Atlanta rapper, actor and activist Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jr. went in on a recent service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
And it is hilarious.
During a recent episode on the podcast, “ExpediTIously,” T.I (aka Tip) and guest Michael “Killer Mike” Render, talked about attending the Stonecrest megachurch earlier this month.
Kanye West was at the church for one of his popup "Sunday Service" worship performances and celebrities in the sanctuary included both Killer Mike, T.I. and his wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and Jermaine Dupri.
Before West came out to a packed sanctuary, though, guest preacher, Bishop I.V. Hilliard, of New Light Christian Center Church in Texas, launched into a lengthy sermon extolling the virtue of giving. Hilliard is never mentioned in the podcast by name.
The animated "Whatever You Like" rapper said he cut his "fellowshipping short at Magic City," (a well-known Atlanta strip club), went home for about 45 minutes of sleep before heading to New Birth.
Related: Kanye West brings "Sunday Service" to New Birth
More: T.I. receives Voice of the Culture Award
T.I. said he felt “accosted and basically exploited” by the repeated calls for money.
“Finessed out some money,” adds Killer Mike, laughing.
“Jamal already raised the offering,” said T.I. “When we sat down there was a whole new agenda...it was like they rung the red bell at the Players Club.”
The segment of the podcast, posted on T.I.'s Instgram, received more than 2,000 comments, including from rapper Anderson.Paak who posted: "They ran in them pockets in the name of the laaaawd!! 😭"
One commenter said: “I seen the look on your face I was wondering what was going on. That's a same. No hustling should be going on in the so called church. They seen $$$$”
Another said, “Praising the Lord don’t cost you anything.”
Related: New Birth plans affordable housing, medical clinic
The three men later resolved the issue.
Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth, posted a message on social media, letting the two know all the church has done in the community, including giving away 5,000 pairs of shoes as students returned to school and helping spearhead the campaign to save Bennett College, which was experiencing financial issues earlier this year.
He said to have both men in church was “meaningful for many reasons. This is the largest demographic of blacks who don’t buy into organized religion in our history and in large measure because of reasons you have illuminated. To not give redress would be an assault to the body of Christ when I believe I am an ambassador as the two of you are for your field.”
T.I. and Bryant could not be reached for comment, but Killer Mike said in an interview that he supports Bryant’s advocacy and activism.
“As a kid, I was raised in the church,” he said. “I knew we got in trouble. It was tongue in cheek.”
He said it was resolved “very quickly” and it was handled “gracefully as three black men should be as an example going forward on social media.”
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