RICK ROSS UPDATES ON MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP, PILL DEF JAM & MORE

Rick Ross discusses his past relationship with Pill and clears up rumors about problems with Def Jam.

Rick Ross recently touched down in New York to speak on many of the topics surrounding his MMG brand. The Miami emcee spoke on former MMG affiliate Pill, his own relationship with Def Jam and more.

When asked to clear up information about Pill, Ross explained that he was only obligated to work with Pill for a year.

"When I did my label deal over at Warner, Meek Mill and Wale was who I was bringing to the table," he explained to Funk Flex during his interview. "When I sat down to do my deal, they had Pill as an artist already there. They just thought he may have needed a little work or whatever and we could've got that in with the team. So, we worked out a one year situation."

He also added that he's unsure as to what Pill's future holds but maintains that his time working with Pill has ended.

"I'm not even sure if it's still going to come out through Warner," he said of Pill's album. "I'm not really sure what final decision they made with him but the year ran its course with MMG."

Ross also cleared up rumors about any problems between him and Def Jam. He noted that there was an issue over a contract renegotiation but that "it's all love."

"Me and Def Jam [are] one hundred...Over the last year, I quadrupled my net worth," he shared, before adding that he thought they needed to take another look at his deal. Apparently, it all worked out in the end.

"It's all love," he added. "We made history together but at the same time, respect the momentum. Respect what we're doing and we're going to keep getting this paper."

BOW WOW SAYS HE HAD RICK ROSS' "STAY SCHEMIN'" BEAT FIRST

Bow Wow explains how he had the "Stay Schemin'" beat first and says Jahlil is a favorite producer of his.

Bow Wow recently spoke with Tim Westwood regarding his favorite producer and had the chance to explain the story behind the "Stay Schemin'" beat. While "Stay Schemin'" is a Rick Ross track, Bow says he had the instrumental before the MMG boss.

"Jahlil [Beats], hands down right now," he said when asked about "the hottest producers right now." This also gave him the chance to explain the story of how "Stay Schemin'" became a Ross beat.

"[Jahlil's] little brother, The Beat Bully, is the dude who did 'Schemin',' which is crazy because if you look on the blog on YouTube, I had the 'Schemin'' beat first. A lot of people don't know that. Yeah, me and Meek [Mill] was working on it in the studio. I just used the beat just for the webisode series, just to play while me and Meek was in the studio."

After using it for the webisode, The Beat Bully's instrumental landed with Ross, which Bow Wow was surprised about.

"I don't know how it reached back to Ross and them but as soon as I heard it, I just went like this [putting hands on his head]. I called him. I said, 'Yo, you gave that beat to Ross?' He was like, 'I didn't know if you was gonna use it. I thought you just used it for this...' It happens."

RICK ROSS RECORDING WITH TIMBERLAND, SPEAKING WITH DR.DRE

While Rozay puts in work in the studio with one legendary producer, he politicks with another. Rick Ross is bringing out the big guns.

Shortly after releasing his mixtape Rich Forever, Rick Ross has gone back to working on his fifth studio album God Forgives, I Don't. But now, Ross revealed on Twitter, he's recording with hitmaker Timbaland.

Recently, Timbo has produced for the likes of Lil Wayne, Drake, and T.I., but he has yet to record with Ross.

RICK ROSS TO RELEASE "RICH FOREVER MIXTAPE" ON FRIDAY

The Bawse impacts this Friday. Rick Ross is back to releasing new material, as the Maybach Music Group head has revealed that his upcoming mixtape, Rich Forever, will drop on Friday (January 6) at 3:05 PM EST.

The Bawse originally announced the title of the mixtape last week via his Twitter account.

In light of his health complications last year, Ross was forced to delay the release of his highly-anticipated upcoming studio album, God Forgives, I Don't.

The mixtape's official cover is pictured above.

CROSS RIVER STATE TO SUE RICK ROSS

Organizers of the Calabar Festival have reacted to rapper Rick Ross’ cancellation of his performance which was scheduled to take place on December 28, 2011 saying the move was unexpected and they are ‘deeply saddened’ by it.

