By now, we’ve all heard the lyrics to Rick Ross’ “Idol Become Rivals” from his latest album Rather You Than Me that finds him addressing the questionable practices of Birdman.
Among several claims, Ross hones in on one grievance that has cropped up repeatedly throughout Cash Money’s history: that the label doesn’t pay artists and producers the full amount of royalties that they’re owed. “Catholic record labels, n—as gettin’ raped, boy /Birdman’s a priest, moans in his synagogue /Publishing is his sin, repent, forgive me, Lord,” he raps at one point; “You stole them boys’ pub and bought a foreclosure,” he raps at another, referring to the Hot Boys; “You would give us self-esteem and motivate our drive / But was in our pockets by the time we count to five.”
A few hours after the song leaked, Billboard spoke to Birdman in an unrelated interview and asked him about Rozay’s allegations of missing payments over the years.
“I don’t get caught up in hoe sh-t, man. I just keep doing what I’m doing and keep pushing,” Birdman told Billboard. “I don’t get caught up in that, I don’t play like that. I’m a man and I stand my ground and I do my thing. Numbers don’t lie, and that’s all I give a f–k about: numbers, and puttin’ them up.”
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