Idols Become Rivals

Album: Rather You Than Me (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Rick Ross takes aim at Birdman throughout this diss track attacking the Cash Money boss for shady business practices and how he's treated Lil Wayne over the years. The pair were once close, however by late 2015, Rozay was saying they no longer had a relationship because of Birdman's treatment of Wayne.

    Speaking to Billboard magazine, Ross explained his motivations for the track. "It's basically me writing a letter to someone in the game that I looked up to damn near the most and I hate what things have come to," he said.
  • Birdman and Lil Wayne have been involved in a very public beef for several years. The New Orleans rapper even released an album Free Weezy in which he expressed his wish to be released from his contract with Cash Money Records. At the time of the release of this song, Wayne was seeking over $50 million from Birdman in a lawsuit. Ross raps in the third verse:

    I pray you find the kindness in your heart for Wayne
    His entire life, he gave you what there was to gain
    I watched this whole debacle so I'm part to blame
    Last request, can all producers please get paid


    Ross explained the track in an Instagram caption: "The Level of respect and Love that I have for WAYNE makes it hard to sit back and not speak on the situation. The streets need you. Being a Boss means having the courage to say the things everybody thinking but scared to say."

    Wayne reposted the image, writing, "dam big bro that msg hit me in the heart and put the motivation on automatik start. I needed that. 1 boss 2 another."
  • The song kicks off with a Chris Rock skit.
  • This samples the song "Agua De Dos Ríos" by Camilo Sesto, which Jay Z previously borrowed for the closing track of his The Dynasty: Roc La Familia album, "Where Have You Been."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.