The Real Rick Ross explains beef with rapper Rick Ross.
In a recent interview on Math Hoffa’s podcast, My Expert Opinion, the original Freeway Rick Ross, the former Los Angeles drug kingpin, opened up about the ongoing controversy surrounding his name and how it’s been used by two prominent rappers and more specifically Rick Ross.
The conversation revealed the stark contrast in how he dealt with the rapper Freeway versus the rapper Rick Ross, and why he decided to take legal action against the latter. Here’s a breakdown of what went down.
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FREEWAY RICK ROSS VS. RAPPER RICK ROSS: A NAME WORTH FIGHTING FOR
When you hear the name Rick Ross in the streets, there’s a good chance folks might think of the rapper. But make no mistake, the original Rick Ross, also known as Freeway Rick Ross, is a legend in his own right—a former kingpin whose story is one for the books.
During the interview, Freeway Rick Ross recalled how he reached out to the rapper Rick Ross before the lawsuit even came into play. “I tried to find out who knew this guy, you know? Who knew who he was because I felt that he should have got in touch with me,” he shared. But the rapper never reached out. Something that Freeway Rick Ross considered disrespectful.
When asked if he would’ve allowed the rapper to use his name, Freeway Rick Ross admitted that he probably would’ve said no, but there’s always a chance he could’ve changed his mind. “But I could have changed my mind,” he noted, suggesting that the door wasn’t completely shut. The lack of respect and communication, however, pushed things to a breaking point.
WHY FREEWAY GOT A PASS, BUT RICK ROSS DIDN’T
One of the standout moments in the interview was when Freeway Rick Ross explained why he had no issue with the rapper Freeway using his name, but wasn’t cool with Rick Ross doing the same. The reason? Respect. “The rapper Freeway wrote me a letter right, you know, while in prison,” Rick Ross revealed.
Freeway expressed his admiration and offered to help in any way he could, which earned him the OG’s respect. “When somebody do that, I mean, how can you tell a guy to do that no?” Freeway Rick Ross explained.
On the flip side, the rapper Rick Ross never showed that same level of respect or acknowledgment, which made it hard for Freeway Rick Ross to let it slide. “So if Rick Ross would have did the same thing, would it have been the same way?” the interviewer asked. “I believe it could have been,” Freeway Rick Ross responded, showing that respect was the key factor in all this.
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THE LAWSUIT: IT WASN’T ABOUT THE MONEY
Freeway Rick Ross didn’t originally want to sue the rapper Rick Ross, but an attorney convinced him that there was a big payday waiting. “This LA came up to me and he was like man, Universal owe you like $50 million,” Freeway Rick Ross recalled.
The lawyer had all the numbers and the data to back it up, so Freeway Rick Ross decided to go for it. But as the case dragged on, he began to see that winning wasn’t going to be easy.
Rick Ross eventually lost the lawsuit, not because his claim lacked merit, but due to the statute of limitations and the judge’s bias.
The judge, according to Freeway Rick Ross, always referred to him as “the drug dealer” during the case, which showed where her sympathies lay. “I couldn’t see this judge… taking money from some good Jews and giving them to this drug dealer,” he said, highlighting the uphill battle he faced.
THE LEGACY OF RICK ROSS: RESPECT EARNED AND LOST
At the end of the day, Freeway Rick Ross never really cared about winning the lawsuit. For him, it was about making a point and highlighting the lack of respect shown by the rapper Rick Ross. “I saw other ways that I could win from the lawsuit,” he reflected.
Even though he didn’t walk away with millions, the lawsuit put the spotlight on his story and how the rapper Rick Ross used his name to blow up without giving credit where it was due.
This situation serves as a reminder in the Hip Hop world: if you’re going to use someone’s name or story, especially one as legendary as Freeway Rick Ross, you better come correct. Respect is everything, and as the original Rick Ross has shown, not everyone is going to let you slide if you don’t show it.
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CONCLUSION
And as always we like to close with a saying, quote or adage and today’s is from Cam’ron: PEOPLE ONLY GO TO PLACES THEY HAVE VISITED IN THEIR MINDS FIRST.
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