Blog Project Week Six: T.I. Apology
Rapper T.I. made an unusual type of apology earlier this month. He was
recently released from prison, violated his probation and has returned
to prison, he gave this statement from there. He was sentenced to
eleven months with charges and parole violation charges, only five
months after leaving prison for federal weapons charges. Instead of
simply saying he is sorry, T.I. explains how this is all a part of
what he does to make his music, and does not listen to the people who
dislike him for it, but only the people who support him. Is T.I.
really giving an apology here? Does he expect his fans to continue
supporting him, regardless of the amount of times he goes to prison?
Does he show any regret at all? And if not, is this just cockiness? Or
something more? And is his attitude acceptable?
http://www.sohh.com/2010/11/ti_silences_haters_if_i_never_went_to_pr.html
I don't think this is an apology, I think TI is almost saying that he likes getting arrested so he has something to rap about. True inspiration, huh? This is ridiculous and its obviously a cop out and a lie. This makes me think that he has yet to learn his lesson- that he has yet to see that the things he does affects the people around him, influences young people to be like him, angry and quite frankly delusional, so that he can continue making money. This is not an apology, its an explanation. A rather sad explanation if you ask me!
ReplyDeleteT.I. is definitely not apologizing in this statement. I would say he is making a statement and calling out all of his fans, trying to make them see things how he does. He makes it sound like the more mistakes he makes, the better music he can make so it doesn't seem like he has any plans of getting his act together. I don't think there is any regret in his statement but I wouldn't say it is cockiness either. He is just stating some opinions. I don't know the whole situation but I do not think he needs to be calling out his fans since he has screwed up his life so much lately.
ReplyDeleteI really don't think that this is an apology from T.I. in the slightest. It almost sounds as if he intentionally went back to prison in order to make more music...? This doesn't really make sense to me because if this is the case, was his first time in prison just a stint at him making music as well? It also seems like he is saying he makes bad decisions on purpose in order for "inspiration" which wouldn't be sincere at all. I feel like this should make his fans realize that the music he makes if fabricated to sell records, rather than making true music based off life experience. Even though he did experience it, it seems like he only did so to make more records.
ReplyDeleteI don't think T.I. is actually sorry for anything he's done, I think he uses the mindset of "No Regrets" and "everything happens for a reason. I think this is a positive way to look at things instead of getting down on himself. He admits that he did mess up and is stupid for this happening to him again, but he isn't going to it get him down. He is using it as inspiration to make more music. I don't think he's being cocky, I just think he's trying to do the best he can do with making lemonade out of lemons. He's thinking of his career despite being in a bad situation. Do I think he decided to go back to jail just to make music? No, I think it was just the hand he was dealt for making bad decisions, and he is sorry it happened, but can't change it so he's making the most of it.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very interesting find. I don't know that it qualifies as an apology, mostly because he has nothing to apologize to anyone for. T.I. giong to jail really has no effect on us, so he does not have to say sorry to us. It seems like he enjoys the attention that he receives when he goes to jail. Generally I would call action such as this one, but it seems to help his business and inspiration. I'm sure plenty of people will say that this action is unacceptable, however I think it is fine.
ReplyDeleteIt's a "creative" way to “apologize” (I don't even think he meant to make an apology). His quoting the words from Martin Luther King, Jr, that "Notice not the comments of your enemies but the silence of your friends" further reveals the fact that he did not feel truely regret, and tended to ignore those negative opinions on himself. What's worse, he made it pretty clear in his blog that he regards the experiences in prison as inspirations for his works, so his surppoters are not supposed to blame him. Personally, i won't accept his attitude if i was one of his fans. Idols are there to serve as a role model, from whom we expect to see not only awesome works but also at least appropriate personalities. T.I. fails to fulfill the latter.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I think T.I. is very self-centered. Anyone who refers to themself in the third-person comes off as conceited and T.I. is a prime example of that. He used this statement as a self-promotion by bringing up a new music video and a new album. It is ironic that T.I. had a television show preaching to youth about staying out of jail, but then continues to violate parole shortly thereafter. He makes a good point, however, that the media only love to talk about those who make mistakes. He's correct in saying that no one would talk about him if he never broke the law. In all, his statement is not an apology, but an acknowledgement of wrongdoing. He is simply stating that he appreciates the people who are going to stick with him. At the same time, he is saying that if a fan stopped following him, then good riddance.
ReplyDeleteThis is definately not an apology. It is apparent that T.I. thinks that he did the right thing and that going back to jail is actually a good thing. He doesn't seem to understand that what he did was wrong and that jail is supposed to be a punishment, not a way to further his career. I think that T.I. believes that his fans will continue to follow him because his added jail time will make his music better. He doesn't show any regret and definately comes across as cocky, he even refers to himself in the third person. His attitude is not acceptable at all, he should show remorse and acknowledge that his actions were wrong and shouldn't be happy that he's going back to jail.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think this is an apology at all by T.I. It is more of an explaination. In my opinion, T.I. is almost saying that his mistakes make him AND his music. He kind of hit on apologizing for his mistakes, but it was brief and excuses followed directly after. I think most fans want to see him outside jail and making more music and that is cause for their frustration but through this statement T.I. is kid of trying to say that through times like his prison terms, through his "darkest times", is when he comes up with his greatest music. I think his attitude is acceptable only if he can prove that his upcoming album AND whatever he comes up with following this current 11 month sentence is successful. If they are, then he will prove those in doubt wrong.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that T.I. is making an "apology" here. However, I also don't believe he is being fake. He is being honest in saying he is going to make mistakes and many of these mistakes are what make up his music and career. I don't believe that many of his fans are going to stop supporting him because of this. I think he is "telling it how it is." It is his choice to make mistakes and he seems to understand the consequences of them and is willing to take responsibility. I think his attitude is one that we don't see very often but I don't believe his fans will condemn him for it. He knows what he is doing and is being honest about it. He is entitled to make his own choices, good or bad.
