When Rick Ross sat down for an interview with The Breakfast Club on Monday (July 25), host Angela Yee asked the Maybach Music Group head honcho about possibly bringing women into the MMG family. His answer, while not exactly shocking, was still a sobering outlook on how he views female rappers. Around the 8:45-minute mark, he essentially admits he wouldn’t be able to keep his dick in his pants and with the money he’d invest in her career, would expect sex in exchange.
“You know, I never did it because I always thought, like, I would end up fucking a female rapper and fucking the business up,” Ross said. “I’m so focused on my business. I just, I gotta be honest with you. You know, she looking good. I’m spending so much money on her photo shoots. I gotta fuck a couple times.”
While undeniably crass, it paints a sad portrait of how women are often viewed in the Hip Hop space. So, with that said — let’s just get it out of the way. I’m a white woman from Omaha, Nebraska who writes about Hip Hop. And yes, my name is Kyle. I have interviewed everyone from De La Soul, Macklemore and Tyler, The Creator to Ice-T and Ice Cube. I’ve worked for Public Enemy’s mastermind Chuck D for the past six years. I write for Thrasher Skateboard Magazine, yes that Thrasher — the one that’s been covering skateboard culture for over 30 years.
I penned The Source cover on Prince shortly after his passing in 2016. That issue made its way into the hands of Questlove and Spike Lee who both posted it on Instagram. (Maybe you’ve seen them.)
Despite my credentials, I’m routinely looked at like some groupie hanging out backstage or someone mistaken for the merch girl. Since I started writing, especially in the Hip Hop realm, I’ve always felt like I’m expected to establish my right to have a voice in the culture or immediately squash the idea that I’m there to hook up with one of the artists.
Accurate depiction of actual groupies & a journalist simply trying to get a story as portrayed in the film Almost Famous.
Now that I’m married, it doesn’t happen as much as it used to, but a couple of occasions are permanently burned into my brain. One in particular taught me a valuable lesson. I used to book a lot of shows when I lived in New Mexico. I was once offered a door deal for a prominent Hip Hop legend, so naturally I took it. But the manager’s intentions were made clear when I found him in his boxers in my bed. After I snuck out and fell asleep at my neighbor’s apartment, I was lectured for an hour the next morning about how I should have “just been honest” about how I felt towards him. (Uh, I thought this was business.) After I got involved in a relationship, suddenly that artist’s guarantee went up to $10,000 the next time I inquired about booking him.
But let’s get back to Ross. This isn’t the first time his words have raised a few eyebrows. In 2013, he was heavily criticized for his lyrics on the Rocko track, “U.O.E.N.O.,” in which he described drugging a woman’s drink and taking her home.
“Put Molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it,” he rapped.
In a tweet, Ross later explained he doesn’t “condone rape” and the controversy was due to a misinterpretation of the words. “Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape. #BOSS,” he said.
“I feel like us being artists, that’s our job to clarify the sensitive things and the things that we know really need to be clarified, such as a situation like this,” he later told Rolling Stone.
Ross’ latest comments make it painfully obvious women are still terribly undervalued and continually hyper-sexualized in all areas of the music business. Yeah, that isn’t a big secret, but for Mr. Rozay to be so blatant about it is concerning.
One, does that mean there are no women working at MMG? Two, if there are, how safe do they feel in light of his comments? Three, how is a woman supposed to follow her dreams of being a serious artist or in my case, journalist, if we’re always looked at like another sexual conquest or vapid, obsessed fan?
We know how Rick Ross feels.
If he’s this brazen about it, how many others out there are thinking like him? The pervasiveness of this train of thought is not only repulsive but also dangerous. At this point, it seems like it’s on other men to call out potentially toxic rhetoric from other men — lord knows we’ve tried.
Great piece, good of you to stand up for the cause instead of solely vilifying the person who said it. Hopefully this opens dialogue and people’s minds. Much love to the femcees
Thank You! For saying all that I wanted to say. It’s like half hiphop heads are ignorant as fuck and support the misogyny and the other half is like you and me and has a brain.
21st Century: The age of awwww hell nah! Done with misogyny.
That was real af…not only Hip Hop related, but needed to be said regardless.
THANK YOU HIPHOPDX AND KYLE for writing this super, super important piece of editorial. Hip Hop is supposed to be this socially and politically conscious vehicle for change while still being plagued by crazy amounts of misogyny and homophobia. We as a culture have got a LONG WAY TO GO. Need more Kyle’s fighting the good fight out there.
