Concluding his trilogy of open letters to Donald Trump and Barack Obama published in Rolling Stone and The New York Times respectively, T.I. has written another much-needed letter addressing social ills. This time, his latest letter was published in Ebony and is addressed to “US.”
Over the past few years, Clifford Harris has become more socially active in the wake of police-involved killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. His latest album, US or Else: Letter to the System, released in December, was a departure from his “dopeman” persona and delved into more socially aware lyrics.
Earlier this week, the Atlanta rapper called out Steve Harvey, Kanye West and others over meeting with Donald Trump.
“We can no longer afford to be entertained beyond the point of accountability. We can’t keep selling each other out and be willing to do anything to be seen, to be famous or to be rich,” he writes.
“Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that have no true value for real, man.”
An Open Letter to US
As I write this letter, I can’t help but express my frustration and concern for US. I also can’t help but question my contribution to the status of where we are. I understand that I too have been guilty of doing the very things that put us here. Even still, right now the state of our community is more alarming than ever. And while I know this letter may be misunderstood by many, unduly dissected and misconstrued by most others, I still need to write and speak about these things that deeply concern me.
You see, all of US sometimes feel that one of the most difficult things in the world is to talk to US about US in an effort to help US. However, we cannot dismiss the fact that we can’t fix what we do not address. You see we’ve somehow allowed ourselves to think it’s okay to neglect and abandon our responsibility to ourselves and to our community. Everything cannot be blamed on THE SYSTEM.
Read the letter in its entirety at Ebony.
