AceShowbiz -

T.I. sets the record straight on rumors suggesting that he cut ties with his protege, Iggy Azalea, after he said they're no longer speaking. The Atlanta rapper tells the Associated Press that the Aussie femcee is like his "little sister." He adds, "That's still my partner."

"Her life has taken her in a different direction. My life is still as it was before. But Iggy is doing what she feels makes Iggy happy. That's what she should do. We're focused on making the next Iggy record and dodge the same adversities we faced last time," he explains.

Tip reiterates, "It's definitely not a 'sever my ties, walk away, I'm upset' thing. It was more so like, OK, you have a lot on your plate right now. I'm going to pull back or wait until you come to a place where you're ready to come back to the table, so we can start again and make history some more."

He concludes, "We speak to each other without having to speak to each other ... It's funny sometimes, but we're straight."

T.I. previously said that his mentorship with Iggy "took a bit of a rest stop." However, he still defended her, "It's very difficult to be the new kid, and be the butt of the jokes, and be directed with all the negativity. It came at a time where culturally, in this nation - which, she's not from here ' we were actually looking for somewhere to place some pent up aggression."

Iggy Azalea later responded on Twitter, "Here's the deal, I am still signed to @tip and do business with him. The first I've heard of us having an 'issue' is via a radio interview. Personally, i don't think the radio is the place to talk about your personal issues with someone that's part of your team... He seems to think theres nothing wrong with what he said, everybody else seems to disagree."

The female rapper continued, "I'm sure Tip will publicly clarify what he meant when he feels he has the right platform to do so and other than that, I'm chillin'."