DIRTY COP!!!! SMH!!!!
This just goes to show the mindset of the ppl in those positions. No surprise considering all the misogynistic lyrics in most hip hop/ r&b songs. But imo the worst part is that the ppl that bump and recite the shit the most seems to be women. But idk thats just what ive seen/heard.
Right?! I think of all the times Ive sung along back in the day as a kid and then you grow up and actually HEAR the lyrics in an adult mindset. Shows how ignorance makes the rounds, victim to the bass.
Take this SJW feminist bullshit outta here!
Why? Does a woman with a brain scare you?
@YourPenosIsTiny – no, a female with a brain doesnt scare me. A female with a brain that doesnt understand context, sarcasm, humor, or irony scares me. The writer of this “article” missed the point when she attempted to compare apples to oranges and attempt to stretch her point to fit a certain agenda. And simps like you fall for the trap. Men and women are objectified equally. Please stop your bloodclot whining. Thx
Really? Men and Women are objectified equally? What fucking rock have you been living under? They don’t use scantilly clad MEN to sell fucking hamburgers at Carl’s Jr. You must sit in your house all day stuffing your face with edibles while trolling hip hop blogs, because you’re obviously completely out of touch with reality and popular culture if you think that’s true. Either that, or you just don’t know what objectified means.
This happens to every nice looking female artist in the industry!! At least Ross had the ball to tell the truth!!!
And here we go. Part of the problem part one.
I ain’t never seen so many bitter ass dudes in my life. I joke about being a caveman and I’m serious about not being a sucker for these broads.. but if a chick holds me down I’mma do the same once she proves her loyalty, and you don’t treat a solid chick the same way you treat the jump off either. Some of y’all dudes talk like y’all on some straight woman hater shit, or you trying too hard to be a player because you don’t have any natural swag about yourself. Ross is just another fool who hates hoes because he couldn’t get one before he was rich.
WTF are you talking about? It’s funny the way you talk…you’re probably a white kid from Simi Valley who studied urban dialect from a distance just so he could post comments like this….all “swagged” out and shit. What “bitter ass dudes” are you talking about? Nobody asked about your personal dating policy anyways.
Actually no I’m not white and I’ve spent time in the hood while you computer thugs type about it. Know what else I am? A cat that can tell the difference between a cool dude and a pretender. You like most people here try too hard and the more you talk the more you show you don’t get laid very often.
Oh wow how fucking juvenile are you? “I get laid more than you”….are we in junior high? You’re obviously a fucking white ass mark, saying shit like “I’ve spent time in the hood” On what? A school field trip to the compton zoo? GTFOH with your fake ass. STOP FRONTING.
Ross made himself millions off somebody else’s name and rep. lies about his past. Got fast food chains. Made good investments. Then says some Shit like this. He’s a smart dummy.
I don’t give a fuck about your sob story shut up
Nobody gives a fuck if you give a fuck so shut up, troll. This piece is brilliant and isn’t anything close to a sob story. Don’t hate just because your IQ is too damn low to comprehend the depth of the words written above. Should’ve just let people think you’re stupid rather than speak and remove all doubt.
cry more
Be a dick more. Who’s crying?
But I bet she raps along with sexist, misogynistic, calling women bitches rap songs without thinking twice.
No, actually I don’t.
Ok DUDE
Came up with that one ALL by yourself?
What reminding a tranny that thinks its a woman that its a man and will never be anything else? Its fun even funner if its a woman who just looks like a tranny so either way a win
We’ll make sure to attend your third grade graduation next year young chap. Yeah…because a smart and thoughtful woman has a typically male (albeit actually dope for a girl) name, she’s totally a tranny. You probably know all about trannies. I remember when I had my first beer.
The tone of the article leans toward the opposite of what you’re saying.
I don’t see what the big deal is, he has his right to his opinion. I appreciate the honesty. He’s not some politician. And there’s a TON of women who could care less. What just because the writer thinks she’s had it tough, we’re supposed to rally behind her? And oh boy you stoop to the level of bringing up his ‘UOENO’ line from years ago. It was a clever line that made sense for the song. He’s not a rapist, so he wasn’t thinking it all the way thru. But he paid (millions in lost endorsements with Reebok and others) for his mistake. He doesn’t sign female acts and he gave his reason, although you may not agree with it, it’s his company and HIS money FOH
Yes women are hypersexualized in hip hop But I would ask Kyle where are they Not?lol. Movies, TV, Other genres. Shit the morning news, with their Traffic and Weather reporters. Sex sells!