ReplyDeleteI really don't think that T.I is apologizing here since he thinks that messing up is something to draw inspiration out of. While drawing inspirations from past mistakes might be helpful, I don't think that he should consider that his only source of inspiration. There is also no regret and he says that he still loves his fans even though they might not support him but I really don't think he cares about going to jail however many times.
ReplyDeleteI think that this statement is the best type of apology that T.I. could have given. Do I think that it was a good apology...no, but I do believe that it was the best he could do. He does sound extremely cocky but thats what keeps him going. If he wasn't cocky, I think that his music wouldn't be what it is today. Yes he made another bad choice and is now back in jail, but at least he is keeping his head high about the situation by saying that he is going to make music out of it.
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ReplyDeleteI don't think it is a real apology from T.I.'s careless attitude. He is not truly apologizing what he has done wrong, but makes excuses that's the way he made his music instead. T.I. thinks his inspiration is based on his darkest hours, if he has not been to prison, does drugs he could not make great music. Is he saying those wrongdoing are good for him or to his music? There are bull-craps that show he was not regret or sorry for his mistake at all. T.I. says he does not care people who dislike him or be negative on him. This attitude expresses he is so self-centered and more important no matter how many times he goes to prison he still does not learn any lessons from it. Therefore, his "apology" and attitude are not acceptable.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think TI is really giving an apology. His statement seems like a conceited way of voicing his thoughts and feelings. I’m not sure if I can even make out a clear point, except for that his experiences are what fuel his inspiration. I’m also confused as to if he wants continued support for going to prison. It sounds to me like he’s basically saying, “support me no matter what because I make music.” Although he may make marketable music because of getting locked up, there are also many rappers who make music despite getting locked up.
ReplyDeleteI do not think this is really an apology. His words showed that he was really proud of himself and did not think he did something wrong. He even thanked the experiences which gave him idea about his music. It is seemed like people should forgive him and support him no matter what he did, because he made good music. In this blog, he brought Martin Luther King Jr's words to support himself. There is no regret in this blog and he did not care what people would think of him.
ReplyDeleteT.I. is definately not apologizing and he seems to find inspiration by being in dark times. Kinda seems to me like jail isn't working so maybe try something else but that's just me. He isn't apologizing he is calling out his fans and yea it is an acceptable attitude because it seems he is a bit angry with the fans who say they love and support him and yet leave him in the dark. He is a bit angry that they are just in it to talk and obviosly can't do what they claim. There is no regret he just does what he does best and make songs about his misfourtunes so putting him in jail is making him more money.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he is cocky I just think he is calling people out and saying some are truely not fans but followers. I think he expects the true fans to support him through anything but those who are just a part of the trend won't and I think that's what he is explaining.
This is not really an apology. Instead of coming out and talking about the apology, he thanks his fans for checking out his new music video with "homie Chris Brown". I feel as if he is happy he went to prison because it is where "most of the inspiration for his new album came from". He shouldn't look at it as a good thing and he shouldn't be talking about it as if it really helped him enhance his music career, that completely disregards the fact that it is a punishment to go to jail. Although not directly, in a way he is teaching the younger generations that look up to him that going to prison can be a blessing in disguise and it can really be a life changing experience for the better. I don't think he went about addressing his issue very well, and to me it seems like he's not that sorry for it because this isn't the first time he has even been to jail.
ReplyDeleteFrom my viewpoint, I do not think he felt sorry to his bad behavior. For him, he feels happy about going to jail. Because he thought this thing becomes inspiration for his future new album. We also can not any single word about "sorry" or "apologize" to public. we can easily feel that he does not focus on apologize. I think his behavior has bad influence on younger generation. he gives younger a impression that going to prison is not totally bad things.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think T.I. was really apologizing in his statement. What he said was just to appeal his fans to continue loving and supporting him. Although what he had done has nothing to do with me, his attitude and senses are still wrong. He said his going prison, his doing drugs and all his other bad deeds helped him to be a popular rapper, helped him to innovate. He was trying to say all he had done was just to make him loved by people. I think the valuable point is not he should apologize to the public or not, but that he should have a clear and right cognition of himself and his behavior.
ReplyDeleteI do not feel that this blog is an apology for his actions. Basically he is telling us why we should still support him after serving jail time. He said that his inspiration comes from his “darkest hours.” However if he is choosing to go to jail by making wrong choices, then how dark is this moment for him really? I also feel that he is not showing regret for going to prison. It doesn’t even seem to bother him. I think that he is choosing to go to prison to help promote his music and maybe give him more credibility in the rap world. It gives him something to rap about. If he is simply trying to get back into prison then maybe he should be put into a tougher prison experience. You here of people wishing to get out and here TI simply violates his parole to get back in. That doesn’t make him a hardened criminal, and give him a whole lot to rap about.
ReplyDeleteSomeone said in the comments that this blog sounds as if he intentionally went back to prison in order to make more music. This idea is exactly what I want to say about his "apology". I do not felt any little regret from statement about his behavior, while I do felt that he tried to show to the public that he hold his position firmly and didn't care about what people commented on him. In brief words, he was kind of proud of being sent to jail and thought being "in the darkest hours" is best and only way to make great music. I think, in his mind, trying to do all right things contradicted with making great music. It may sounds ridiculous, but he chose to live in this way. The reason may be just like what he said in his statement: I'm not concerned with what negative people say more than I am with what positive people don't.
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