Boosie Badazz and T.I. checked their sons, King Harris and Tootie Raww, respectively, on set during the shooting of a music video. This week, a video that surfaced online captured the two fathers checking in on their sons on set during the shooting of a music video where the young rappers were seen waving firearms in front of their entourage. This bold move by Boosie and T.I. occupies a thin line between responsibility, creativity, and the messages young artists convey to their fans.
In the footage, T.I. says, “Treat mine like you treat yours,” setting the severe tone of the conversation. Boosie comes in quickly with the first real question: “Why y’all got so many guns, bro? Why y’all always gotta have guns?” Similarly, the imagery both fathers paint here foregrounds not only the danger that surrounds their children but also an image their children can give to the world.
As the conversation continues, T.I. takes a second to talk directly to his son. He clarifies that the life King is describing in detail isn’t some act that doesn’t come with real ramifications. “What kind of parent gon’ support their goddamn kids when they sliding, riding and popping.,” he says, asking for more consideration toward the themes they approach in the music.
T.I. then shifts the direction of their creative work. “Why don’t y’all make love music?” he asks, yearning to have more uplifting and relatable subjects. This subtlety pushes the young men into pondering other things besides the glittery and all too often hazardous contexts that lead to legal issues- a concern not entirely unfounded due to their past experiences with the law.
The story thereafter has been a hot topic of online debate. Many lauded T.I. and Boosie for intervening like responsible parents, recognizing how glorifying gun culture through music could result in harmful behavioral responses. They praised the rappers as they tried to direct their sons on better paths.
At the same time, some critics mentioned the hypocrisy of such a move since both T.I. and Boosie built their respective careers on the same material. That duplicity does raise a pretty interesting question: Where do artists draw a line between creative expression and the responsibility that influence brings into play? It is one of those problematic challenges most artists within the hip-hop community go through, and this confrontation shows the continued struggle.
King Harris has been born into the spotlight. The son of T.I. and Tiny Harris, he’s been around cameras and attention since birth. He is very interested in music and regularly works on his own projects. But this recent incident shed light on the choices he’s faced with and the pressures a youngster like him has to go through.
Similarly, Boosie Badazz’s son, Torrence Hatch Jr., goes by the stage name Tootie Raw and did his share of labor through trying times coming up in the entertainment industry. Much like King, Tootie hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps, but the recent incident has added attention to his behavior and the instructions Boosie gave him.
King and Tootie have to find their place within their identities of having famous rappers as parents. Growing up in the hip-hop culture tends to lead them to decisions that raise some concerns from their parents.
The good thing about T.I. and Boosie’s son’s confrontation was that it was a good reminder of how much a thin line divides artistic freedom and responsible behavior. While T.I. and Boosie are still guiding their sons through thick and thin, they have been involved in numerous projects, including an upcoming collaborative album and a reality T.V. show pairing King and Tootie.
This album represents a means for them to express their different styles and how close they are as fathers and artists. Most fans are stoked about this collaboration, expecting their lives to be opened up a little more through this project, and some lessons will be given to the next generation.
