So yesterday around 7 pm, I got a text from my homeboy that said, “I just heard T.I. may have just been arrested on gun charges.” Since I was in the middle of watching the BET Hip Hop Awards, I didn’t think much about the message, and my response was “idk,” (“I don’t know” for you nontexters). A few moments later when Wyclef took center stage and began playing “You Know What It Is,” I thought to myself, “I guess T.I.’s about to perform. So that must have been a rumor.” That was until T.I. never came out, and Busta Rhymes and Alfamega went on to perform “Hurt” without him, while screaming “Free T.I.P.” (Hopefully, BET will edit that entire set out of the awards show before it airs on Wednesday. As you can imagine, without Tip there that whole thing was a fucking mess). A few minutes later, the news trickled through the audience. T.I. was arrested on federal gun charges.

I’ve spent the majority of my Sunday afternoon researching this story, reading and rereading the Department of Justice press release and Feds’ affidavit, trying to make sense of all this. But I can’t. The whole thing seems downright idiotic and it doesn’t look too good for the King of the South. His bodyguard since only July is obviously not a fan of the “Stop Snitching” campaign. He spilled the beans to the Feds, recited the lyrics to every T.I. song ever recorded and leaked tracks from the T.I. and DJ Toomp album. I know it’s hard to find good help these days, but cot damn.

Reports say the bodyguard/informant purchased three unregistered machine guns and two silencers, and delivered them to T.I. (in a fucking downtown Atlanta shopping center parking lot, I might add). And the guy admitted to purchasing about nine firearms for Tip and 17 other firearms for his crew in the past (no wonder Luda always makes nice with Tip). What the hell does T.I. need with all that heavy artillery? With all those guns you’d think P$C was getting ready to do a drive-by on Gucci Mane or somebody. On “Hurt,” he did say, “I ain’t scared of the law, naw/I'm 'bout to go to war/What it is nigga win, lose, or draw.” There’s a lot of irony in those bars but I think this can be classified as a loss. No?

I’m pretty sure Tip knows a convicted felon can’t be in possession of firearms (flashback to that episode of Punk’d. Yeah, he knows the rules). With his criminal record, he shouldn’t even own a Super Soaker (no, Soulja Boy). And with all the guns they found between his car and home, Tip could be going away for a very long time. Granted, you are innocent until proven guilty. But I’ve been trying to warn folks that it’s open season on high profile black celebrities. The Man is out to get nuccas that live the life and make megabucks.

Now you can add T.I. to a long list of black celebs that the Man has taken down or admitted to over the last few months, along with Michael Vick, OJ Simpson, Foxy Brown, DMX, Prodigy, Lil Wayne, R. Kelly and Marion Jones. I know I’m forgetting some people but I wouldn’t call Belo from Do or Die “high profile.” Still, you get my conspiracy theory. Hell, they’ve been trying to take down Barry Bonds for years, but he’s proven to be teflon when it comes to federal charges. Puffy better watch himself, or he could be next. Fistfights can turn into murder charges (word to the Jena 6). Be careful, Diddy.

As for Tip, we can scream “Free T.I.P.” all day, but there really isn’t much we can do for him besides pray and hope for the best. I’m pretty sure “Free T.I.P.” t-shirts will be available by tomorrow. Remember how fast those “Free DJ Drama” shirts hit the streets. People are already saying this all could be a well thought out attempt at publicity for that American Gangster movie. Riiiiiiight. And 2Pac and Biggie’s murders were publicity stunts too. I was planning on seeing the movie anyways. But just in case this is the last time we get to see Clifford Harris as a figure in pop culture for some years, I’ll be first in line when it comes out. And if T.I. lands behind bars, who’s gonna be the King of the South? Hmmm….I won’t jump the gun. I think that’s a drop for another day. Free T.I.P.

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