T.I. is no stranger to Grammy glory. The rapper took home the 2006 Best Rap Solo Performance for "What You Know" in addition to Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with Justin Timberlake for "My Love." He was also part of the big group win in 2008 for "Swagga Like Us." This year, T.I. is predicting that his girl, Iggy Azalea, will take home the award for Best Rap Album because of the commercial success she has had thanks to the effort. Overall, though, the Atlanta rapper thinks there needs to be some changes so the hip-hop community is represented properly.
In an interview with HipHopDX, T.I. explained his reasoning for picking Azalea.
"I'm pro-Iggy," he said. "Off the list, that's the only one that has benefited my campaign. I'm rockin' with who's rockin' with me."
This comes as little surprise to fans, since the rapper guested on The New Classic for "Change Your Life." Azalea returned the favor on "No Mediocre" for T.I.'s Paperwork release. He also spent much of 2014 defending Azalea and mending feuds between her and Snoop Dogg.
T.I. also pointed out that the rap genre needs to be better represented at award functions because the Grammys are too focused on what is selling well.
"I don't think it's enough young urban socialites on the board for us to have a clear voice," he said. "You can look at the list of people who've never won a Grammy to see that. Tupac and B.I.G. have never won a Grammy, Snoop Dogg has never won a Grammy. That kinda says a lot."
"It's whatever is commercial is successful, and whatever plays the most on the radio, which is why I think Iggy is going to win it," he added. "I don't think that's nothing she has to be ashamed of, that's something she should be proud of."
