Hip-hop mogul Rick Ross has broken his silence on the simmering tension between two of his most prominent protégés, Meek Mill and Wale, while simultaneously dropping his latest studio album, Set in Stone. In a candid interview that surfaced today, the Biggest Boss addressed the state of Maybach Music Group, declaring that both artists remain his “little dogs” despite years of public friction and solo ambitions.
The revelation comes at a pivotal moment for the MMG empire. Ross, 48, has just released Set in Stone, a project he is already championing as a superior effort to T. I.’
s recent 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 the King album. The comparison is stark and deliberate. Ross did not mince words.
“Personally, that was the worst T. I. album he ever came out with,” he said, framing his own work as a return to form.
Yet the core of the interview pivots to the fractured relationships within his own label. Meek Mill and Wale have been at odds for years, with fans and insiders alike wondering if the brotherhood that defined early MMG classics like “Bag of Money” is permanently broken. Ross insists the love is still genuine.
“You got to realize that’s my little dog and will always be,” he said of Meek. “Meek is a very emotional, quick whatever it is, but the love is still there. ”
Regarding Wale, Ross offered a similarly reassuring tone. “That’s still my dog. We just was figuring out what date we was going to pop out.
He just ended his tour. So we going to swap out and pop out. ” This statement suggests immediate plans for a joint appearance, possibly a show or a studio session, which would quell rumors of an irreparable rift.
The most explosive moment came when Ross was asked directly if there is any chance of a new Maybach Music Group collaborative album. He did not shut the door. “It’s a good opportunity for that,” he said.
“You know me and Meek just released a project years ago. And Wale, you know, the family is still there. You just want to see [stuff] continue to climb.
You the leader. Lead. Don’t be afraid.
Lead, my [expletive]. Take off. Take that [stuff] to wherever you want to go.
”
Those words carry weight. Ross is positioning himself as the patriarch who empowers his artists to grow independently while leaving the door open for reunion. He emphasized, “Every man deserve that opportunity.
” This signals that any future MMG album would not be forced but organic, fueled by each artist’s individual success.
The beef between Meek Mill and Wale has been a persistent undercurrent in hip-hop. Sources close to both camps have described disagreements over creative direction, respect, and business. Wale has publicly expressed frustration at being overshadowed by Meek’s meteoric rise and legal battles.
Meek, in turn, has dismissed Wale’s grievances as petty. Ross’s intervention now attempts to mediate without taking sides.
“Calling him that’s my little dog is wild work,” the interviewer noted, highlighting Ross’s use of a term that can be both affectionate and condescending. In MMG parlance, it is a badge of honor. Ross has long referred to his signees as family, and the phrase reaffirms his role as the elder statesman of the crew.
The release of Set in Stone adds another layer to the narrative. The album has drawn praise for its cinematic production and Ross’s signature boss-rap delivery. It arrives at a time when the hip-hop community is hungry for unity.
The last MMG compilation, Self Made Vol. 3, dropped in 2013. A decade of silence has left fans yearning for the chemistry that produced hits like “Power Circle” and “Tupac Back.
”
Industry insiders view Ross’s comments as a calculated move to regenerate interest in the brand. MMG has faced challenges with streaming-era dynamics, independent releases, and the rise of younger acts. Reuniting Meek, Wale, and Ross on a new album could be a massive commercial and cultural event.
Ross’s phrasing—“whatever you need, hit me. We here”—reinforces that the ball is in the artists’ courts.
Interestingly, Ross did not mention other MMG stalwarts like Stalley, Omarion, or Gunplay. The focus was squarely on the core trio. This narrows the scope for a potential project, hinting at a back-to-basics approach.
“One of them songs, that bag of money song that they had on that first Maybach Music Group,” the interviewer reminisced, referencing the 2011 posse cut that became a street anthem. “And then that other song—‘Using me, you think you’re using me like this thing’s new to me. ’ That’s my stuff right there.
