"You Can't Experience The Federal Penal System & Not Be Somewhat Skeptical"

Months after the slaying of Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, Grammy-winning rapper T.I. shares his reaction to the United States government's takedown of the contributor to the September 11th, 2001 attacks in the new VIBE magazine.

Based on a leaked excerpt, Tip admits being slighly skeptical of Bin Laden's demise.

The conversation shifts from Muammar Gaddafi's death--which occurred five days prior--to Osama Bin Laden's assassination to both Eastern giant's once empowered relationship with the U.S. government. "It's like everybody that the U.S. was besties with, years later they're the worst person in the world," says Tip. "My question is what character traits do they possess now that they didn't possess when y'all were besties? What made it go astray, and who's to say they were on the dishonest end of that?" The politic'n doesn't stop there. Before an article can be selected from the "Osama Bin Laden killed" search, T.I. twists his lips in sarcastic fashion and shoots, "If that really happened." VIBE: So you're skeptical about the legitimacy of Osama's death? T.I.: Man, I'm a conspiracy theorist by nature. You can't experience the federal penal system and not be somewhat skeptical. (VIBE)

In July, rap mogul Jay-Z offered his take on the United States' takedown of Osama.

Speaking to a small room of music journalists just hours before the Labor Department released its monthly jobs report, which found national unemployment numbers rising to 9.2 percent in the month of June, Jay-Z said of the criticism, "He's the president, it's fair." "You gotta fix [the country's current climate]," Jay-Z continued. "Can't fix it all in one day. Numbers don't lie, it's f*cked up out there. Unemployment is still high." Jay-Z then proceeded to joke about how Obama should have allowed him to deliver the news of Osama Bin Laden's death on May 1. Acting as if he were speaking at a press conference, Jay-Z adopted the accent of a street tough and said, "He was a threat, you know what I mean? We handled that." He delivered the line and laughed. (Billboard)

Around May, rap veteran Nas asked why President George W. Bush was no where to be found following the announcement of Osama's death.

"Where is Bush? We should see more George Bush, right now. He should be talking more. He should be standing next to Barack more. He should just be talking to the American people that he was once "leading." I don't hear anything. It's like someone who got away with something and doesn't want to show his face anymore. Or is it just that it's just no joke being a President and he needs a long vacation right now? He's staying away from cameras. But the bin Laden situation... I kind of would like to hear what he'd [Bush] have to say about it." (The Juice)

A week prior, Jadakiss shed light on Bin Laden's death.

"I'm not personally celebrating, but if that's what the families of the loved ones and the victims who died in 9/11 needed for closure, I understand that. That's understandable. I'm ready to see what's going on with the next round of the NBA playoffs. I'm not a politician; I don't really get into that. I have family and friends that are Muslims and I'm happy for those that are happy for those that couldn't sleep and now they're able to rest and exhale and get on with their lives. May the Lord bless them." (VIBE)