Rapper T.I. has written an open letter to outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama thanking him for the impact he made on the nation during his time in office.

The Live Your Life star has written a series of open letters for The New York Times, one to Obama, another to President-elect Donald Trump and to America’s citizens, and the first, to Obama, was published on Friday.

In the letter, he praises Obama for fighting for equality and acceptance and promised his legacy would live on past his time in office, which ends on 20 January (17).

“You entered humbly into our worlds from the streets of the South Side of Chicago and galvanised a generation. Many of US did not know your name, nor did we truly understand the impact you would have on the world in the years, months and days that followed.

As I reflect, I am filled with gratitude, outrage, grief, anger, humility and appreciation, both for the things you helped bring to light and the many things we still have yet to realise… Not only did you impact a nation, but you defined a culture and you shook up and woke up a generation.

We will forever be grateful to you and your family,” he concludes. “WE will continue to stand with you and alongside those who make a personal investment in US… We will continue to remind ourselves that, Yes, We still can!.”