If you been involved with the culture so long you should understand the culture. The culture is built on poverty, and ignorance! The culture is based on us speaking on ghetto shit be it bad or good. Im fucking sick of people trying to turn a ghetto art into pop culture and whats acceptable to the massses! Fuck the masses! Where were you when when didnt have hip hop and people were fucked up and struggling? Im 47 and grew up in the culture. At my age when i hear certain shit if its overboard i just move on from it. I was so mad at Rozay for trying to explain himself about that verse on Rocko’s song to satisfy sponsors. Fuck all of these white writers , liberals, conservatives and anyone else who didnt have anything to write about before these young black men and women made something out of nothing! Fuck em!
So now it is a race issue? You don’t think that black women journalists are also standing up for themselves too since the 1980s in hip hop? Go look up Dee Barnes and the Poetess and have yourself a nice evening.
You sir, are fucking idiot.
HipHop Culture was NEVER about ignorance. It was about knowlege of self and elevating your community mentally and spiritually out of that poverty and ghetto. Making excuses for Ross’s ignorance is exactly what holds the culture back and keeps it dumb. It’s the equivalent of the term “hater” keeping people from hearing real, constructive critcism. You may be 47, but you damn sure have yet to grow the fuck up if you think this type of shit is acceptable behavior. Maybe Ross should hire your mama or sister and then you can see how you’d feel about the remarks he makes. What you deem “the culture” is truly and actually the lack of. HipHop has never been about dumbing shit down and disrespecting women at it’s core. Just the opposite in fact.
You are clearly male and don’t see why it NOT ok through the eyes of a woman. I don’t care for Ross and now I certainly know I don’t.
“Where were you when when didnt have hip hop and people were fucked up and struggling?”
Um we didnt have the internet and mass ways of connecting aka hearing quotes like this. So yeah we’ve been here, we just couldn’t connect on this level.
“when i hear certain shit if its overboard i just move on from it”: Um not for women being constantly belittled. Not ok! Its adding up over the decades and women WANT?NEED/DESERVE RESPECTTTTTTTTT.
Im sick of the MEN that belittle women and sexualize everything. There is no more room for ignorance in the 21st century. Get versed people. As well, every expletive is just a window into your ignorance.
You’re 47, grow up and attempt dialog that makes you come off less ignorant.
The days of joining a label like a powerhouse team and expecting a huge payday are long gone anyways. How many MMG artists are eating big like Ross, like OVO with Drake, like TDE with Kendrick and so on?
That’s a terrible reason not to sign a female rapper. He could have just been honest and said they’re all wack.
Idk Snow Tha Product is kinda dope
So are Banks & Young MA
Respect to Kyle. You’ve earn a new fan and I look forward to reading from you. Keep fighting the good fight!
Rick ross is a moron and a walking stereotype. Nothing he says should represent the black male. With that being said female rappers are not the best role models. The last great one we had was Lauyren Hill. There’s a reason the industry wanted her gone. There’s a reason Nicki Minaj is running around half naked and selling sex more than she’s selling music. There’s a reason this website promotes that same BS and negative nonsense. Ross isn’t the problem, he’s just a representative of the poison’s product.
Your whack and no nothing about hip-hop. Learn to spell the woman’s name and stop acting like you’re a saint. Go listen to folk music pussy
It’s “know”, genius. It’s also, “you’re whack” as is YOU ARE WHACK for not knowing how to spell either.
Learn to spell yourself if you gonna try to drag someone else over it. Clown.
why is fat fraud givin any attention whatsoever? needs to die and be buried face down, so those he’s fucked can repay him. dude sellin jokleys and bolex gets more respect.
“Ross’ latest comments make it clear that women are still terribly undervalued and continually hypersexualized in all areas of the music business” Yeah, because Rozay speaks for everyone in the music business lmao foh
Riiiight because Ross is the only one to ever mention what they’d do to “your bitch” in rap songs. Sit down.
Turning this into a race issue….You are all fucking pathetic. This is about misogyny in hip hop. What Ross has said is a fucking disgrace.
So any woman he works with he has to fuck? He has no self-control? lol. Jesus Christ! You clowns know you came from a woman, right? Let’s hope you never have a daughter.