As reported earlier, Ross’ reps had stated that they cancelled their Calabar appearance last minute, due to ‘unfulfilled contractual obligations’. But a statement released by the organizers of the Calabar Festival states that the Miami-based rapper had ‘confirmed a receipt of his entire performance fee many weeks ago’.

‘Cross River State and its agents have retained counsel in the United States to pursue their legal and monetary remedies against the artist’, the statement on their official website reads. ‘The Calabar Festival concerts raise money for many charities across Nigeria. The performance by Rick Ross was scheduled to raise significant amounts for the Destiny

Child Centre Charity’, it further reads. The show, yesterday, still went on despite Ross’ absence as fans gathered to watch the other headliners Psquare, Wizkid, Banky W, OJB Jezreel and others at the U.J Esuene stadium.

RICK ROSS CANCELS PERFORMANCE AT THIS YEAR's CALABAR FESTIVAL

American rapper, Rick Ross who has been scheduled to rock the annual Calabar festival on a night tagged Calabar Rocks Night December 28, will not be around to perform.

Superstar rapper Rick Ross has been forced to cancel a high-profile appearance in Nigeria, Africa.Rick Ross was supposed to perform during the Cross River State Calabar Christmas Festival, on December 28.

Although Rick Ross was forced to scrap several shows in October due to a pair of seizures, the rapper’s reps denied his health was the reason behind the latest cancellation.

Ross’ reps told reporters, that the Nigerian show has been cancelled due to “unfulfilled contractual obligations.”
“Rick was very excited to attend this event as it is the biggest festival in Nigeria and he is quite disappointed that he will not be performing.

Rick Ross was scheduled to perform alongside the likes of P-Square, Banky W, Wizkid, Ojb Jezreel, Stunt and Julius Agwu at the U. J. Esuene Sports Stadium.

RICK ROSS ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF NEW MIXTAPE

Ricky Rozay precedes his upcoming album "God Forgives, I Don't" with a free release.

Rick Ross has announced the release of a mixtape of original content preceding his delayed album God Forgives, I Don't, dropping in 2012.

The Teflon Don took to Twitter to make the announcement, writing, "Wrote an album worth of material [in South Africa]...my view was priceless." "It's Official Drop'n New Mixtape!!! #RozayNewTape," he added.

Ricky Rozay is currently prepping the release of his new album God Forgives, I Don't, which was delayed from its December release following his health crisis.

YOUNG JEEZY ADDRESSES RICK ROSS FEUD

Jeezy says he isn't "worried" about a feud with Rick Ross and thinks that "it's about the music."

The feud between Rick Ross and Young Jeezy has been ongoing. Recently, Young Jeezy spoke with MTV's RapFix about this beef, how it began and how it has continued with time. Jeezy also explained why he feels the feud is "about records."

"With rap, it's a funny thing," he said in the interview, particularly speaking about a track titled "Death Before Dishonor," which some feel fueled the flames of the feud. "You can say things, and people can take 'em the way they wanna take 'em."

According to Jeezy, this feud began with an edited video clip, one that stirred up problems between the two. However, he also added that he feels it could have been resolved with a conversation.

"I feel like the whole started thing from a clip on WorldStarHipHop, and my thing was, if I'm a boss and you a boss, let's sit down and be bosses," he explained. "You take a clip that somebody edited and run with that? What part of the game is that? I see you all the time. I ain't ever said nothing crazy like that, for you to take it like that. If you felt like that, hit me up, let's chop it up, we bosses."

He went on to add that he's heard rumors about the feud spilling over into the streets.

"I'm not worried about it. I hear things; the streets talk. I'm hearing he reaching out to [Big] Meech and trying to get him to speak bad — that's my brother," he noted, speaking of Big Meech of the Black Mafia Family. "When you're trying to bring the streets into Rap to prove a point, then you already lost. You already wrong. You separate the two, and that ain't to be played with. You've got people that lost their lives and people that are doing real time. If we gon' make music, let's just make music. Let's not bring people into a situation that got other things to think about and other things to deal with."
Still, Jeezy added that he is "cool with it" because he feels it's not personal.

