit records don't mean shit!!!!" captioned T.I. "Our people are being oppressed!!! We are being hunted, captured & slaughtered out here daily!!! You have to get outta that bubble that you've been living in & get out here & educate yourself on what's going on around US!!!"
Yella Beezy
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When a MAGA bigot was caught on camera beating a black woman in Dallas, Texas, T.I. felt that the city's rappers and street soldiers should have carried out their own form of justice and punished the racist accordingly. Hopping on Instagram, T.I. called out rappers Yella Beezy and Trapboy Freddy by name and slammed them for not living up to their "tough" reputations.
"If you in Dallas, if you is in Dallas...Yella Beezy...Trapboy Freddy...all you cats out there who holdin' down the turf...Whether you're Dallas, Fort Worth, wherever you at. It's on your watch!," said Tip. "This shit on your watch. I don't wanna hear none of that tough shit man from none of y'all. It's time n--a."
Gucci
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When luxury brand Gucci came out with a mask that resembled blackface, T.I. was quick to boycott their line and called for his followers to do the same. Despite the longstanding ties that Gucci has with the hip-hop community and the fact that Tip used to rep the brand himself, Gucci committed an unforgivable sin in the eyes of the King of the South. For that, the ATL rapper felt compelled to hit the brand where it hurts the most: their bank account.
"We ain’t going for this “oops my bad I didn’t mean to be racist and disrespectful towards your people” shit!!!" wrote Tip on Instagram, refusing to accept Gucci's apology. "Y’all knew wtf y’all was doin and WE AINT GOING FOR IT!!! We ALL GOTTA Stop buying, wearing, and supporting this piece of shit company And ALL PIECE OF SHIT COMPANIES UNTIL THEY LEARN TO RESPECT OUR DOLLARS & VALUE OUR BUSINESS!!!!"
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Fans
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When fans attempt to drag Tip and his family, he refuses to take their disses lying down. After haters recently called wife Tiny "Miss Piggy," T.I. issued a lengthy clapback. "Be out here shaped like a whole 2liter Peach Faygo and got the nerve to make critical, disrespectful comments about MINES?!?!" said T.I. "I obviously love it and have loved it for over 18yrs now... IF YOU HAD A MAN WHO LOVED YOU AS MUCH AS I LOVE HER I doubt you’d be miserable enough to leave such hateful comments."
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When a fan called out T.I. for being a "cornball" with his Gucci boycott, the rapper wasn't willing to let that slide.
Zonnique's Fans
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When T.I. uploaded a picture of his daughter Zonnique on Instagram, it didn't take long for thirsty fans to infiltrate the comment section. Once T.I. got wind of someone offering to "make a jacuzzi out of her dimples," it didn't take long for the rapper to respond and shut down the crude comment. "I could put a pothole in your temple too my Boi...let's play," the King of the South clapped back.
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According to T.I., there's only room for one king to claim the throne as the founding father of trap music. When Guwop hopped on Instagram and declared himself to be the "Inventor of Trap Music," citing his 2005 album Trap House as the OG trap rap album, T.I. quickly arrived on the scene to shut him down.
"Ok, so.... AGAIN for the slow ones in the back...August 19th, 2003, Birth of Trap Muzik & Only fools dispute facts!!!" captioned T.I, alongside a picture of his 2003 album Trap Muzik. "FOH wit that Christopher Columbus ass...“Look what I discovered, even though they was already here” ass shit!!!!WITCHO GOOD CAPPIN ASS 😂"
Joel Osteen
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Browsing through the collection of Tip's many call-outs makes one thing abundantly clear--the ATL rapper absolutely loathes hypocrisy. Quick to slam everyone and anyone who doesn't practice what they preach, Tip won't make an exception for anyone--even someone who claims to be a man of God. When megachurch pastor/evangelist Joel Osteen was slow to open his doors to the struggling survivors of Hurricane Harvey, Tip hopped on the 'Gram to slam Osteen for turning a blind eye to those in need.
"This is why people (like me) don't trust the mega churches," argued T.I. "How can someone (especially a so called man of God) make 70 Ms a yr TAX FREE from citizens of a city that's now in distress & in dyer need of food water & shelter NOT OPEN THE DOORS OF GODs HOUSE (supposedly) to help those in need? @joelosteen YOU SIR ARE A FRAUD!!!!"
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No one is safe from Wendy Williams' razor tongue and penchant to talk trash about the personal lives of celebrities - not even a hip-hop veteran like T.I. Consistently casting shade at T.I.'s oft-tumultuous relationship with Tiny, Williams has always been quick to judge Tip for his numerous infidelities. So, when in 2017 pictures surfaced of Williams sporting a less-than-perfect bikini body that highlighted her numerous trips to the plastic surgeon's office, T.I. surprised everyone by not going IN on the talk show host.
Instead, T.I. used the embarrassing moment to prompt Williams to be less malicious and judgmental as she herself was clearly not above reproach. True to form, however, he did still share the unflattering shot to his 10 million followers. "I'm gon be respectful because regardless of her flaws she's still a independent black business woman that's had to fight her way through life to get where she is," wrote T.I. "JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE SHE JUDGES DAILY!!! Let's see if the power of mercy moves her heart to not be so malicious & vindictive in the future when she's speaking on the lives of other strangers when they're going through their own PERSONAL tough times."
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Fans Again
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When fans felt the need to speak on Tiny serving T.I. with divorce papers back in 2017, Tip hopped on Instagram to set haters straight about their unsolicited opinions. "f I didn't need your blessings to get married.... if I didn't ask YOU what I should do then.... What makes you think I need your advice now?" said the rapper. "Just sit back & watch the show in silence. Put ya phone on vibrate & extra butter on ya popcorn."
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As one of the performers at 2pac's 2017 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, T.I. felt it was fitting to take his homage the next level and rep a look once sported by the late rapper. However, some stans felt that Tip failed to convey his message of respect to Pac and instead, made a mockery of the legend's New York Times cover alongside Suge Knight and Snoop Dogg. True to form, Tip made an entire post dedicated to shutting his detractors down and even uploaded a side-by-side image of him and Pac.
"Guess you just had to be there.... Y'all young, forever commentating,over-opinionated muuuufuckaz got shit to say ALWAYS!!! When the Biggie shit went left because a muuuufucka from YALL Generation forgot the words y'all had a fuckin FIT!!!" wrote Tip. "Now some Real ni66az wit Real love in they hearts get up & dedicate themselves to honor the legacy of a True American HipHop Rock&Roll Legend,that would make Him & His Family Proud.... It's some negative shit to be said about that as well..."
Kodak Black
And of course, who can forget Kodak Black, who recently caught a dose of Troubleman's ire after making disparaging remarks about Lauren London. Doesn't matter if his foe is old or young, respectful or disrespectful. T.I. will match their energy and then some.