T.I. Blames Legal Woes For Losing Meek Mill To Rick Ross, "I Couldn't Really Make Moves"

Grammy-winning rapper T.I. recently revealed how close Maybach Music Group's Meek Mill was to being an official Grand Hustle artist and how Rick Ross was ultimately able to sign him.

Impressed by Meek's style and rap battle stripes, Tip said his legal woes with law enforcement kept a deal from solidifying.

Unfortunately Mill's Grand Hustle signing fell through due to T.I.'s run-ins with the law. "After my two hiatuses I was put in a position where I couldn't really make moves on Meek as quick as he may have wanted to," T.I. told Billboard.com's The Juice. "I never been one want to hold anyone back or to slow down the success of anybody. I'm the first to try to enhance what you have and if I can't make it better than I shouldn't be a part of it." (The Juice)

Prior to the "King of the South" recently returning from an 11-month jail bid for a probation violation, Meek said he would save his "I'ma Boss" anthem remix for Tip.

"If I hold the 'I'ma Boss' remix long enough I might throw Tip on that, have him get out to the hottest song of the year," Meek said in an interview. "He ain't have no problem looking out for me and I don't have no problem doing it for him." In 2008, rumors sprung up that T.I. had signed Meek to his label Grand Hustle, but the co-sign never amounted to an ink stain. Although it's unclear as to why the deal never materialized, Meek says he still salutes the Atlanta giant. "I talked to Tip even when I was with Maybach, he already know my mind frame because me and Tip ended up becoming good friends later on down the line just hanging out with each other." (VIBE)

The remix later came out and featured guest spots from Tip, Lil Wayne, Swizz Beatz, DJ Khaled and Birdman.

Maybach Music's next in line Meek Mill adds some star power to the remix of his single "Ima Boss" with hip-hop heavyweights T.I., Swizz Beatz, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Birdman, and DJ Khaled. Tip kicks off the five-minute-plus remix with a ferocious verse and Rozay keeps it moving after his recent health scare. "Had a couple seizures, call 'em minor setbacks/ Everybody prayin' for me, I respect that," raps the Bawse. (Rap-Up)

In mid-November, Maybach Music Group leader Rick Ross expressed the importance of a strong Meek Mill debut album.

"That's what the focus is: making sure it's classic. And I'm really excited and proud that the homey is taking his time to go to that next level," Ross said. "Of course he's the hardest new artist in the game -- we know that, hands down. Of course he can capitalize right now and we know that, that's the obvious. But what's not, is his debut album will be a classic." (MTV)