"I felt like it was about the music. I felt like it was about selling records," Jeezy continued, saying they could have discussed their issues at an award show. "It's not about me and you. We could've stepped in the corner and chopped it up. That was my take on it. So right then and there, I knew it was about records, so I was cool with it."

When asked how he would feel if Ross approached him now for a conversation, he replied with the following.
"We bosses," he said. "Whatever. We bosses, bruh. I know I am. So, whatever."

MAYBACK TO STOP CAR PRODUCTION, UNPROFITABLE SINCE 2002

Hip Hop's favorite car company for the last decade says it hasn't been able to sell enough product, even with Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Russell Simmons and N.O.R.E. as customers.

Jay-Z & Kanye West's “Otis” video may have been a precursor and Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group may find itself in a bind soon. Daimler AG, the German automaker that makes Mercedes-Benz cars, has announced it is shuttering the high-end Maybach brand. Apparently, despite being popular among the Hip Hop elite, the uber-luxury cars just weren’t selling and at that, were bringing down Daimler’s bottom line. Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche was quoted as saying that Daimler hasn’t made a profit on the Maybach, which it reintroduced in 2002.

The nixing of the Maybachs, which cost north of $350,000 apiece, comes with a caveat: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will be expanded with several new models, which will come to market in 2013, several media outlets, including Bloomberg News and USA Today, have reported. The brand was “1930s-era marquee,” according to USA Today.

The new S-Class “can replace the Maybach,” Zetsche said. Mercedes will double variations of the $95,000 S-Class to six as it seeks to boost annual vehicle sales by at least 10,000 a year.

Hip Hop's elite haven't reacted yet, but it's safe to say Jay, 'Ye and MMG may address it sooner than later - perhaps in a song, even.

WALE BEGINS RECORDING THIRD ALBUM

Shortly after releasing "Ambition," the Maybach Music Group rapper announces that he's begun working on his third LP.

Although he just released his sophomore album Ambition, Wale has announced that he's begun working on his upcoming third studio LP.

Breaking the news via Twitter, the Maybach Music Group rapper said that he's already recorded two songs for the upcoming project. No additional information was revealed.

Wale's latest bowed at number two on the charts with 164,000 copies sold in its first week. To date, the LP has moved 234,000 copies.

LIL WAYNE, RICK ROSS TO PERFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA, DEC. 7

Hip hop lovers especially Young Money rapper, Lil’ Wayne’s fans in Johannesburg, South Africa are in for a treat as emerging reports have it that the rap star will perform an extra night in the city during his ‘I Am Still Music Tour’.

Initially billed to perform in the country’s three major cities – Cape Town’s Bellville Velodrome on December 7, Johannesburg’s Coca-Cola Dome on December 9 and Durban’s Wavehouse on December 11 – the star will be performing an extra night in Johannesburg on December 10.

This was as a result of an unprecedented demand for tickets after Maybach Music boss and rapper Rick Ross announced he will be joining the tour.

The promoters for the event, Canoc Productions also announced a surprise performance by an un-disclosed musical artist. Lil Wayne will be joined on stage by fellow label acts like Corey Gunz, Gudda Gudda, Mack Maine, Shannel, T-Streets and Jae Millz.

Wayne 28, is a Grammy Award-winning rapper signed to Cash Money Records. His most successful album, ‘Tha Carter III’, was released in 2008 and sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. in its first week of release.

RICK ROSS NEW RELEASE SHELVED BECAUSE OF HEALTH CONCERN

Rick Ross’ new CD "God Forgives I Don't" was supposed to drop December 13th. Even after Rick got sick and had to cancel a string of concert dates, he still insisted his music would come out on time.

But last week Rick's release date was scrubbed from the Def Jam website and pre-order information was taken down from Amazon.

“I think we’re all aware of his recent health issue, and based on some of the minor setbacks with that, we weren’t able to confirm certain opportunities, because he physically wasn’t able to deal with certain things at the time,” representatives for Ross told Billboard.com. “We want this to be his biggest album — we know it’s going to be his biggest album — so we did not want to pressure him into releasing an album based on the sake of a date.”

