TI and Charlamagne tha God discuss economic investments in black communities on Capitol Hill

Nicholas Wu
Updated
TI and Charlamagne tha God discussed investments in African American communities and their support for opportunity zones in meetings with lawmakers

WASHINGTON — The artist and entrepreneur TI and radio show host Charlamagne tha God visited Capitol Hill Wednesday to talk about economic investments in African American communities as part of a group that included David Gross and Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson.

Throughout Wednesday, the group took part in congressional meetings and in an Opportunity Zone Minority Investors Summit that included Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Their day culminated in a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus.

The late musician Nipsey Hussle had originally planned to be in Washington, D.C., to discuss the same issues, but after his slaying at the end of March, the group went on with the meetings to carry on his mission.

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In a press conference after the Congressional Black Caucus meeting, TI and Charlamagne talked about their interest in opportunity zones, a program created by the 2017 tax bill to incentivize investment in distressed areas.

"I was born in an opportunity zone, and I've been making significant investments and contributions to the community that I have called home for all my life that is now zoned as an opportunity zone," said Clifford Harris, who goes by the stage name TI.

"I don't want to be just another gentrifier that comes in, gets rich, buys these communities and pushes these people out," continued Charlamagne.

Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-N.Y., himself a onetime former rapper, applauded the two men and closed out the session.

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done...there needs to be some skin in the game. Individuals who come from these areas, who know the community, who have a responsibility and feel that responsibility beyond the bottom line," he said.

According to Congressional Black Caucus Communications Director Gabrielle Brown, opportunity zones are "one way" to help invest in black communities through investments in housing.

"This year, the CBC is really focused on building generational wealth in the black community, across the country, and so we know that one way to do that is through housing," she explained.

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Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who is not a member of the CBC, also happened to show up at the meeting. Ryan is running for president in the crowded Democratic field.

"Somehow he got wind of the meeting and popped by right before we did our presser," said Brown.

Ryan had a different explanation, citing his previous work with Charlamagne and support for opportunity zones.

"The conversation was really around how we can transform our communities with these really innovative public-private partnerships," Ryan said.

When asked how he gained entrance to a CBC meeting, Ryan said that Charlamagne had texted him about it.

"Charlamagne texted me that he was here and to come say hello, so I showed up there, and we had the chance to rap for fifteen or twenty minutes before — not literally rap. You don't want to hear me rap."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TI and Charlamagne tha God discuss economic investments in black communities on Capitol Hill