T.I. Ends Silence On Drug Addiction, “I Developed The Beginning Stages Of Dependence”

Written By S. Samuel

Jailed rapper T.I. speaks on his recent drug addiction which ultimately led to him doing an 11-month bid behind bars in the December/January issue of VIBE Magazine.

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In the feature, T.I. said his reliance on drugs was created due to issues with his teeth.

“I had a lot of work done to my teeth. Oral surgery, extractions, six, seven, eight root canals. Between January to February. As soon as I got out, I had a lot of stuff done. In the joint, you eat sh*t that is unhealthy for you. I had fillings that fell out and stuff that had to get dealt with. Of course for the pain they gave me oxycontin and hydrocodone. And, mind you, on October 13, 2007, I had cut off everything?weed, alcohol. Then I get these pills and I start taking them for the pain at first. And then I’m like, Wait?this sh*t makes me feel good. And it’s legal. After the pain went away, I kept taking it. I had like five, six prescriptions. So I had, like 80 pills. Everybody else might have a drink or smoke a blunt, I took a pain pill. Times when I had 18-, 20-hour days, I’d take a pain pill. And eventually I developed?I guess?the beginning stages of dependence.” (Hip Hop N More)

Within the piece, T.I. also admits to seeking help from Eminem who previously suffered from drug addiction.

“Sure, [I sought help from Em]. We got a record together, and we talked a lot. I asked him how he knew he was an addict. Basically if you put yourself in harm’s way… if you risk that, you’ve got to assume that there is something fundamentally wrong with your thought process.” (Hip Hop N More)

Last week, the rapper released a letter on his TrapMuzik.com website speaking on his jail experience.

“This experience is truly a pain I have never felt before and that’s saying a lot for a n*gga who’s been down locked up as many times as I have,” Tip wrote. “I see this as a real ass whoopin’. The kind you don’t just go back outside to play afterwards. You take ya ass to bed and don’t come out of your room until it’s time to go to school…I don’t know what effect this will have on my life moving forward but I’m certainly sick and motherf*cking tired of going to jail, juve, trison, the pen, correctional facilities or whatever else you want to call it…I’d have been better off doing a 5-10 year bid one time than going in time and time again for days, weeks and months for the last 15 years of my life.” (Trap Muzik)

After turning himself earlier this month, T.I. put out a statement to fans speaking on the punishment for violating his probation in October when arrested with drugs.

“Thank you to all that took the time to check out my new video”Get Back Up” with my homie Chris Brown. And a bigger thanks to those of you who decided to comment (good & bad). To all of you who say, “he should practice what he preaches” and “how could he do something so stupid…AGAIN?”, you’re absolutely right and I couldn’t agree with you more. But you know what? As history has shown us before, I find my greatest inspiration during my darkest hours. So all fans of music, T.I. or not, should be able to agree that NO MERCY will surely be my best work yet. After all isn’t that what it’s all about? If I never went to prison, never did drugs, never f’ed up again, did everything right and never made great music….would you even care enough to comment on T.I.? Doubt it, so bear that in mind while you jump to your conclusions guys. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “Notice not the comments of your enemies but the silence of your friends.” So although I’m still in touch…watching, reading and listening, I’m not concerned with what negative people say more than I am with what positive people don’t. Guess that’s enough for now… Love you all still, whether you still love me or not. REAL TALK!!! And I would like to give a special I LOVE U to @star_omg and @tinymajormama. – Tip” (Statement)

The new issue of VIBE is scheduled to hit newsstands soon.

Check out a recent T.I. interview down below:

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Written by S. Samuel

Steven Samuel is the co-founder of SOHH.com.

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