RESPECT YOUR ELDERS: HOW SIGNING VETERAN ARTISTS TO YOUNG LABELS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT TREND IN HIP HOP

As Curren$y builds his empire with industry vets Fiend and Mikey Rocks, DX wanted to look back at some Grammy-nominated comeback stories, some giant flops, and some cool minutia in between. Earlier this month, Curren$y signed Sir Michael Rocks of The Cool Kids to Jet Life Records.

Mikey will be joining former No Limit Records star Fiend at the fledgling label, which is primarily dedicated to free mixtape releases, spot dates and retail projects from the label's New Orleans founder and flagship artist.

To many, Curren$y and Sir Michael Rocks are of the same class of emcees. The Cool Kids were breaking into the media in 2006, the same year the former 504 Boyz emcee stepped out under a still-wet Young Money Records for "Where Da Cash At?" It was not until just two years ago that Curren$y was deemed a XXL "Freshman," but already the artist who has hopped from No Limit to

Young Money to DD172/Def Jam to Warner Brothers is assembling his own roster. The 30 year-old has signed a rapper five years his senior, and an upper-twenties "blog-rapper" peer. Is signing veterans and peers a re-emerging trend from several years ago? HipHopDX looks back to the history, triumphs and tribulations of this act.

RICK ROSS PERFORMS LIVE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE SEIZURES

The Bawse hits the stage in Texas for the first time since his health complications. Rick Ross made a triumphant return to the stage last night (November 18) at Prarie View A & M

University's Homecoming concert in Texas.The performance was Rozay's first since suffering two seziures in October. Ross later took to Twitter to give his take on the night:

Busta Rhymes, Mystikal Sign With Cash Money

Busta and Mystikal announce that they've joined the Young Money family, strengthening the already solid Cash Money roster. In a move as unexpected as it is contentious, Busta Rhymes officially signed to Cash Money on Wednesday. While details of the deal are unclear, the pioneering emcee will surely join Lil' Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj, on the Young Money roster. Fellow rapper Rick Ross congratulated Busta over Twitter on Wednesday night, to which Busta replied with praise for both Young Money and Maybach Music. The latter record label saw its own unexpected deal when Wale signed to Maybach and eventually won a top spot on the Billboard charts with his sophomore album, Ambition.

Mystikal, recently released from prison, also signed with Cash Money. The Louisiana rapper had recently been in collaboration with former Cash Money producer Mannie Fresh to release his post-prison album. In addition to joining the Young Money family, Busta Rhymes also teamed up with Google Music to release his Chris Brown-featured single "Why Stop Now."

In a move as unexpected as it is contentious, Busta Rhymes officially signed to Cash Money on Wednesday. While details of the deal are unclear, the pioneering emcee will surely join Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj, on the Young Money roster.

Fellow rapper Rick Ross congratulated Busta over Twitter on Wednesday night, to which Busta replied with praise for both Young Money and Maybach Music. The latter record label saw its own unexpected deal when Wale signed to Maybach and eventually won a top spot on the Billboard charts with his sophomore album, Ambition.

Mystikal, recently released from prison, also signed with Cash Money. The Louisiana rapper had recently been in collaboration with former Cash Money producer Mannie Fresh to release his post-prison album. In addition to joining the Young Money family, Busta Rhymes also teamed up with Google Music to release his Chris Brown-featured single "Why Stop Now."

Young Jeezy Downplays Beef With Rick Ross

The Snowman says that he isn't dwelling on whatever discrepancy there might be and is instead focusing on his album, "TM103." Young Jeezy and Rick Ross have been firing subliminal shots at one another on records over the past few months, but the Snowman doesn’t think there’s much to it. Speaking with DJ Whoo Kid, Jizzle explained that he doesn’t necessarily engage in beef and that there hasn’t been a conclusion to the spar because it never started.

“I don’t think there’s a conclusion to it, because it was really nothing to me in the beginning. I don’t need propaganda to sell my records, I never have. I always did my music. When it’s album time, people do crazy things,” he said. “I’m a real one. I don’t do beef. If there’s a problem, let’s get into it. Let’s get it done. There ain’t nothing to talk about.”

