Before his success as one of MMG's banner artists, Meek Mill was briefly a member of T.I.'s imprint Grand Hustle. In an interview with Power 99 FM, the man from ATL discusses Meek's start at Grand Hustle.
Tip explained that while his 2009 prison time was a major deterrent from playing a bigger role in the Philly emcee's career, he's happy for Meek's success regardless. He admits that he does maintain some regrets about Meek leaving the label, but understands Meek's reasons for joining Rick Ross and Maybach.
"[Meek Mill and I] were together first [at Grand Hustle], and due to my set of circumstances that removed me from the free world, I had an inability to do anything for anyone around me at that time," he recalled. "He ran into a situation with [Rick] Ross and he felt like he could move right now, and if I can't match that situation, then far be it from me to stand in the middle of it and block it. I felt like, 'cus I knew when I came home, I knew I had things lined up and for me, it was going to be straight. But I can't make another man say, 'Okay, well, I know you're going to be straight, but what about me?' I felt like at the end of the day, if you think that [moving to MMG] is the best thing for you, I'm not going to stand in the way of that."
Tip also mentions, "I'm happy for his success, I really am. Do I wish that I did not have to deal with it in that way, and do I wish that I had a greater involvement? Yeah, sometimes I do, but at the end of the day, I've got to deal with life as it is, not as I wish it was." [Source]
Watch the full interview below.
