T.I. Beefs With Former Grand Hustle Rapper Spodee, Says Leaving Was a Mistake

In addition to his successful rapping and acting career, T.I. has also owned his own label, Grand Hustle Records, for more than 12 years. Grand Hustle's current and past roster includes artists such as Meek Mill, B.o.B., Travi$ Scott, Iggy Azalea and, of course, Tip himself. One lesser-known Hustle Gang artist was Spodee, who recently talked to Atlanta's DJ Smallz about why he left the label. And his former boss was not pleased with what he had to say.

Apparently, an executive at Grand Hustle (presumably T.I.) told Spodee that he was "a stroke in my masterpiece."

"To be a chief, you have to be a good Indian," says Spodee, "...I saw no way to be a chief over there...And I'm definitely too grown, too big and too talented to be an Indian right now, or to be pawn right now."

Hustle Gang's logo just happens to be an Native American chief...

Now that he's off Grand Hustle, Spodee wants to create his own masterpiece. He maintains that there's no bad blood between him and his former boss, but he goes on to say, "I have the potential to be bigger than Tip, you know what I'm saying? Or if not, just as big."

He proceeds to take responsibility for his mistakes, insinuating past run-ins with the law, but says, "You could double my mistakes—with the correct management, with the correct team—I would be further."

He finishes the interview by speaking on the new movement he's building, alongside ATL production duo Nard & B. Because he hasn't got his due exposure, he feels the world is ready for the new music he's bringing to the table. He thinks fans don't necessarily want to hear from artists who already achieved success long ago.

"They been out for 10, 15 years, sold platinum four, five different times, you know, been in movies and all that, and it's cool...but don't nobody want to hear what you're saying as far as, you know, music-wise."

Of course, the above resumé, which Spodee thinks has run its course, could easily belong to T.I.

In any case, T.I. took Spodee's remarks as an affront to Grand Hustle, and he responded by posting the pictures of two "former hopeful Grand Hustlers who thought goin against da GLORY&GOOD GRACES of da fam might be more beneficial to their campaign"—telling Spodee that, if he's not careful, "there's room for 1more pic up there." The two artists whom T.I. depicted are DG Yola (top) and Yung L.A. (bottom).

DG Yola had a regional hit in 2006 with "Ain't Gon' Let Up" and was affiliated with Grand Hustle before ultimately signing with Atlantic. He was arrested for murder in 2014 and remains in prison.

Yung L.A.'s 2008 debut single, "Ain't I," was a hit, charting No. 47 on Billboard. He was dropped from Interscope after his second single, "Futuristic Love," didn't match the success of his first. In early 2011, he left Grand Hustle because they still hadn't put out his album. Yung L.A. has had little success since "Ain't I" and since parting ways with Hustle Gang. This year, he changed his moniker to Da Boi Lay, and he reportedly signed a deal with Zaytown USA, owned by ATL producer Zaytoven.

Of course, there's no reason to belive Spodee will end up doing life for muder, but T.I.'s post seems to imply that Spodee's decision to leave the label, and what Tip likely considered public bad-mouthing of the gang, will likely his into obscurity.

Since Tip's cautionary Instagram post, Spodee has responded with an Instagram video of his own, saying T.I. has no reason to be angry at what was said in the interview.

"N*gga can't be mad 'cause I told the motherf*cking truth, man," he said. "N*gga can't be mad 'cause I said I got the potential to be better than him. What kinda n*gga don't wanna see a n*gga up?"

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