By K.B. Tindal
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Understand, no disrespect is meant toward Rick Ross or Maybach Music. Still, just one question, where is Rick Ross? Back in 2010, Rick Ross said he was the hottest rapper in the game and he lived up to it with his releases. Rick Ross dropped anthems such as “BMF” and “Aston Martin Music,” he made the game believe what he said.
Early in 2011, Rick Ross set the stage for his God Forgives, I Don’t album and his new roster at Maybach Music. Helping to reintroduce Wale and Meek Mill to the game, Rick Ross appeared on all of their songs. His leadership was comparable to that of Jay-Z and he made sure the whole world knew who he was.
Even when Rick Ross was forced to delay his album in 2012 after suffering from his late 2011 seizures, he continued going hard. When 2012 came, Rick Ross dropped his infectious single, “Stay Schemin,'” and the Rich Forever mixtape. Dropping nothing but the hottest music, Rick Ross was the hottest rapper in the game.
Check that last sentence, WAS is the keyword, as Rick Ross broke the door down with 10 million downloads on Rich Forever, which should have been an indication of God Forgives, I Don’t‘s record sales. This ended up not being the case, Rick Ross dominated all of 2011 and the first half of 2012. But, after Self Made 2 was released, Rick Ross seemingly disappeared from the spotlight even though his single, “Diced Pineapples,” did well.
Rick Ross is currently playing the background role, as a true boss does, while his MMG artists, such as Stalley, Gunplay, Wale, and Meek Mill absorb the spotlight. But, if anyone paid attention to the promotional run Wale did for The Gifted, he spent most of his time promoting alongside Jay-Z and his Roc Nation family. Meek Mill has also taken the training wheels off and his making his moves solo, as if Gunplay and Stalley.
Of course, Rick Ross is still collecting his checks and he remains a force in the game, but where is he? For his efforts in 2012, Rick Ross was named number three in MTV’s Hottest MCs in the Game earlier this year. Based on what he has done this year, would Rick Ross even make this list. Early this year, Rick Ross made the major announcement about the Mastermind album coming, but when will the world get an update about this album?
With Self Made 3 coming in less than a month, Rick Ross is not doing the promotion he was on the previous two albums. Unfortunately, most of Rick Ross’ buzz is coming from the “U.O.E.N.O.”/Reebok controversy. So, with Rick Ross’ domination in the game seemingly ending and his artists spreading their wings, has Rick Ross fallen off?
Follow K.B. Tindal on Twitter @KBTindal.
