T.I. Says He’s No Longer Interested in Verzuz, Calls It a “Poor People Activity”.
T.I. is making headlines after sharing his latest thoughts on Verzuz, the popular music battle platform that became a huge part of hip-hop culture during the pandemic.
During a recent appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, T.I. explained that he no longer has any interest in participating in a Verzuz battle. The Atlanta rapper said his priorities have changed and that he is focused on different things at this stage of his life and career.
For years, fans talked about a possible Verzuz matchup involving T.I. and artists such as 50 Cent or Jeezy. However, it appears those ideas are no longer appealing to him.
Speaking on the podcast, T.I. said he does not see much value in going back and forth with another artist for entertainment. He also suggested that the platform does not offer enough financial incentive for him to participate.
“I don’t want to indulge in that side of life no more. I ain’t even interested, bruh. Ain’t no money over there in that sh-t, bruh. That sh-t poor people activity,” T.I. told the hosts on the podcast.
His comments quickly spread online, with many hip-hop fans debating whether they agreed with his perspective. Some users felt that the rapper was being too harsh, while others understood his point about focusing on business opportunities that make sense for his career.
During the discussion, podcast host Joe Budden and his co-hosts argued that Verzuz is more about celebrating artists’ catalogs than determining winners and losers. T.I. responded by saying he might view things differently if there was a bigger financial opportunity involved. “I’m 45. What I’m doing going back-and-forth with a ni–a, man? Like, for what, bro?,” he said.
T.I. makes it clear and shuts down any possibility of competing in a Verzuz during his appearance on the Joe Budden Podcast:
“Ain’t no money over there. That’s broke people activity” pic.twitter.com/NXvNuL40ZY
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 22, 2026
The rapper later mentioned that a Verzuz battle with Jeezy could have been special because of their friendship and shared history in Southern hip-hop. Still, he questioned whether the format makes sense for him today.
After clips from the interview went viral, Verzuz co-founder Timbaland appeared surprised by the comments and reacted online. “Huh?” wrote Timbaland.
Not long afterward, T.I. offered more context and clarified what he meant. He admitted he had been drinking during the podcast and said his remarks were based on his personal experiences with discussions about potential Verzuz battles over the years. “First of all, I was drinking,” he said.
According to T.I., previous conversations about possible opponents often led to unnecessary arguments on social media, something he no longer wants to be part of.
The comments arrive as T.I. prepares for the release of his upcoming album Kill The King. The project is expected to feature appearances from artists including YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Summer Walker, Usher, 2 Chainz, and Jeezy.
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