Rick Ross is set to drop his eighth full-length studio album Black Market Friday and of course, the MMG Boss continues to wet people’s appetites until release. This means causing a greater stir by taking shots at Lil Wayne, Drake, and Diddy on “Color Money.” Produced by D.Rich, the track was allegedly inspired by Plies run-in with an angry fan that ended up making the internet rounds several months ago. Is it an effective diss or does it go the way of Meek Mill’s “I Just Wanna Know?” With that in mind, we have DX Features Editor Andre Grant and Senior Features Writer Ural Garrett deliver their thoughts on Rozay’s gorilla chest thump.
Does Rozay Get His Point Across On “Color Money?”
https://youtu.be/lz8Y1LVWAXk
Andre: Like any good leader, Ross has stepped out in front to defend his comrades from rap-harm. He’s late, in Meek’s case, and seemingly attacking Lil Wayne out of nowhere makes little sense, but Rozay rarely allows what’s happening to color what he wants to happen, so there’s that. That said, there are two lines of real note here: “‘My lil homie made a million on his girl tour / We back to back and down to whack a nigga unborn” and “So run Forrest got some shooters and they dying too / I got more money than that pussy that you signed to.”
To be clear, according to Forbes, Lil Wayne is worth about at least 3 times what Ross is worth at 100-million-plus to 28 million. And I’m not sure about the “run Forrest” line because Drake seems like a hyper-aware super villain of the Internet, clouding our thoughts with catchy, emotionally resonant lyrics, all the while running up on his former partners in Houston if that kind of thing is to be believed. We’re not sure if Meek made a million on Nicki’s tour, either, and I’m also not sure how to feel about whacking someone’s unborn. I mean, damn, that’s harsh Ross. Let’s leave the innocents out of this. As far as short form disses go, this doesn’t rank up there with the greats like Jay Z’s, “I’m about a dolla / What the fuck is 50 Cent?” Nor does it compete with LL’s “99 percent of your fans don’t exist” line from his epic comeback against Canibus. But it does the job. As a retort to one of the biggest, most powerful emcees in the game it’s measured but still fairly venomous. As a stepping in on his artist’s behalf, it’s a nice gesture.
Look, personally, I think Meek can take care of himself just fine. I don’t think he’s down for the count forever and I don’t think either “Charged Up” or “Back To Back” were lethal enough to end anyone’s career. Especially since “Hotline Bling” has everyone talking about that track and not the befuddled non-comebacks, Funk Flex reference tracks that mysteriously disappeared, and the latent dime dropping by DJ Drama’s former other half. What we can conjecture is that MMG is gearing up to throw some disses at the Cash Money and OVO star, and maybe this warning shot was the beginning of that setup. Meek does have a mixtape coming out soon, and Wayne needs a kick to get the fires back burning.
And, of course, that little shot at the end too, Puff. I caught that too. Ross has been talking greasy for a while now, and I look forward to more shenanigans and hopefully some good enough out of the bawse.
Ural: Since God Forgives, I Don’t, there’s been an utter inconsistency with Rick Ross’ musical output as Mastermind and Hood Billionaire sort of just came and went without much notice. Despite how solid his Black Dollar mixtape was, seems like it didn’t help traction with the upcoming Black Market album. Meanwhile, one of your top recruits earns 2015’s most embarrassing moment by getting “bodied by a singing nigga.” So, what does he do to build buzz for what’s possibly another subpar album? Ross accomplishes that goal through sending shots at the nearly impenetrable fortress of Drake and his mentor/label boss Lil Wayne. Being completely honest, it’s fairly understandable why “I Just Wanna Know” sucked so badly. “Color Money” doesn’t even feel like a diss record, but more of a failed defensive measure. Like Meek Mill’s failed diss, this also comes a little too late.
Making lame references to Drizzy’s “Back To Back” or even that one hilarious Plies situation where the Florida-native yelled the titular phrase before being body slammed are confusing deflections at most. Then there are the technical aspects of “Color Money.” Rozay spits in this weird cadence that fights the fairly lackluster production. Great diss records should be clear, concise, understandable and flat out disrespectful. “Color Money” didn’t have either as it doesn’t work as an effective diss nor standalone track. Plus, it’s fairly difficult taking any threat from Rick Ross serious considering his well-publicized background. Forget Drake and Weezy though. What’s up with the “Balling more than Puffy and em” line considering the Ciroc king served as executive producer for his last two albums? At best, it’d be nice to hear a response from any of the targets.
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
Ural Garrett is a Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX’s Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at large, he’s in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @Uralg.
He was clearly going at Drake and Birdman… Not Wayne.
Exactly!
Fu#k rick ross
Rick Ross is out of his fucking mind if he thought taking shots at Lil Wayne,Drake, and Diddy all on the same track was a good idea. Seriously Drake bodied Meek Mill during their beef embarrassing not only himself but all of MMG. How it seems like Rick Ross is gonna be stupid stupid and end up embarrassing MMG even more!
Are you dumb?…. We balling hard than Puffy them (meaning, he tryna ball harder than puffy did in the 90’s, a respect to Puff doing it big). Learn how to interpret lyrics. Wasn’t no Puffy diss. And he was talking about Lil wayne, it was Birdman. And the two lines at Drake were jabs, not a diss. If he talked about him the whole song, then it would be a diss
Funny how they say Ross is fake and was a cop now but drake fans had no problem with him on drake tracks…anysmh bandwagon fans foreal!!!!
