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Failure, Business, Luxury And Why Success Starts With Believing Your Own Vision
If Part I was about legacy, Part II is about mindset.
Spend enough time around Rick Ross and you realize he doesn’t separate music from business, or business from life. They’re all connected. The same confidence that pushed him to record “Hustlin’” 20 years ago is the same confidence that has him buying franchises, investing in businesses and creating opportunities most people wouldn’t even think to pursue.
As we settled deeper into our conversation, the promotion of Set In Stone gave way to something more personal. We weren’t just talking about his new album anymore. We were talking about what it takes to build something that lasts.
Bet On Yourself
AllHipHop: Twenty years is a long time in any business. I’ve been doing this close to thirty myself, so I know you’ve seen just about everything there is to see.
Looking back over all these years, what’s the biggest thing you’ve learned about yourself?
Rick Ross: I never fear betting on myself. If I have that itch, that’s it. I ain’t even gonna think twice because I know it’s in my mind for a reason. That’s how I’ve always moved.
And I got n****s around me that’s delusional too. (laughs) They support it. We walk it down and make it happen. A lot of the things we became a part of… a lot of the things we came up with… nobody was talking about doing that.
AllHipHop: Delusional?
Rick Ross: (Laughs.) Yeah.
AllHipHop: I actually like that.
Rick Ross: Without a doubt. If you want to do this sh*t this big…you gotta be delusional.
We’re buying franchises. Twenty franchises. Who the f**k you gonna sit down and ask advice from? Nobody. You’re betting on yourself. Once you’ve accomplished enough and you’ve seen enough, you gotta trust yourself. A n***a wouldn’t even understand.
Losing Is Part Of Winning
AllHipHop: People love talking about success.
Social media especially. Everybody posts the wins. Nobody really wants to talk about failure.
What have your failures taught you?
Rick Ross: That it ain’t over. You gotta expect some failure somewhere.
If we sitting in a casino all night… you think you’re gonna win every hand? You trippin’. You don’t understand the game of life. Whether it’s blackjack…whether it’s whatever…you gotta expect that.
Just make sure you’re in a position where one loss don’t stop everything. Music is one thing.
Outside of music is another thing. When I drop music, I’m always gonna give you high-quality dope. Put that sh*t on your tongue and your nose gonna run.
(Laughs.)
But everything else around that… we doing things that’s never been done before. You’re betting on yourself. That answer says a lot about Ross. Most artists measure success by records. Ross talks about infrastructure. Ownership. Expansion.
Building something that doesn’t disappear when the music stops.
When Times Get Hard
The conversation drifted away from rap for a minute. Anybody paying attention knows these aren’t the easiest times. Inflation. Layoffs. People working harder and feeling like they’re getting less. I wanted to know what Ross would tell somebody trying to keep their head above water.
AllHipHop: We’re living in a strange time. The world’s changing. Money’s tight. People are trying to figure out how they’re gonna make it to next week. What do you say to somebody who’s struggling right now?
Rick Ross:
Rose been through that. Many…many…many times over. That’s life. Ain’t no way you gonna live this life…and not go through confusion.
Not have hard times. Not have moments where you don’t know the answer. That come with it.
But when you make it through…the lessons you learn…they priceless.
AllHipHop: It’s really the journey.
Rick Ross: The journey. The stories.
Business Isn’t An Accessory
AllHipHop: People see the cars. They see the jewelry.
They see the lifestyle. But they don’t always see the work. You’ve built a real business empire. Where does that entrepreneurial spirit come from? Was that something somebody taught you? Or did life teach you?
Rick Ross: Life lessons. That was always part of the plan. The more paper we could put our hands on…these the moves we was gonna make. That’s what we did to get here.
And we got those same plans in place for some more moves. The sh*t ain’t never changed.
That’s what it is to me. I can’t make it complicated…because it ain’t complicated.
Wingstop Or The Car Show?
AllHipHop: Alright…I gotta ask this one.
You’ve got Wingstop. You’ve got the car show. You’ve got all these different ventures. What’s your favorite?
Rick Ross: (Laughs.)
That’s hard. The way I love them lemon pepper wings…I could never go against Wingstop. We had some in here maybe two or three hours ago. I always sneak off to the side and knock a few down.
