Perspective: T.I. should stick by Iggy

This past week, rapper T.I. dropped the often indecipherable Iggy Azalea like a bad habit.

Think back to the 2014 American Music Awards, where Iggy was clad in a Pizza Hut waitress’ uniform and “Fancy” had only just begun assaulting eardrums nationwide.

This is when T.I. had just announced that he was going to assume the role of Azalea’s mentor.

“Thank you so much to T.I. for believing in me,” she said during her acceptance speech for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop album.

This was a rare time in music and essentially the advent of the hate hurricane that Iggy would soon received.

It was rare because it was still considered semi-socially acceptable to like her. Her follow-up to Fancy, “Black Widow,” even peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

But soon enough, hating Iggy became a national pastime.

Video of her horrendously attempting to freestyle on a radio show with infamous MTV host Sway surfaced, along with old racist tweets and lyrics.

Nicki Minaj also took an implied jab at her at the BET Awards, and after losing at the Grammys, she even feuded with Papa John’s Pizza after the delivery guy gave out her personal phone number.

But, I will say, I do feel bad for her, and, in this case, I am on her side 100 percent.

A mentor is supposed to be a confidant, a friend and, ultimately, someone you can turn to when your life starts — and continues — to suck. T.I. was fine being her mentor,as she acquired awards, number-one singles and millions of dollars.

I think T.I. probably receives some additional hate for endorsing her and he’s pissed, so he decided to abdicate as Iggy's mentor. 

Well, oh well, T.I. 

You chose to take her under your wing, so now you need to get the fuck over yourself and help dig Iggy out of the hole she dug for herself.

Your name is T.I., and I know you’re not a calculator, but you need to figure something out before Iggy ties bricks around your ankles and brings you down into the river of career failure with her.

arts@dailytarheel.com