Right when she wrote “I’m a white woman from Omaha, Nebraska who writes about Hip Hop. And yes, my name is Kyle” I stopped reading. What does a white woman from Omaha know about hip-hop? Hip-hop DX is a joke for bringing in a white lady to write this. A black woman couldn’t have written this?! Go stick to rock or country, hip-hop isn’t your thing you bland, no culture having appropriator. Don’t try to create an issue that doesn’t exist.
Your attitude is the same one that contributes to a company owner or member of management coming across a resume with the name “Jamal” and promptly tossing it int he garbage without further reading and excusing it as “he doesn’t belong working here, go sell drugs or something”. You youngsters really need to think before you speak (or type in this instance). Not only did you not state anything worth considering you also pretty much proved her article right when it comes to your pathetic mentality. Anyone can disagree, it’s a free country but your post contained no sensible argument or any sort of an intelligent point. Simply angry rambling due to the fact you can’t muster up a real response. When you attach the author and not the issue it’s a clear sign that you feel your beliefs have been completely exposed. Good luck to you learning how to actually interact with other humans.
Been saying this shit for years…black people don’t have a problem with discrimination, they have a problem with discrimination against blacks and thats it. They don’t have a problem with slavery, they have a problem with black slavery…they just as fake and phony as the people they criticize.
Remember this statement next you are victim of marginalization or stereotypical generalizations. #congratulations, you played yourself.
When UOENO rock is also black music. Dummy.
Black people can’t read
Obviously a hell of a lot. Believe it or not, a lot of the most knowledgeable journalists in hip-hop are….guess what? NOT BLACK…holy shit the culture is going to come to a fucking end!! The fact that she is the odd (wo)man out in the culture is exactly wtf the article is about so if it was a black woman or whatever writing it, the thesis of the piece would be less potent. I shouldn’t expect your tiny little peanut brain to be able to comprehend such wildly intricate concepts though (sarcasm…it’s actually really simple).
The issue does exist. You see there are some female artist responding to this and yeah NOT in Ross’ favor.
You sound so narrow and truly trite.
And yet Rick Ross issued an apology a day after this came out. Why are you so angry? Is that how you think? You also could not sound more narrow minded, so I’ll give you that. Good job!
But WHAT does this article have to do with making me a sandwich??
You’re only telling half the story chum….yes Too many whites voted!….. and not enough blacks
Dave if Rick Ross is your idea of a black role model then it’s time to top off the prescription again….”disparages” lol cute….she wrote an article on what dude said and didn’t take anything out of context. If you don’t like the content talk to your boy Ricky about not sounding so damn stupid when he talks.
When you illustrate precisely the same simple mindedness described in the article…but U.O.E.N.O. it.
Your name is KYLE and you’re allegedly a female? The f*ck? Lmfao! Slap your parents for the rest of us!
NO thanks, how about we just slap you. KYLE is a dope ass name for a girl. Would you rather it be Kylie? Or some cornball ass shit like Tiffany or Ashley? GTFOH with that nonsense.
FOH, Kyle! Got you out here posting under anonymous user names, up-voting yourself. Lmfao! Got a twin sister named Keith and a brother named Beth. Lmfao! “Thinking outside the box.” No! Your parents wanted a boy! Swing and a miss, Kyle!
Your ignorance is blinding. And clearly I’m commenting under my own name.
Actually, I thank my parents for not being conventional, close minded people and thinking outside the box, not going with Sarah or Amber. So thanks!
Thats a terrible thing to say. You’ll regret your trolling one day. Feel sad for you.
And hey Kyle, I like your name for a girl.
Ignore these pety hacks.
AINT NO NERD.
Of course you can….it’s a free country and societies and cultures have evolved over time since the beginning of man, the hell are you talking about rook?
Lol.. Omaha Nebraska.. foh you ain’t a true hip hop head you just think the music sound cool.. there’s a bunch of rappers that got me through life
“Sitting at the table, planning and plug the fan in
Let the sweat dry off and then grab your cannon”- Styles p
Unless you was banging, starving or jus tryna keep the lights on… YOU’LL NEVER FULLY UNDERSTAND this hip hop shit..
