You don’t realize how colossal Rick Ross is until you see him perform live. Dressed in a red varsity jacket representing the Maybach Music Group logo, cameras flashing as his jewelry glistened, Rozay is the biggest boss you have ever seen thus far.
The Miami rapper doesn’t sing lyrics, he shouts them. He doesn’t spit articulate verses, but uses his self-made confidence to detail every moment of his extravagant lifestyle. Or on the flip side, his street hustler’s past. Simple lines, but catchy as hell. To even witness the Telfon Don in all his glory was what fans were waiting for Tuesday night (March 13) at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
The venue was clearly at capacity, Rozay fans lined up around the block even before the doors opened. Certainly, MMG took note of their diehard followers. Arriving later to an overflowing crowd, the MMG family was focused. It was Ross’ members of his imprint that setup his destructive playlist, Wale kicking off the show with a few songs from Ambition and Attention: Deficit.
“Pretty Girls” sans Gucci Mane was “something for the ladies,” as he jumped on top of a speaker to rap sweet lyrics to the females in attendance. The strip-club anthem “Rack City (Remix)” brought out the naughtier side of his fans, hands reaching to try and grasp Wale as the DJ Mustard production boomed. His standouts were the seductive “Lotus Flower Bomb” and the DC go-go inspired “Bait,” which left fans hanging on to every word.
Meek Mill took the stage next in a yellow Billionaire Boys Club T-shirt, jean jacket and white-framed shades, feeding off the crowd’s energy. A fiery Mill jumped into his mixtape cuts, including smash hits “House Party” and “Ima Boss.” Running back and forth on stage, Meek Millie was the perfect warm up for Rozay to emerge and perform his verse off the song.
Backed by his MMG signees, Vado, Maino and about hundred more people packed on stage, Rozay let it be known that he’s here. “Its Maybach, nigga,” he said, which ignited the crowd’s shouts that echoed throughout the venue.
Ross, who has shown his resiliency in recovering from two seizures last year, looked comfortable and enthused playing with the raucous crowd. “Can I get a Rozay? ... Can I get a ‘Hunngh’?” he huffed. He showed his true Bawse status in his vigorous performance, shaking his head back and forth to a laundry list of hits.
He stuck mostly to newer material off the Rich Forever mixtape, but also went into old and new Billboard chart-toppers “John,” “Hustlin’” and “BMF” (Blowin’ Money Fast). He performed “Yella Diamonds” that shot up the level of intensity in the building.
With the most extreme confidence, he tore through more of his female-friendly tracks “Aston Martin Music” and his newest track off Self Made Vol. 2, a tune for the ladies called “Bag Of Money.”
Midshow he instructed to turn the lights down for the showcase of wealth “London Interlude.” With the voice of R&B crooner John Legend blaring through the speakers, “Rich Forever” was a statement of Ross’ place in hip-hop royalty. Basking in the moment, he stood on stage to revel in the winner’s anthem.
When there’s word on the streets that Rozay is in town, New York’s finest made sure to show their respects. He brought out one of his favorite homies from the East Coast, Swizz Beatz. Swizzy made his presence felt with his classic produced “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem.” Although fans hoped for a surprise appearance from DMX, he hit the crowd with another, “Money In The Bank.”
Ross called on recent Bad Boy signee French Montana for the biggest street anthem of the year “Stay Schemin.’” Montana then went into “Shot Caller”, which features Ross on the remix. Later came an appearance by Gunplay from Ross’s own Triple C’s clique, who made a strong impression with the riotous record “Rollin.’”
With the whole MMG squadron behind Ross, he wasn’t afraid to close the concert early - after all his next takeover in New York is Thursday (March 15) at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx. Ross concluded with “New Bugatti,” the bombastic song with a harrowing production. Afterwards, his parting words summed up the high expectations for the show. “It’s the biggest boss Ricky Rozay. I want to thank everybody who came out fucking with MMG.”
Nothing but straight bangers.
Written By Eric Diep (@E_Diep)