Jeezy is currently gearing up for the December 20th release of his oft-delayed album Thug Motivaiton 103: Hustlerz Ambition. The LP features guest appearances from Andre 3000, Jay-Z, Jill Scott and more.

50 Cent Downplays Rick Ross Beef, Calls It "Battling"

Fif says Ross used the situation to escalate his career over the past few years, and succeeded. 50 Cent and Rick Ross have tossed barbs at one another over the past few years, but Fif insists that it’s more of a competition between them. During an interview with MTV News, the G-Unit general explained that his beef with Ross is more of a “battle” and that his rival used it to escalate his career.

“When you look back on the motivation of it, you say, where did it start? He says it started because I looked at him the wrong way," he said, referring to an incident in 2009. "That just means he wanted to compete, he wanted to move up, he wanted to create an awareness for himself, and he did it." 50 downplayed the beef, stating that it’s more of a battle between the two along the lines of Hip Hop culture.

“Over time, if you personalize everything that is said in each competition... This is why they changed the terminology from 'battling' to 'beefing.' It was always that battling was a part of the culture; they didn't do that until Tupac and Biggie Smalls' situation," he said. "That's when it became taboo to actually mention an artist's name."

Rick Ross Stops By BET’s 106 & Park, Responds To 50 Cent’s Seizure Comments

Rick Ross was on BET’s 106 & Park tonight, discussing everything from his recent health issues to his upcoming album God Forgives, I Don’t, collaborations with Jay-Z, and more. The boss even commented on 50 Cent’s response to his seizure situation saying:

If it was genuine, I appreciate it, if that’s the case, I thank you, homie.

Whoa. Rick Ross called 50 Cent his homie! Well, that’s if 50 was genuine. Did 50 come off genuine to you? He did to us. Now…we all know it will probably never happen, but if it came to it and 50 Cent/Rick Ross squashed their beef, would you like to hear them collaborate? We sure would.

50 Cent responds to Rick Ross seizure

After Rick Ross suffered from multiple seizures today, Twitter followers of both Ross & 50 Cent tweeted Fif asking if he had any words for Rick Ross about the situation at hand. Although 50 Cent and Rick Ross’ beef traces all the way back to late ’08, early ’09… Fif answered with a mature response and kept things moving

So there you have it, Fif says that Ross needs to take care of himself & that he’s not going to pray for him but he also doesn’t wish death upon him either.

Rick Ross Blames Seizures On Sleep Deprivation, Reveals Collaboration With Jay-Z

The MMG chief says he wasn't getting enough rest on account of his hectic schedule.

Rick Ross shook the Hip Hop community when he suffered two seizures in the same day earlier this month, but he assures fans that he’s on the road to recovery. During an appearance on “106 & Park,” Ricky Rozay appeared in good spirits, explaining that his medical emergency stemmed from sleep deprivation and that he has a clean bill of health.

“What it was was I was going about my business as every day. I boarded a flight, and on the flight, I had a seizure and when I snapped out of it, they told me what had happened. I was like, you buggin', call a jet, we finna keep it moving. Because I understand me growing up and hearing about seizures, they can be violent, you bust vessels and bite your tongue up and this and that and in my case, it wasn’t none of that. I felt a little worn out, but I felt I could keep going and that’s what it was.”

He recalled getting on a second plane and having another seizure. When he awoke, he realized the source of his problems. “I boarded a jet and I had another seizure, and when I snapped out of that one, I woke up in front of a doctor and he asked me basically, ‘When was the last time you slept eight hours?’ and I said ‘It had to at least been five years.’ Being the fastest growing label in the game, it comes with a lot of sacrifices. And in my case, it was sleep. I would get two hours of sleep and keep moving, me being a hustler. And that has to stop.

“I came back totally healthy,” he added. “It was a case of me not getting enough rest, not getting enough sleep.” He also mentioned that while he was supposed to be on bed rest, he instead netted "the biggest collaboration that we've done for my album" with Jay-Z.