TIEN is allowing his son King to lead his own path — even if it lands him in prison. The artist spoke about his son’s recent run-in with law enforcement on Friday.
As previously reported, the police arrested eighteen-year-old youth for reasons that are still unclear. However, in one video, his friend revealed the police had given him an offense for not wearing a seat belt. After his arrest, King took to Instagram with a message to anyone saying he wanted to be a gangster.
“Everyone who says n ***** tryna be gangsta. I’m not asking the police to drag me anywhere, friends! ‘ said King.
In separate posts, King labeled the situation as “Small set bacc fa a big set to bacc” and post a picture with middle finger and capital letter “F**k 12.”
TI says he talked to King Convo and now it’s up to him
Naturally, people online have clicked on TI’s social profiles with calls for him to advise his young son about his problematic behavior. This comes just months after footage of King arguing with a Waffle House employee went viral. At the time, TI brought up the trending topic, saying, “I don’t understand what we live for when this is what we want to promote.”
On Friday, however, TI appeared reluctant to engage in public discussion of her son’s behaviour. Instead, he made it clear that the conversation had been held privately – with King, his mother, Tiny, and even his grandmother.
“There was one man who asked little, don’t hit me, and my comment to tell me what to say to King,” TI said. “I know my son. You think I didn’t talk to my son? Think I didn’t tell my son, his mother and his grandmother, his ** will go to jail if he continues this, his ** will go to jail. There is no way to round it, there is nothing I can do to solve it. No one can stop it but him.”
The artist continued, saying that he “was [his] peace” with whatever comes next for King. He claims to know his son’s energy because he is that energy and knows how things will turn out.
“King was a good kid chasing mistakes,” TI said. “I trust God to handle it the way he sees fit. Really not anymore, I… he did all the swearing, he got his punishment… did everything as a kid that you can do to him. So now, he has to go through it and get over it. And there’s nothing me, his mother or no one else can ‘say’. “
TI says he will continue to love his son when he learns his lesson
One thing TI made clear was his unconditional love for King. He said that he would love his child through “Whatever he’s going through.” But, at this point, TI will let life be King’s teacher.
“He “learned his lessons, that is life” taught him all the lessons he needed to know. And that’s the best we can do, that’s the best we can ask for. I know who he is at his core. This isn’t true what he’s trying to do… he’s trying to convince himself of things like we all do as young men and even young women growing up. Trying to convince ourselves that we are certain things and in that journey we find out exactly who we really are.”
At the time of publication, King had not publicly responded to his father’s comments. See TI’s complete response below.
