ROSS: This year I was in the yard more-pulling weeds out of the flower beds and spending time with my horses. Well, I wanna know, did you discover any hidden talents last year?
We just need somebody to write it down and you need to direct it. ROSS: Not to cut you off brother, but we need to have another conversation. For me, I spent the last year directing movies, which I didn’t know I had in me. During the pandemic, all of us had to tap into another part of ourselves that we didn’t know about. I’m gonna rush home to see Yo! MTV Raps just to see others who could do it.” But at some point, you should still have that innocence when it was just about being creative and realizing, “Wow, I’m gonna do it again tomorrow. ROSS: Is it still passion? I’m not saying that your passion shouldn’t be profitable, because it should. One of the lessons I learned was that I had to get back to the passion that young Ahmir had for music. Last year was the first time in my adult life that I had to stay put and really get to know myself as a person without any distractions. When Black Thought and I started The Roots in high school, it was fun. I’ve been in this business for about 25 years. I’m going back to that innocent and young Rozay. It’s us staying in touch with the youthful version of ourselves. I’ll be down the street, and people don’t even know it’s Rick Ross behind the tints. The tractor I bought came with a radio built-in, and it’s glassed-in. Play a record or two and you’ll be in the zone. I got to figure out a way to make household chores fun. QUESTLOVE: That’s your meditation process. Just getting out there, I cut the phone off, I put the music on, have me five blunts rolled up, and I get out there for eight hours at a time. I’m one of those people that feels like I can get more accomplished if I have three or four people around me, helping me strategize. For me, it’s just nice to spend time alone, because that’s something I never do. Me, and three or four of the homies, get out there every two weeks. Then I went and purchased one of the biggest John Deere tractors that was for sale on the lot. I purchased an additional 89 acres that was on the west side of it. When I purchased the estate, it was originally 280 acres. It was something we could do in 30 minutes. ROSS: Growing up, I remember we would cut our yard or the neighbors’ yard. Why would you want something so large? I can’t even take care of 10 acres.
I know you’ve said that cutting grass relaxes you. QUESTLOVE: Mine is smaller scale, though. QUESTLOVE: During the pandemic, I had no desire to live on a farm whatsoever, but now here I am buying my first farm. I believe you’re on an estate that’s over 200 acres. First, no one is touching your opulent estate. QUESTLOVE: There are two things that you’ve done that are inspirational to me. ROSS: I’m speaking to you from the Promised Land, Fayetteville. And when I walk into the room, that’s what’s there. ROSS: Anytime you can celebrate a nigga buying a plane from the white man, you gotta blow that bitch up. QUESTLOVE: I see you got the James Brown Learjet photo behind you. To mark the release of Richer Than I Ever Been, the rapper hopped on Zoom with Questlove to discuss the joys of going barefoot, their shared love of gardening, and why spending time alone alone has made the rapper feel the richer than ever. But this time, Ross sets his sights on a different kind of wealth. The money, the cars, and the lifestyle are as central to Ross’s music as ever, demonstrating yet again that the 45-year-old artist has mastered the elusive alchemy of a “rich and gritty” sound. So, it’s only fitting that the Mississippi-born rapper would title his upcoming album-out December 10- Richer Than I Ever Been. Over the course of his 15-year career, Ross has elaborated on this plush, diamond-studded universe with 10 albums rippling with even more of his signature extravagance. On his 2006 debut album Port of Miami, Rick Ross made the self-assured declaration: “I’m the fuckin’ boss.” The record established him as the authority on all things lavish, with songs like “Hustlin'” and “Push It” studded with references to private jets, Phantoms, and six-figure nights on the town.