T.I.: 'American Gangster' Co-Stars RZA and Common Weigh In On Legal Drama

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

T.I. Just like T.I., rappers RZA and Common are world renowned and much respected among the hip-hop community.

They both also co-star alongside the jailed rapper in the upcoming Denzel Washington/Russell Crowe epic 'American Gangster' – which opens on Nov. 2.

"We all gotta realize that we have to grow up as men, and the things we did as boys can't be done anymore," RZA told The BV Newswire, in relation to T.I.'s recent arrest and imprisonment for machine gun charges.

"Not only are we men in age and maturity but we are also men of stature and everything that we do is being watched and we have to recognize that," the Wu Tang Clan co-founder continued. "One of my security guards said 'Don't you ever buy a gun, because you can afford all the security,'" he shared before I interjected that the price of a gun is far less cheaper than security detail.

"Not when the results are like this, it's nowhere near cheaper," he argued. "You have to have a little foresight."

"I don't know the situation with T.I. and every man is innocent until proven guilty," the Staten Island native said, adding, "I actually think he's a good dude. I don't believe that he really had anything to do with this because he doesn't seem that kind of guy. He wasn't that kind of guy when I met him."

Believe it or not, Common -- legally known as Rashid Lonnie Lynn -- plays T.I.'s father in the Ridley Scott-helmed film. The Chicago-reared recent chart-topper also shared his disbelief of the machine gun charges that the Atlantic Records rapper -- legally known as Clifford Harris, Jr. --is facing. "I don't believe what they accused him of what he did. I just don't," he said.

"He's a good guy, a very good guy... anybody can say that 'this guy did this and this guy did that' but if we don't know what the true story we can't give a solid comment," he added.

Common Common even sent some advice out to T.I. -- who pleaded not guilty on the weapons charges and was ordered to be detained for another week: "Continue to pray and know that God is with him. Know that He knows what the truth is and the truth is going to allow [you] to get out and be alright."

Defense attorneys for the Grammy Award winning Atlanta hip-hop superstar asked a federal judge to release the rapper on $2.2 million bond and allow him to have monitored home confinement while he awaits trial on weapons charges.

Indicted by a federal grand jury Oct. 17 on weapons charges, including possession of machine guns, the 27-year-old Atlanta native reportedly faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

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