The relationship between rappers Rick Ross and Jay Z is a complicated one that has evolved over the years. While Rick Ross is currently signed to Epic Records, he was previously signed to Def Jam Recordings, the label co-founded by Jay Z. Though they have collaborated on songs together, there are still questions around whether Rick Ross has ever actually been directly signed to Jay Z himself.
Quick Summary
The quick answer is that Rick Ross is currently not signed directly to Jay Z or Jay Z’s Roc Nation label. However, there is a connection between the two rappers:
- Rick Ross was previously signed to Def Jam Recordings from 2006 to 2014. Jay Z was president of Def Jam from 2004 to 2007.
- Rick Ross and Jay Z have collaborated on several songs together including “Free Mason,” “Oil Money Gang,” and “The Devil Is A Lie.”
- Rick Ross is currently signed to Epic Records and leads his own record label Maybach Music Group.
- Jay Z leads his own label Roc Nation which manages artists but is not considered a major record label.
- Despite not being directly signed to each other, Rick Ross and Jay Z have a mutually respectful relationship and have supported each other’s music at times.
Rick Ross’ Record Deals
To fully understand if Rick Ross has ever been signed to Jay Z, we need to go through his recording contract history:
- In the early 2000s, Rick Ross was initially signed to Suave House Records, an independent label formerly associated with rapper 8Ball & MJG.
- In 2006, Ross signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings and became label-mates with Jay Z who was Def Jam’s president at the time.
- Ross released his debut album Port of Miami under Def Jam in 2006 which featured the hit single “Hustlin’.”
- Between 2006-2012, Ross released a string of successful albums on Def Jam including Trilla, Deeper Than Rap, Teflon Don, and God Forgives, I Don’t.
- In January 2014, Ross announced he was leaving Def Jam and signed a new deal with Epic Records.
- Since 2014, Ross has released the albums Hood Billionaire, Black Market, and Rather You Than Me through Epic.
So while Rick Ross was signed to Def Jam when Jay Z was president, he was never directly signed to Roc Nation or any label owned solely by Jay Z.
Jay Z’s Record Label and Management
To provide more context on Jay Z’s business entities:
- From 2004-2007, Jay Z served as CEO and president of Def Jam Recordings and oversaw acts like Rick Ross and Young Jeezy.
- In 2008, Jay Z stepped down from his Def Jam post to found a new entertainment company called Roc Nation.
- Roc Nation has a recording label division but focuses more on artist management, touring, publishing, and film/TV projects.
- Rihanna, Shakira, Calvin Harris, and Lil Uzi Vert are among current artists signed to Roc Nation’s label.
- Jay Z himself is not currently signed to Roc Nation as a recording artist. His last album 4:44 in 2017 was released through his own Roc Nation imprint partnership with Universal Music Group.
Based on this background, Rick Ross has never directly been signed to Roc Nation or any Jay Z-owned label. But there is still a connection through Def Jam which has brought the two rappers together.
Collaborations Between Rick Ross and Jay Z
Despite not having a direct record deal together, Rick Ross and Jay Z have collaborated on several songs over the years. Here are some of their notable team-ups:
Song | Album | Year |
---|---|---|
“Free Mason” | Teflon Don by Rick Ross | 2010 |
“Oil Money Gang” | God Forgives, I Don’t by Rick Ross | 2012 |
“The Devil Is A Lie” | Mastermind by Rick Ross | 2014 |
“Virgil Discount” | Port of Miami 2 by Rick Ross | 2019 |
Their relationship has clearly been collaborative and mutually beneficial at times despite never being officially linked through a shared record contract.
Rick Ross’ Status With Maybach Music Group
Apart from his own solo deal with Epic Records, Rick Ross is also CEO of his record label Maybach Music Group which operates as a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Maybach Music Group’s most prominent artists include:
- Meek Mill
- Wale
- French Montana
- Gunplay
- Omarion
This successful imprint demonstrates Rick Ross’ business acumen and ambition to scout and develop new talent as both an artist and executive. However Jay Z has not been involved with Maybach Music Group either through a business investment or A&R perspective.
Concert Tours and Live Performances
Rick Ross and Jay Z have crossed paths on tour several times despite not officially being signed to each other. Some examples include:
- In 2010, Ross was one of the opening acts on Jay Z’s “Home & Home Tour” which spanned both the U.S. and Europe.
- Ross brought out Jay Z as a surprise guest during his performance at Hot 97’s Summer Jam concert in 2011.
- In 2013, Jay Z and Ross performed together at venues in Miami, FL and Greensboro, NC on Jay’s Magna Carter World Tour.
- Both rappers have made surprise appearances at each other’s shows in the Miami area over the years, collaborating live on stage.
These shared concert moments demonstrate the mutual respect between the two and willingness to leverage their individual star power and fan bases to put on memorable performances.
Rick Ross’ Respect for Jay Z
In interviews over the years, Rick Ross has expressed his admiration for Jay Z’s career accomplishments and mogul status. Here are some relevant Rick Ross quotes on Jay Z:
- “Jay was one of the guys that extended his reach without hesitation.”
- “When I look at Hov, that’s how you make it look effortless”
- “Jay is one of the greatest reminders of what hard work and due diligence can really accomplish”
- “You got to respect how he parlayed his whole hustle into an empire. The blueprint, you know?”
These quotes demonstrate that despite never actually being signed to Jay Z, Rick Ross still views him as a prime example of how to succeed in hip hop and transition to the executive ranks.
Conclusion
In summary, while Rick Ross has never been officially signed to Roc Nation or any record label solely owned by Jay Z, the two rappers have a complex relationship intertwined through collaborations, tours, record deals, and mutual respect as artists.
As two of the most prominent and successful rappers to come out of the South and New York respectively, Ross and Jay Z have strategically associated themselves with each other at times to combine forces. However, Ross’ signing history makes it clear that he has developed his mainstream success without directly being linked to Jay Z through a shared record contract. Their ability to partner in other ways highlights the multifaceted nature of relationships in the rap world.