This shit bang! Fuck what you thought!
how can anyone even defend this? I like Rick Ross and I like Drake but this is a bad look for Meek Mill and Maybach. You need to others to defend you? You supposed to be a gangsta and a battle rapper and you got creamed by the “softest rapper” in the game? Then, you get your label boss to defend you cuz u cant? Drake dont need to respond. He already won twice now
Its so funny how u dudes still think rick ross is real a former C.O rapping someone else life the real rick ross i bet all these rick ross fans r police too but now he’s about to get body by the singing nigga
All ya niggas on her probably was born in the late 90’s early 2000’s talking about what’s hip hop or not first of all the half nigga drake only had two hot lines on either diss tracks and yeah meek shit was lame as well but damn in war there are many battles fought until the side who’s left standing decide the winner of said war, Nas and Jay-Z beef! Every time they opened their mouth fire came out, fuck a meme I’m about hard hitting actually factual lyrics, that’s why the half nigga out here getting big for no reason, I know a pussy when I see one, and I know pussy whip when here him, meek get back to you bruh.
Well said Brother!!! Two thumbs up!
Ross isn’t dissing lil Wayne he’s dissing birdman
Also it was a jab at drake to im not a ross fan but im glad he did it ro much buddy buddy shit in hip hop.
I KNOW THAT NIGGA PILL IS SOMEWHERE SAYING “I TOLD YOU MMG IS SOME BITCHASSNIGGAZZ” ….. THE FALL OF AN EMPIRE THAT NEVER WAS…. #BITCHMADEGENERATION
Ok… If you thought that Rick Ross diss track was good, I seriously question your understanding of hip hop and what makes a good diss. That shit was WEAK, bottom line. The shit he said wasn’t particularly creative (or, in the case of the “I’m richer than Wayne” diss, true; but what do you expect from Rick Ross?), the beat sounded like a 504 Boyz rip-off, and the diss was about two months too late. This was overall extremely corny and uninspired. Not a good look.
Pssssst…..Mr Rick Ross
PUT THE MIC DOWN — NOW!!!!!
First! I dislike Rick Ross for a lot of reasons. Truthfully I do! That being said… Andre Grant: You said, “To be clear, according to Forbes, Lil Wayne is worth about at least 3 times what Ross is worth at 100-million-plus to 28 million.” Right? Well besides looking up a Forbes article, hasn’t your site repeatedly discussed Lil Wayne having money/ tax problems? Maybe that is what Rick is alluding too. Also when has it become to late for anyone to attack in hiphop. Maybe Officer Ross knows something you don’t know or better yet maybe something happen to make him say what we had to say. In one breath your asking why does Meek need Rick to fight his battles but you have the nerve to question Officer Rick’s lyrics towards Drake? Why not let Drake respond and you fall back and observe what is going on? Why are you trying to set the narrative in one artist favor? Your unwavering loyalty to Drake is remarkably noticeable and sad. Oh, one more nugget for you to swallow. This sentence you wrote… “I’m also not sure how to feel about whacking someone’s unborn. I mean, damn, that’s harsh Ross.” I am confused as to why in the blue hell you would say that sentence? Are you for real bro? When did Hip-hop start having PC Police?!? That’s Crazy! As for Ural Garrett, that guy has nothing of value to say ever. He doesn’t know real hiphop so I can’t get upset at someone who doesn’t know better.
You’re going to have to learn how to distinguish your from you’re bro. And hush your pussy. It’s his personal opinion
Nah brother I don’t need to worry about that, you should hush “your” pussy child! Personal opinion aside, people writing articles should not push an agenda and try to sway personal opinion.
Oh! I forgot to add… The Track was pretty dope for it being a Ross song. Two thumbs up! Stay Honest My Friends! Peace!
Maaaaaaaaaan I don’t even like Rick Ross and i can see how corny and weird this attempt is to pick up Drake’s dick and hold it for him. SMH Weirdos. They sound like they on Drake payroll
Nigga gassed up now popin shit like that,let’s see what happens when one of the names he was popin shit about catch his fat ass,,I’m sure he not fast lol…
MMG is the most bitchass label in the history of hip-hop. They do not have 1 top shelf rapper. Rick Ross and all his boss bullshit is as real as slim Jesus. Meek got hoed the fuck out by Drake!! Meek made Drake look like the realest nigga since PAC by comparison, and drakes a singing faggot pop star thats being propped up by the industry, and can’t even write those super basic bars he spits.
Follow Cher Lloyd on Instagram @cherlloyd
Fuck Young Money
You guys posted an interview with him clearing stating his beef with birdman and that line with puff is more of a shout out, you guys are either idiots or there is bad communication among your staff
I agree. He clearly stated that he was referring to birdman and then the Puff thing is such a reach; “we balling more than puff” …. ohhh….. diss…. beef….. gtfoh…. These “journalists” or whatever the hell they call themselves are so consistently bad at what they do and super irresponsible with their claims. What they should do is a review on themselves for every time they’ve said some dumb shit and not retracted it…. there’s an idea.
Rick Ross and his weak ass cocaine raps , he’s a bawse, he got more keys than officer c.O. Ricky. When he got exposed and those c.o. pictures hit the web allegedly he said they were photoshopped. Fool please no one believes you. And you stole the OG freeway Rick Ross name and lifestyle. What you should have done is steal 2chains old rap name, that would be more actual… “TITTIBOY”.
I want a responds from Drake and watch their reaction. Let’s put real diss records out here. #JayZTakeover #NasEther
Fuck Drake
That little sissy Drake can breath on a track and all the dragz,women and dudes who get beat up jump on his meat.And its a whole lot of them in his huge fan base so its a loose n loose situation..