T.I. Defends Protégé Iggy Azalea From Racist Claims

Iggy Azalea is not racist, her mentor T.I. has defended the Australian rap star.

There have been reports that the 24-year-old NSW hip-hop star is prejudiced, as apparently evidenced by her posts on Twitter.

Before she became famous, she posted a few questionable posts on the social networking site, referring to several race stereotypes.

She had explained that she posted her opinions at the time when her Twitter account was only seen by a few family and friends. She went on to say that the people who criticised her for the past posts were “unfair” and “immature.”

Her explanation didn’t exactly win back her critics, and the reports of her being a racist persists until now.

Her biggest rival, Nicki Minaj, also posted a cryptic Twitter message. Apart saying racism exists, Minaj also called out someone for having work cut out for her. She did not name names, but it’s thought that she was referring to Azalea, who has also been rumoured to use ghostwriters for her songs.

racism is alive & well

— Anaconda (@NICKIMINAJ) July 23, 2014

some people have to put in work. others get to cut corners. we see it but don't say it. welcome to the real world. — Anaconda (@NICKIMINAJ) July 23, 2014

T.I., who signed Azalea to his record label imprint Grand Hustle, has defended his protégé from the racism reports.

“It pisses me off just because they don’t have any real, substantial ground,” he told Complex TV. “’I don’t like them.’ Why? ‘Just because.’ What do you mean just because? Since when do you get the right to judge people? Who died and made you the emperor of Egypt?

“That kind of s--- and then the things that they accuse her of, like the racist stuff. That’s not even her. That’s not even in her. Me knowing her, knowing where she comes from, the whole racist thing – that’s American. We forget she’s not American.”

He continued, “So the whole black, white, colour divided thing, it isn’t part of her DNA like it is here in America.”