Rick Ross Interview: Talks Drake Collabs, Grammys & New Music

When I listen to Port of Miami 2, it feels like you know what the people want from a Rick Ross album and how to deliver that. But when you get this deep into the game as an artist, sometimes there’s a difference between what fans want and what you want to do. Do you ever face that?

Nah, not really. Because niggas know what they want from Rozay. Rozay came, from day one, talking about, “Everyday I’m hustlin.” And this one, nigga, you watch go get some money. You watch this nigga not take no from nobody. Ain’t nobody step on Rozay’s shoes in the motherfucking game since he stepped in it, and can’t nobody step on these Way of Wades. You’ve got to realize, any time you’re really trying to get some money in life, you’re going to have differences with people. But even if you’re in high school and you want to be the number one athlete of the year, you’re going to face competition. You just got to accept and address that. And that’s something I ain’t never had a problem with doing.

When you’re making an album, do you ever feel an urge to try something new and unexpected?

I’m not going to say that, because I record a lot of different records, a lot of different times. Does it make the final track listing, is ultimately the question. Because when you’re putting together a body of work, it does start to take on a certain form or direction and you want to deliver that feeling. That’s the feeling. I ain’t just thinking of rapping and saying something that will grab somebody, but it’s a feeling. And to me, I think that’s what gives you that longevity.

Which do you think is your best album?

You know, I let the streets determine tha. Because, when people have that conversation, it’s always different. Motherfuckers will tell you Port of Miami. Some people will say Trilla. Some will say Teflon Don. Then it’ll be some people who say, “Fuck that. Deeper Than Rap.” So it’s wherever you’re at during that time. And to me, at the end of the day, it’s all good conversation.

Do you have a personal favorite? Mine might be Rich Forever.
Rich Forever was one of those projects that I put together so quick. Def Jam wasn’t ready to move. You know what I’m saying? And that’s when I pulled the trigger on them, like, “Fuck it, I’ma put it out, anyway.” It’s about the streets. It ain’t just about getting the money, it’s about feeding the streets, and we fed them.

Do you have a project that you think is underrated?

That ‘underrated’ word is a powerful word. Underrated. It’s like, to me, nigga, when you say underrated, who is you looking for acceptance from? Who? That’s like you being a writer, and you wrote something, and it’s like, who is you really looking for acceptance from? Especially when you go from crack and crevice to selling out everywhere you go. You do this for years and you’re looking into the faces of the motherfuckers you know you made the records for. Who are you really looking for acceptance from? So that’s a powerful word and I really choose not to use it.

You started this decade off with Deeper Than Rap, as well as the “Devil in a New Dress” verse, which I think many people still hail as your best.

It could be. And, to me, that’s good, when I know records like “Hustlin'” and “BMF.” I done seen motherfuckers pass out in a performance, but it’ll be a record like “Tears of Joy.” It just gives me a good spectrum to let me know I could play with, that I know I could touch people on. Me and Mike Dean just had a phone conversation maybe three or four days ago. It was a nice 10-15 minute [talk], just touching bases. Just out the blue, he hit me. And that conversation came up with “Devil in a New Dress.” And I told him, “I appreciate how you flipped that beat for me.” 

Did you see the controversy, though, about that?

Nah. 

Bink got mad on Twitter because he felt like people weren’t giving him proper credit for also creating the beat. And I feel like you are one of the few people that still goes back to Bink, because Bink’s kind of underrated, a little bit. 

Like I say, you got to be careful about that word. Because when somebody uses a word like Bink underrated, to me, first, I’m a say…

Sounds heinous.

Who the fuck is he underrated to? If a nigga don’t know who Bink is… 

That’s their problem.

That’s their lack of knowledge. But he’s not underrated to niggas who are really in touch with the culture and with the music. Is he the most popular? Is he going to do goddamn Breakfast Club and all that? I ain’t never seen Bink do that. Bink, he don’t really move like that. But musically, you can’t deny what the homie bring to the game.

You had him on your previous album.

“Santorini Greece.” That was one of my favorite records. And when I listened to the record, it made me think: Where would I want to go where I haven’t been? That’s the title. And then I went. I actually filmed the video.

I want to do a speed round and ask you about some stuff that was unreleased and if we’ll ever see it. First, “Maybach Music” with Bobby Womack.

That’s coming. That’s without a doubt. Rest in peace.

A personal interest of mine: Bugatti Boyz. You and Puff.

Me and Puff. That was me and him having fun. We was talking about doing a project because I would go in the studio and do four records in one night and he was like, “Man, let’s do an album.” I was like, “Yeah, let’s talk about it.” And we just always bounced it around.

We still need to see it.

There’s a good chance we could do that. I’m one of them type niggas that, in two days, I could do an album. To me, creating an album is really about the sound. The raps is easy. It’s the quality of sound that you have. It’s where you’re trying to go with that. If we’re trying to go into some deep punk rock shit, I’ll call Skrillex right now. I’ll call Carnage right now. If it’s some smooth shit, I could get Mike Dean on the phone right now. You’ve got to have those relationships, and it’s all about the sound. It’s not, “Yo, we’re going to start working on the album Monday. Let’s call and ask for beats.” Nah, nigga. You already fucked that album up. You got to have shit already.

More music with J.U.S.T.I.C.E League?

All the time. Always. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Bink, Swizz Beatz, and one of my close homies, Just Blaze. A lot of niggas don’t even know, me and Just Blaze, we be on the phone at like three in the morning talking about BMX bikes from ’85, ’86. That’s just one of our things. You go talking about GT Performers. That’s just shit nobody would ever know. When it comes to these sounds, that’s what it’s about. And when somebody talk about sounds and a body of work, albums, you got to have some of the best shit in the game ready to go. You know what I mean? And if it’s something we’re missing or something we want to try, we could reach out for that in particular. But as a whole, if you’re really on some space age shit, you’ve got to already have some dope shit.

You bring up Just Blaze, so we have to talk about your work with JAY. Your collabs always tend to yield some of his best verses.

Once again, I’m the godfather of that paper rap. And Jay is a real dopeboy MC. That’s what makes him what he is. I love to hear everybody break it down and all that and that’s cool, too, but that’s a dopeboy MC. Y’all talk about turning one into five, and that’s what make him what he is. To actually see him do it in person is that much more intriguing. How many people got more Hov collabs than Rozay? 

Not many.

Not many. And I believe that goes right back to when it comes to that getting money—when it comes to that godfather of paper, man. Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s about.

2020, what can we lay out? Can we definitely expect Self Made 4 in 2020?

That’s without a doubt.

Rick Ross solo?

Yeah, without a doubt. That’s too easy.

Anything else?

We’re going to keep getting money. Make sure y’all go to Wingstop, get that 10 piece and that corn on the cob. Swing by Checkers, get you a champ with cheese. Ask them to cut it in half, the Rozay way. If you’re looking for rims, you can try the Corleone Forged, most definitely. And if you’re into sneakers, make sure you pick up the Way of Wades, those Rozay and D. Wade collaborations. If you’re into your hair, personal grooming, you can get the RICH by Rick Ross. We also have the body wash, the shampoo, and the conditioner. The beard oil is number one in the game. Started off at Sally’s. 2020, we’ll be in Walgreens and a few other spots. You want me to keep going? 

And the Lizzo collab?

You know what, Lizzo? If Lizzo let me take her to Wingstop, I’ma do a Lizzo collab. I’ma put the music together and the vibe because I love her. She’s beautiful. She’s so confident. She’s sexy. And she’s a winner.