BTW sex sells..ask hugh hef. . Sex sold before rap started
As someone that came from not having much I understand what you’re saying regarding the fact that not everyone will understand/appreciate the culture the same way. HOWEVER, if it wasn’t for how wide spread and accepted hip hop is (even in Omaha) in popular culture it wouldn’t of been around long enough to save anybody. Like it or not middle class white teens who’s parents had disposable income are the ones that propelled this industry to where it is today. And I am definitely not saying they are owed anything because they are not. I’m just making the point whats it matter where they are from? One way or another we support this culture because we connect to it in our own way. I actually like the fact that we can be different in a world filled divisiveness and still have the little things that connect us. No one here is attacking hip hop but rather starting a conversation that could be constructive. Clearly that’s not something you are interested in. Perhaps you have your own reason for wanting to demean women and silence their voices with dismissive (rather that making an actual point). The real question is why are you so hard (no pause, cause you are) on supporting this type of attitude/behavior and trying to make it the basis of your culture? Sure misogyny exist in hip hop but I do not believe it is a founding pillar it must stand on. Yet for some reason you do. You read a girls article on her concerns about how women are portrayed and you basically stated that’s the way it should be. Why? Lord knows, maybe mommy should of hugged you more….whatever it is you’re harboring I’d move on, or at least be smart enough to know when you’re stupid on a subject and not post. Like you should of done here. So funny to see dudes that need to put others down to be able to keep their heads high.
ps. just liking a Styles P bar dont make you a G, grow up kiddo
You’re an idiot and completely missed the point of the article. And if you think someone from Nebraska can’t comprehend hip-hop…well then you’re the dense one, not the misses from Nebraska. Obviously Chuck D respects her dedication and knowledge of the culture enough to hire her. You’re probably threatened by a woman with a brain, who probably knows more about this shit than you or any of your homies. And this shit has zero to do with sex selling.
“Obviously Chuck D respects her dedication and knowledge of the culture ” – Chuck D is a self described communist propagandist. Get that bullshit out of here.
I CAN USE CAPITAL LETTERS! LOOK IM MAKING A POINT.
Also, I pretty sure part of working is always to keep the lights on and keep from starving, genius.
Nice attempt, bro.
What the fuck is the big deal?
Its demeaning. Someone won’t take a chance on you for your actual talent bc he can’t be professional and control his pup tent? BS.
Shit is crazy af to me that there is anyone on Earth that doesn’t agree with this author. The fact that people argue about and think objectifying women and being sexist and misogynistic is actually cool and not a problem is absolutely fucking nuts. There’s one single and definite way to figure out if someone’s conduct is proper and here it is: Ask yourself if this person was speaking or acting this way about or towards your mother/daughter/sister, would you be ok with it? If not, then you shouldn’t make excuses for it to be done to any other woman on Earth ever either, because they are someone’s mother/daughter/sister.
Grab dat puffy ross. Go get em boy
Think maybe usher gave herpes to puffy and in turn gave it to ross? You know, while gettin it on?
Rick Ross – Same hoes
Charia law is the answer. No more female naggin all damn day. Lets go full muslim
@Kyle Eustice Love this article. I often dream of writing articles like this. Does HipHopDX need any writers? Will write for food! 🙂
U fucc for food too?
Thank you so much.
Nag nag nag hip hop talks about fuccin all damn day. Guess who back in the mfuccin house wit a fat duck fo yo mfuccin mouf
Pimpin and breakin deez hoes. Zats wat hip hop taught us bitch
And most women are OVERRRRRR hearing it.
How old are you? Geez man, get versed. A REAL man would never go there.
So 98% of rappers arent real men. So why u go to those concerts if u hate it so much?
Some of deez ngaz iz bitchez too and some of deez ngaz look just like u
Rappin about holdin a gun iz actually about holdin a dick.
Killin a man iz about fccin a man.
Pimpin iz about fccin yo moms.
Its freudian. Black men hate women cuz they are analy curious. Very very gay.
Women must do ze same. U want a chicken happy meal lil ross? Gonna have to go lo big boy. Then we record ya. Women will rule soon. Suck ya own ducks.
I taught that to rozay. How to deal wit interns
Its called procedure. Hey the money is worth it ok? Just go with the flow. Come on. We are transgendering everywhere anyways! Freaky freaky!
I invented that cigar trick.
I know honey. I was there.
Howz that investigation?
They gonna send someone for me soon.
Ure fucced
Not everybody does it. But everybody should. Sex is natural sex is fun. You are free to walk out and leave. Free.
Its like when Jabba the Hut licked Princess leia face. Ross is gross. Grosser is Khaled all that flab. Gross. And those man tities. So fat cant see their dicks. Need a mirror. Horror movie type shit. Jay is ugly too real skinny legs and that face. Too bad puffy gay. Snoop is gross too imagine him bucknaked…cringe.