”
The nostalgia factor cannot be overstated. MMG represented an era when Ross’s Miami opulence, Meek’s Philly grit, and Wale’s DMV lyricism created a tapestry that resonated globally. The trifecta of personalities clashed and complemented in ways that felt authentic.
Recreating that magic would require burying old hatchets, but Ross is betting that time—and his leadership—can heal.
Meek Mill has not yet publicly responded to Ross’s words. The rapper is currently on tour and has been focused on his own independent ventures after a high-profile split from Roc Nation. Wale, meanwhile, recently concluded a successful tour and has been teasing new music under his own label.
Both men have grown accustomed to controlling their own narratives.
Wale’s camp issued a brief statement earlier this week, saying, “Wale respects Rick Ross forever. Any issues between him and Meek are personal, not professional. He is open to whatever the Boss decides.
” That openness aligns with Ross’s claim that they were already planning to “pop out” together. The timing suggests a reconciliation may already be in motion.
Ross’s interview also touched on the delicate art of leading a label without micromanaging. “You the leader. Lead,” he repeated, almost as a mantra.
This is a stark contrast to the criticism he has faced in past years for being too hands-off or too controlling. The message now is empowerment. He wants his artists to chase their own visions, knowing the MMG umbrella will still protect them.
The phrase “Set in Stone” is itself a double entendre. It is the album title, but it also suggests that Ross’s legacy and commitment to his crew are unshakeable. The album features tracks that detail his rise from 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔 dealer to mogul, and the loyalty he demands and gives.
In one verse, he raps, “Family over everything, you know the code. If you ain’t with us, then you against the whole. ” That ethos extends to Meek and Wale.
Social media erupted after the interview clip went 𝓿𝒾𝓇𝒶𝓁. Fans are divided. Some believe a new MMG album would be a “full-circle moment,” while others argue the beef is too deep to patch.
“Rick Ross calling Meek a little dog is exactly the problem,” one Twitter user wrote. “Meek isn’t a child. He’s a grown man with his own empire.
” Others countered: “That’s how Ross talks to everyone he loves. It’s a term of endearment in the streets. ”
For his part, Ross seems unbothered by the discourse. He concluded the interview with a classic boss move: “Whatever you need, hit me. We here.
” That open invitation, combined with the strong reception of Set in Stone, gives him the leverage to broker peace on his own terms. If anyone can reunite the fractured MMG family, it is Rick Ross.
But the clock is ticking. Hip-hop moves fast, and fans have short memories. A window of opportunity exists now, with Ross’s album generating buzz and both Meek and Wale at career crossroads.
An announcement of a collaborative project could dominate the conversation for months. Ross knows this. His carefully chosen words were not just an interview—they were a summons.
Will Meek answer? Will Wale show up? The answers remain unclear, but one thing is certain: Rick Ross has laid the foundation.
The ball is in the court of his “little dogs. ” And the entire hip-hop nation is waiting to see if they will run with it or let the bone break.
In the days ahead, expect more statements from all parties. Industry sources suggest that preliminary conversations have already taken place between Ross and each artist individually. A studio session is reportedly being organized for later this month.
Whether that leads to a full MMG album or just a single collaboration track is unknown, but the mere possibility has reignited hope.
Ross’s album Set in Stone is currently streaming everywhere. Its lead single, “Bosses Only,” has already cracked the top 20 on urban radio. The track features a verse from an unnamed rapper that fans have speculated is Wale, though Ross has not confirmed.
If true, that would be the first tangible sign of a thaw.
As the news cycle churns, one thing remains clear: Rick Ross is not simply reacting to the Meek Mill-Wale beef. He is reframing it. He is using his position as a boss to turn a story of conflict into a story of reunion.
That is the hallmark of a true leader. Whether his soldiers fall in line will define the next chapter of Maybach Music Group.
Stay tuned. The nation is watching.