(Laughs.)
But then…the car show…that’s another thing. That’s right in the front yard. You pull your whips out. Let your close friends in. Let some people you don’t know in…but they feel like friends.
Let’s go. Let’s have a day. You can make several million dollars in ten hours. That don’t even feel like work no more.
AllHipHop: That’s probably the most Rick Ross answer you could’ve given.
Rick Ross: (Laughs.) That’s just what it is for me.
That’s what I try to keep around me. This sh*t don’t even feel like work anymore.
When Success Starts Feeling Normal
AllHipHop: You’ve got all these businesses. You’ve built this whole empire.
But when you’re not making music or making deals… what does Rick Ross actually do for fun? If that even exists.
Rick Ross: Yeah… why not? Let’s say it’s a regular day in Miami. Top down. Hat back. Maybe Wayne hit me and we jumping on a yacht. Whatever it is.
Or…I might not leave the crib. I get in the pool. Put my shades on. Three chains on for absolutely no reason…just talking sh*t on my story.
(Laughs.)
That’s what it is. And I realize…mastering the game…that’s moving less when it ain’t necessary. Just chill. Enjoy your surroundings.
AllHipHop: I like that. A younger Rick Ross probably would’ve answered that differently.
Rick Ross: Without a doubt. Back then it was always…what’s next?
Where we going? What we doing? Now…you appreciate where you are. That’s a different kind of success. Ross has spent twenty years building an image that’s larger than life, but one thing became clear during our conversation. He’s become comfortable sitting still. That wasn’t always the case.
Everything Becomes Luxury
AllHipHop: Alright… I got one for you. What’s your favorite non-luxury item?
Rick Ross: Sh*t…if Rozay got it… it’s already luxury.
AllHipHop: (Laughing.) I should’ve known.
Rick Ross: Even the toilet tissue luxury. (Everybody in the room laughs.)
The Playlist Nobody Sees Coming
AllHipHop: Who’s given you the hardest guest verse over the years?
Rick Ross: That’s difficult. I done had six or seven records with Hov…so I could easily say Hov.
AllHipHop: Fair enough. Okay…give me one artist people would never expect to find on your playlist.
Rick Ross: Phil Collins.
AllHipHop: Really?
Rick Ross: Fleetwood Mac.
AllHipHop: Okay… I definitely wasn’t expecting either one of those. Anybody else?
Rick Ross: The list is long. Rosay got a mean playlist.
AllHipHop: I believe that.
What’s funny is people always try to put artists inside these little boxes. Like rappers only listen to rap.
Rick Ross: Nah. I love music.
Always have. If it’s good…it’s good.
Still In Love With Hip-Hop
AllHipHop: You’ve been doing this for 20 years.
Some people get really good at something…but they stop loving it. Do you still love Hip-Hop?
Rick Ross: Love it like a motherf**ker. That’s why I’m here. I don’t think you’d be your best if you don’t love it. If it’s just a job…that’s different. If it’s your passion…you don’t really clock out. You just keep going.
AllHipHop: That’s probably why you’ve lasted this long.
Because it never really felt like work.
Rick Ross: Exactly.
The Movie Of Rick Ross
AllHipHop: If they made the Rick Ross movie…who plays you?
Rick Ross: I don’t know. Who could play Rozay?
You gotta be handsome as f**k. That’s a lot of pressure.
AllHipHop: But what part of your life would the movie focus on?
Rick Ross: Everything. If it’s gonna be a real movie…why not? Everything.
AllHipHop: Erick Sermon would have to be in there somewhere.
He’s part of your story.
Rick Ross: Without a doubt. Tony Draper introduced me to Erick Sermon back when I was with Suave House.
Sermon blessed me with beats early. Shout out to my man. Believe that.
No Time For Regrets
AllHipHop: Do you have regrets? Anything you’d change?
Rick Ross: Nah.
You gotta realize, that’s life. Whatever I went through, I embrace that too. I don’t dwell on regrets. I’m still here. Pour another glass of Luc Belaire.
(Laughs.)
That’s what come with life. If you sit around collecting regrets, you’re just gonna have a longer list tomorrow. I’m not doing that.
