S. Samuel
Southern rap star Rick Ross opens up about his motivation behind striking first during his infamous feud with 50 Cent two years ago in the new issue of RESPECT magazine.
Speaking with renowned rap journalist Elliott Wilson, Ross justified going after the “bully” in 2009.
“It boiled down to what really was going on. It wasn’t nothing at the time that was personal against 50 Cent, but he was attacking people, and began attacking people closer and closer to me, to a point where I had to make a decision. I felt I was gonna be next on that list. So I took the offensive.” (RESPECT)
Ricky Rozay also pointed out why he struck first before allowing 50 an opportunity to get at him on wax.
“N*ggas gotta study history. The mob bosses always get whacked at the end. Sometimes by someone of lesser value, of lesser importance, you feel me? So, on that note, you gotta understand there’s always n*ggas that’s willing to make that sacrifice on some real sh*t. When you really step out there, and you want to get into some sh*t, you’ve got to be on your A-game. My goal is to deliver hit records. But don’t get it mistaken, we are the muscle–we are the muscle.” (RESPECT)
Last summer, Ross spoke on moving past his issues with 50.
“That’s the beauty of art,” Ross told us. “You can take it and channel it any way you want to. Of course, I realize I put a lot of pollution out there as well that I wouldn’t this year. That was a part of me learning. I’ll forever be attracted to some form or fashion of war. I feel it’s competitive but at the same time, I’m focused on my numbers. I’m focused on my business. I’m focused on my brand. I wanna see other things blossom around me, versus back-and-forth with nothing. For the most part, I feel when you prioritize your business, that’s the result — that’s the advice I’ve been given for so long. I’m trying it out.” (MTV)
A month prior, 50 said he never reached out to form a truce with Ross.
“I never had a conversation with him. My focus shifted during that record. A lot of times, earlier in my career, I was competing with artists because that was what I loved about hip-hop: The idea that battling someone was necessary to defend your spot and you had to take on all challengers — so I did that constantly. No one thinks that way now and everyone looks at me like I’m the Broad Street Bully. The younger kids coming up missed that time frame, and even the conscious rap is gone too. The stuff that Common Sense and Talib Kweli and Mos Def were rhyming about. What was socially conscious and responsible about the music has been replaced by hipster kids in skinny jeans and mohawks. Of course, that’s always been around, but it was usually confined to the Village. Artists have always had the opportunity to influence the culture, but now it’s the other way around: They’re trying to look like their audience to attract their audience. Now you can’t tell the difference between a Led Zeppelin fan and a hip-hop fan.” (Los Angeles Times)
Rick Ross initiated a beef with 50 Cent in early 2009 after dropping his Deeper Than Rap single, “Mafia Music,” calling out the G-Unit rapper.
Check out some recent Rick Ross footage below:
