T.I. has provided some insight into his current relationship with 50 Cent, almost a year after challenging him to a Verzuz battle.
Speaking to former NFL player Tony “The Closer” Robinson during a recent episode of his Get Yo Ass Up! podcast, Tip was asked about a rumor he was replaced by Method Man for a role in Power Book II: Ghost.
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“That’s not true,” he said with a puzzled look on his face. “50 and I were executive producers on a different show, outside of the Power universe. But nah, man. Me and 50 cool.”
He added: “I think I’m the only one that’s not offended by his brash approach and he’s not offended by mine, so, you know, we play rough but ain’t no issue. It’s a mutual respect though.”
The chatter started after Power Book II: Ghost actors Michael Rainey Jr. (Tariq) and Gianni Paolo (Brayden) spoke to TMZ last month and claimed Tip almost nabbed the role.
“I heard – this is a rumor, I can’t confirm,” Paolo opened. “T.I. was supposed to play Method Man’s character. I don’t know if there was beef or something happened, but he never ended up playing him, and Meth was Davis MacLean.”
Rainey added: “This was early in the production before we started filming. We showed up to set, and Method was there. They didn’t really tell us.”
50 Cent and T.I. had a little friction in 2020 after the Hustle Gang boss challenged him to a Verzuz battle during the Black Mafia Family premiere.
“Hey 50 — we got to do this Verzuz, man,” he told the crowd at the time. “Give them what the people want to see, man! […] Congratulations to my nephew Lil Meech. Congratulations to 50 for putting this shit together.”
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Two days later, 50 Cent posted a clip of Tip’s interview with the Big Facts podcast, in which T.I. addressed his infamousCrime Stoppers commercial and appeared to chide anyone who still talks about it, including 50 Cent who rehashed it in 2021.
In the since-deleted Instagram post, he wrote: “This was a week ago. This n-gga was just telling me about a comedy show he was working on backstage. I don’t like this kinda shit, it wouldn’t be a good idea to come around me again. Respectfully stay away from me.”
50 Cent Warns T.I. To 'Respectfully' Stay Away From Him Following Verzuz Challenge
Elsewhere in his conversation with Tony Robinson, T.I. confirmed a follow-up to 2020’s The L.I.B.R.A. is in the works and said the delay wasn’t due to not having any material.
“It’s coming,” he said. “Let the record show, I’m ready to drop right now. I got enough music to drop right now. However, I just want to be able to dedicate the time and give it the attention that it deserves, and I got so much other stuff going on, I ain’t finna to stop it right now.
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“The momentum I have received from other areas of my life – whether it’s real estate development, comedy, film and comedy – just other things I have going on, I’m just focusing my attention in other areas.”
