Rick Ross: The Supreme Grind

You can say many things about Rick Ross, but don’t deny this man’s work ethic. In roughly ten days, he is dropping his seventh solo album, Hood Billionare. Packed with guest contributions from the likes of R. Kelly, Project Pat, Yo Gotti, Big K.R.I.T., Snoop Dogg, French Montana, and many more, the 18-track bundle also marks his second ful-length offering in 2014, since he released his hugely successful Mastermind LP. In a conversation with the Breakfast Club earlier this year, Rozay explained his decision to release two albums in less than twelve months, highlighting the intention to serve his fans a full meal, “I felt like I made two albums because it was two different feelings. Mastermind was the type of album that I wanted to open up. I wanted it to have a rich feel to it…That throwback Puff feel mid-way through it. And this right here this my Geechi Liberace. Hood Billionare is just that feel good record. A lot of 808s, real bass heavy. And it’s gon’ feel different to you. So, it’s gonna feel like a full year from the boss.” An early taste came in the shape of “Moving Bass,” his latest collaboration with close friend and frequent collaborator JAY Z. If the Timbaland-produced record is any indicator, then Hood Billionare will not only be a treat for any real Rick Ross fans but also the start of the next chapter in the rise of burgeoning Maybach Music imprint, which recently added Las Vegas-rapper Yowda to its roster.

We meet the Miami native at a promotional event at DGK’s Kayo store in Los Angeles where he is also about to shoot the music video for his next single “If They Knew,” which features songstress K. Michelle. Ross and MMG have had ties with the Kayo/DGK family Eli “Gold” and Stevie Williams and are looking to strengthen this relationship with a series of events. Ross was in good vibes as graciously signed autographs and took pictures for fans and celebrities alike, even signing a pear and being a good sport about it. We spoke to him about his new record, his daily grind, his collaboration with JAY, MMG in 2015 and more.

This is your second meet and greet at the Kayo store this year involving DGK. Can you tell us how you linked up with DGK?

I’ve been a fan of the brand for the last few years. A lot of my folks back then were just rocking their stuff. So I came out here to LA to show love. I’ve always come her looking for the best weed, looking for the best hats and they were always down. They print sh*t that I like. I just love what it represented, ya dig? Shout out to Stevie [Williams] and the whole click. Other than that I’m just doing what I do best, stayin’ fly.

For sure, now in regards to your new album that’s dropping, how did this all play out with respect to your Mastermind album that dropped less than a year ago? Is there any concerns of perhaps oversaturating the market?

Yeah, it definitely was on the back of my mind. I even mentioned it in a few interviews back when I was promoting Mastermind. I think we have to keep the culture exciting and we have to keep it fun. We gotta do different things and I just think it’s dope, it’s live, nah mean? This is what we should be doing. Let’s keep producing and let’s keep making dope music.

Makes sense. There’s a nice contrast of old and new school features on this Hood Billionaire project which is quite interesting. Aside from the JAY Z feature, the Project Pat was one the names that stuck out to me, can you tell us how it was working with Pat?

Me working with Project Pat, I just felt that was a move within itself. You know, being from the South. It just says a lot about where I’m at right now. My sh*t ain’t just about what’s current and who’s poppin’. I can go back and collaborate with legends like Three-6, Juicy J and Project Pat. You will want them to bring out new albums after you listen to the album.

And how was it working with JAY Z on “Moving Bass?”

That’s just my big homie. When we’re in the lab together, we get it in. Shout out to Timbaland on the boards! When we were in the studio for Magna Carta, we had visions of just keeping our ties, us just keepin’ making music together. So we back and it’s some street shit.

So it appears you’ll be shooting your “If They Knew” video at Kayo?

Yeah, we are actually just wrapping it up right now. A few days ago, I shot “Trap Luv” (featuring Yo Gotti) in Miami. Shout out to Yo Gotti, another southern guy, he’s a future icon, ya dig? This video is just going back to our roots. It’s a special video to me. You know, this is Rick Ross and I could make my budget as big as I want, but I wanted it to be on the f*ckin’ roof of DGK and Kayo. You know? And I wanted it in a laundromat and on f*ckin’ 18th street, you know what I’m saying? That’s what it was about, that’s the feeling that I wanted to present. It was all love.

Speaking of feeling, what song on the album means the most to you?

“If They Knew,” the song we’re shooting the video for now is one of them. Also my collaborations with JAY, with Snoop… you know, it’s what you want. It’s hard to express the passion because when I make a record, I make it with everything that I feel inside of me. I always try to give my best. If I had to name the difference between latest two projects, I’d say Mastermind was espresso and Hood Billionaire is cocaine.

What’s the music rollout looking like in 2015 for MMG?

We have huge plans. Biggest roster in the game! Meek Mill will be home soon. When he gets home, the streets are going to shut down, you know what I’m sayin? We are all just screamin’ Meek Mill, but it won’t be long and the sh*t that we want to hear from him will drop soon. The new music is going to keep this shit in a choke. As well as Wale’s new album, Stalley just released Ohio, make sure y’all go pick that up. Most definitely, get ready for Self Made 4… French cookin’ up too.

Any final words?

Shout out to HYPETRAK, HYPEBEAST and everybody that’s out there hustlin’. Grind till you can’t.