T.I. Inspired By Eminem

T.I. revealed to Billboard's The Juice that he looked to fellow rap superstar Eminem for inspiration during what Tip thought may have been a developing drug habit last year. T.I. says he was worried that he was becoming addicted to the prescription pills oxycontin and hydrocodone following some oral surgeries.

"I haven't had a chance to speak to Em since I've been home," T.I. said. "I heard that while I was down, he was trying to get in contact with me, but I don't know if the dots just didn't connect. [Eminem] overcoming his own adversities, winning the battle against his own demons and continuing to break the mold and re-set the standard of what it means to be the most successful hip-hop artist in the game ... I salute that to no end."

T.I. also addressed addiction in general.

He also shared some words on what addicts can do to help kick their habits. "It starts with you on the inside," he said. "I can give all the advice in the world, but at the end of the day you just got to make that decision internally with yourself. You have to see that you are ready to make a change. Until that moment comes, all advice in the world is going to be in vain cause I'm going to be talking to a brick wall.

"Everybody can tell you what you need to do, how to do it, when you need to do it, how bad you need to do it," he continued. "But until you get that right ass whipping, as they say, and until you have hit rock bottom or have seen something in yourself that is so out of character and it displeases you so much that you just have no choice but to change it ... then you ain't going to see it."