I. has officially parted ways with Iggy Azalea

Now Azalea’s longtime advocate, rapper T.I. – whose support of Azalea has long been criticized by fans and fellow artists – has addressed in an interview with HOT 97 how he has distanced himself from her (click the link to watch the NSFW video). Hip-hop mogul T.I. confirmed on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that he’s cut all business ties with his former mentee Iggy Azalea.

Around this time last year, Iggy Azalea was one of the hottest rappers in the music industry with hit records on her hands and every blog and magazine wanting to snap photos of her. But since then, a mountain of tabloid drama, including accusations of racism and cultural appropriation, have left Iggy’s career on a gradual decline.

“After the Q-Tip thing… after I smoothed it over”.

“She didn’t know there was a problem since T.I.is still collecting publishing checks and acting like everything is normal between them.”

While Iggy and T.I. are still friendly, the producer noted her career “took a bit of rest stop” before continuing to admit they have not “personally” talked in a long time.

T.I. did however defend the Aussie from an avalanche of criticism that has been directed her way. “She is the nucleus”, he explained, “but there are a lot of other pieces around – including myself – that keep that machine working”. Any human being, anywhere, gonna have a hard time adjusting.

“There are some that merely wish to contribute to it. And I’d be less than ME if I didn’t say that…”

While T.I. said he was no longer involved with her professionally, he never threw Azalea under the bus during the interview. It came at a time when culturally in this nation – when she’s not from here – we were actually looking for a source to place that pent-up aggression. “If I rock with you I’m gon” rock with you … T.I. later defended Azalea over the incident.

He said he feels bad the way she has been treated and believes that she has “the talent [and] the charisma” to overcome.

“[But] some stuff they brought upon themselves”, he admits.