Donald Trump’s team used T.I.’s 2008 single “Whatever You Like” for a Joe Biden diss earlier this week. Now, a rep for Tip has responded.
The statement reads in part, “The video distorts lyrics from his #1 charting song by misrepresenting the lyrics through text language and distortion his recorded voice. It goes without saying, that T.I. would not in any way ever support the divisive policies and destructive propaganda Trump. The people our country deserve far better than this.”
Consequently, Tip’s team plans to take legal action.
“Be clear, he does not authorize it or consent to the use his song to falsely suggest any endorsement President Trump or to attack Joe Biden,” the statement continues. “It is sad, but expected, that this President would stoop so low to use his property without authority to manipulate the community.
“T.I.’s legal team and media partners are already moving expeditiously to block this unauthorized use and set the record straight in no uncertain terms.”
The video in question — which first appeared on Snapchat — swaps Tip’s lyrics for, “Yea, I don’t want Joe Biden/Don’t need Joe Biden/As long as you got me, you don’t need Joe Biden.”
The Hustle Gang boss has been an outspoken critic Trump for years. In 2018, Tip dropped a controversial Twitter video called “Dear 45, I Ain’t Kanye” depicting a naked Melania Trump lookalike. The woman does a striptease for T.I. in the Oval Office.
The clip shows real footage Trump leaving the White House and boarding Marine One. The First Lady clone then appears wearing her controversial “I Don’t Really Care Do U?” jacket. T.I. takes in her performance and then trashes the White House.
That same year, Tip criticized Kanye West’s White House hug-infested meeting with Trump, calling it the “most repulsive, disgraceful, embarrassing act desperation & auctioning f one’s soul to gain power I’ve ever seen.”