Young Thug

Knowing the difference between mixing business and personal relationships is key within the music industry, and for T.I., sacrificing a connection wasn't ...

T.I. recalls declining the opportunity to sign rap stars Young Thug and 21 Savage to $1 million record deals.

The next year, he would agree to a recording deal with Epic Records under which he retains ownership of his masters. And even Savage, every time he sees me now, he’ll hit me and say, ‘Aye, it came.’ And that puts a smile on my face because I just know how impactful every generation has the opportunity to be even more than the last.” He is [ currently facing charges ](https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/young-thug-given-drugs-in-court-1234728804/)as part of the YSL RICO case in Georgia. “I always tell ’em, man, ‘Don’t worry about the money up front ’cause it’s gon’ come.’” The rapper recently appeared on the Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe and delved into his reasoning behind declining the offer. A lot of them come up to me, ‘Aye man, give me a million, Tip.

In an interview with Shannon Sharpe, T.I. broke down why he decided against signing Young Thug and 21 Savage for $1 million early in their careers.

And even Savage, every time he sees me now, he’ll hit me and say, ‘Ay, it came.’ And that put a smile on my face because I just know how impactful every generation has the opportunity to be even more than the last.” “I know what I’m supposed to be receiving and what not to give away,” he said around the 2:30 mark of the clip above. "I always tell ’em, man, ‘Don’t worry about the money up front ’cause it’s gon’ come.' I remember telling that to Slime, I remember telling that to 21. Tip also explained that it’s typical in a 360 deal for record labels to provide artists with a sizeable budget or up-front payment in exchange for full or close to full music ownership rights. “At this point in my career, I find it honorable to be able to tell new artists when they come up to me... As the Atlanta rapper told Sharpe, by the time he got to signing his first record deal he was already aware of what to look out for when it comes to contracts with labels.

Sitting down with Shannon Sharpe on his Club Shay Shay podcast, Tip opened up about the two Atlanta rappers both wanting to sign a seven-figure deal with his ...

And even Savage, every time he sees me now, he’ll hit me and say, ‘Aye, it came.’ And that puts a smile on my face because I just know how impactful every generation has the opportunity to be even more than the last.” I’d already researched, this is when I was like 9, 10, 11 years old.” “Most times, most artists are only looking for what they’re getting right then,” he said. I make more money off my album sales than I do off touring. I always tell ’em, man, ‘Don’t worry about the money up front ’cause it’s gon’ come.'” A lot of them come up to me, ‘Aye man, give me a million, Tip.

T.I. recently spoke about the music industry during his sit-down with Shannon Sharpe on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast. When Shannon asked Tip about ...

And even Savage, every time he sees me now, he’ll hit me and say, ‘Aye, it came.’ And that puts a smile on my face because I just know how impactful every generation has the opportunity to be even more than the last." then shared his response, stating, "Like nah, I ain’t gonna do that, because if I give you a million, I gotta take back something that’s gonna be worth way more, and we ain’t gon’ be able to be friends from there. Tip explained, "At this point in my career, I find it honorable to be able to tell new artists when they come up to me.

The trap rap godfather was instrumental in both of his junior rappers' careers but didn't want them on his label.

And even Savage, every time he sees me now, he’ll hit me and say, ‘Ay, it came.’ And that put a smile on my face because I just know how impactful every generation has the opportunity to be even more than the last.” has been instrumental in the careers of many of the modern generation of trap rappers like [21 Savage](https://uproxx.com/music/21-savage-t-i-thank-god/) and [Young Thug](https://uproxx.com/music/young-thug-charges-rico-case/), but he’s rarely actually signed any of them to his label, Grand Hustle Records. [Trap rap godfather](https://uproxx.com/music/ti-trap-muzik-retrospective-review-rap-revival-run-it-back/) T.I. I don’t care what you do, just give me a million and let me handle it from there.’ And I’m like, ‘Nah, I ain’t gonna do that.'” “A lot of them come up to me, ‘Aye man, “21 Savage, [Young] Thug,” he names as examples.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has earned a reputation as a tough crime prosecutor eager to pack Atlanta jails with blanket indictments.

“I’ve been talking to Mama Thug, I’ve been talking to his sisters,” he says, adding that Thug “stays strong” given his circumstances. And beyond her casework, he says the two shared a “cool relationship” as she was aware of her rapping career and even used it in her defense. “Next thing I knew, I saw her on TV making this accusation, and I was so stumped, like, ‘Damn, where the hell did this come from?’” she recalls. “Thug keeps a good spirit and keeps his head up, but certain things just let him down,” he says, declining to go into detail. Mondo says Willis was a “great attorney” for him, reducing his aggravated assault charge to a lesser one and sentencing him to “a program” instead of prison time. (Willis told us the comments “sound like me, but I don’t remember the conversation verbatim.”) After her case was settled, the two didn’t speak, and he didn’t keep up with her until two years later, when he watched her press conference announcing her desire to convict her YSL friends. I got out of my cousin’s force saying that she was a good lawyer, that she is a good lady and that she is her friend. I want to see him do amazing things with his life, and I hope that’s where he’s headed.” In the since-deleted video, the two stand before a judge and Willis pats him on the shoulder as he hugs his son, who is led to the defense table. He says that even after his sentencing, she worked to get him released early from the show due to COVID. He posted a clip of the court proceedings of his case in 2019 on Instagram. “This is not her character, this is not her,” she says during a phone call.