R&B superstar Akon has spoken out in support of jailed rapper T.I., insisting the star was "set up" over a weapons deal.
Twenty-seven-year-old T.I., real name Clifford Harris Jr. - is currently in custody after allegedly sending his bodyguard to buy three machine guns and two silencers from an undercover police officer who was posing as an arms dealer. But Akon believes Harris was the victim of an unfortunate situation, but adds the rapper should not rely on carrying a gun to protect himself when he could afford 'legitimate law enforcement.'
He tells MTV news, "It's obvious he was set up," he said. "But sometimes when you're in a position of that stature and you're that big ... you just don't allow that energy around you. You have to have people around you to let you know or avoid that energy. Even if he was a [gun] collector, naturally, you get a license to collect. That's just common sense. ... At that stage where he's at, he don't need to protect himself. You hire legitimate law enforcement, or you hire people who are licensed to carry [guns]. Surround them around you and you'll be safe.”
"You get to a certain point where they say, 'You can take the kid out the ghetto, but you can never take the ghetto out the kid,' " Akon continued. "T.I. was experiencing that for a minute."
"I hope he can make the best out of that situation," 50 told MTV News. "If he gets 10 years, that ain't bad," 50 added, assessing T.I.'s charges and the evidence the feds have claimed to have against him. "If the security person is already telling, it's obvious that's their witness. They got tapes, they got all this. ... [If it was me,] I would have to tell the people I did it and sit down for a minute. Nobody wants to hear that you have to stay 10 years nowhere. It's not a good thing, period. It's unfortunate, but he got himself in that space. ... I don't know the real facts. Maybe he didn't do it; let's keep our fingers crossed."
"Tip was feeding this man's family," David Banner said of the bodyguard. "We don't do it like that, dog. We don't talk to them boys. However it went down, we sit down [and do the jail time,] where I'm from. Dude, you don't tell it. You hope the people you holding down is man enough to hold your people down. [The bodyguard] wasn't a convicted felon, my dude. He could have held [Tip] down. We gotta start making the environment in our neighborhoods not conducive to snitching. How I'm doing this song, I'mma make it uncomfortable for snitches."
Banner admitted that he does not know the specifics of the case but supports his friend regardless.
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time! YOu man enough to do it? Man up! I'm not going to prison for someone else's stupidity! Plus, I'm not stupid enough to hold illegal guns for someone. Not even my own MOTHER! Get real people. He set himself up! It's easy to stand on the outside and take shots at the bodyguard, Feds, corrupt cops, The White Man, etc... When you run with dogs, you catch fleas! He got caught with illegal guns. He's a convicted Felon. I'm a convicted felon. I know I can't be around guns cause the man will lock my azz up! So, if my momma needs me to hold a gun for her for a minute, guess what? I aint doing it! She not wrong for asking me, I'm STUPID for doing it!!! He did the crime, now prepare to do some time. Learn from it and move forward!!!
danielle
10/29/2007 6:23:57 PM
akon i feel sorry 4 yu i love your song "Blame It On Me"
dede momma
10/25/2007 10:56:09 AM
no no nno
Lisa
10/25/2007 10:23:46 AM
Why? That's horible.
Shogun of Harlem
10/25/2007 9:30:38 AM
WHAT?! The dude is a convicted felon (rapper) - his bodyguard handed him the guns he drove off and got pulled over! There wasn't a crime here? Akon has more sense than I thought...50 is about right, Banner is looking for someone to buy an album. T.I has more money than anyone on this board- if you like guns that much and know you carry charges….get the toy replicas! All those guns and you are not helping out in Iraq? He probably was rocking his snow fatigues…why buy hot guns, why kill dogs, why carry bulk weed weezy baby, why lie about enhancement drugs….just another dot on the Afro community...............the shogun
Shogun of harlem
10/25/2007 9:29:58 AM
WHAT?! The dude is a convicted felon (rapper) - his bodyguard handed him the guns he drove off and got pulled over! There wasn't a crime here? Akon has more sense than I thought...50 is about right, Banner is looking for someone to buy an album. T.I has more money than anyone on this board- if you like guns that much and know you carry charges….get the toy replicas! All those guns and you are not helping out in Iraq? He probably was rocking his snow fatigues…why buy hot guns, why kill dogs, why carry bulk weed weezy baby, why lie about enhancement drugs….just another dot on the Afro community...............the shogun
Mavi
10/24/2007 10:37:26 PM
feel that all rappers need to stop putting their business out in their rap songs. TI was always rapping about guns and murk put em in the dirt. He was an accident waiting 2 happen. The feds set him up because he was talking to much s*** in his raps. That punk-b**** security guards needs his balls tied around his tongue.
Linda Dillard
10/24/2007 7:04:15 PM
T.I. should have gotten police protection instead of using a body guard who set him up because of jealousy. T.I. if he get's out of this he needs to distant himself from negative energy.
china doll
10/24/2007 6:46:00 PM
i dnt know wat 2 believe i jus want tip 2 cum home!
blkslantedeye
10/24/2007 6:22:12 PM
I agree! T.I is a good rapper and I think they should just put him on probation rather than for him to do some time...
50 cent! well he knows how it is to be caught up in that situation so he just making some suggestion what T.I should do..
erik
10/24/2007 5:01:04 PM
i feel that ti was set up. i dont think hes the type of person to get caught up in something like this my best wishes to ti and his family. keep your head up
Me
10/24/2007 4:11:54 PM
i agree with DBanner.... Snitches are the worst especially when you're snitching because you're too much of a coward to face what's about to happen to you!!! TI is a great rapper and him and his family will be in my prayers... oh yeah...SHUT UP 50 Cent...
R&B superstar Akon has spoken out in support of jailed rapper T.I., insisting the star was "set up" over a weapons deal. 
