Rick Ross Skipped Jay-Z's Yankee Stadium Show for Business, Clarifies Drake Friendship Wasn't Staged

Rick Ross disclosed he was unable to attend Jay-Z's Yankee Stadium performance because of existing business obligations that required him to travel from Philadelphia to Cleveland. During an appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, Ross acknowledged that many fans had anticipated his surprise appearance during the concert, particularly when his collaboration with Jay-Z, "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt" from the album Magna Carta Holy Grail, played during the show. Ross confirmed he had already departed the area for work commitments rather than declining an invitation to perform.

Joe Budden addressed the widespread expectation directly, mentioning that numerous attendees at the venue believed Ross would emerge to perform the track alongside other guest artists who made appearances. When Budden asked whether Ross had been invited to participate, the rapper explained his geographical constraints. "I was most definitely flying out of Philly to Cleveland to get some munyon," Ross said, indicating his priorities were directed toward business endeavors in another city. The pair have not performed their collaboration together in over a decade, following their previous joint effort "The Devil Is a Lie," though Ross emphasized their continued mutual respect and friendship.

Drake Collaboration Authenticity

In the same podcast conversation, Ross addressed questions about the legitimacy of his extensive working relationship with Drake, which spanned multiple years of consecutive summer collaborations and music videos. Budden suggested to Ross that the two rappers should publicly acknowledge their professional partnership was orchestrated rather than genuine. Ross firmly rejected this characterization, stating that nothing about his relationship with Drake was manufactured or inauthentic. "If a n—a f—k with you, a n—a f—k with you," Ross explained, noting that genuine connections can naturally shift over time without requiring fabrication.

Ross compared the situation to Budden's own documented departures from podcast collaborators, suggesting that business relationships naturally evolve without necessitating false narratives. He emphasized that when circumstances change or conflicts emerge, parties can respectfully move forward without denying the authentic foundation of previous partnerships. Ross indicated that wishing associates well and continuing individual success represents a mature business approach rather than evidence of deception. The MMG founder maintained this perspective while promoting his twelfth solo studio album, "Set in Stone," and continuing his Port of Miami 20th Anniversary Tour across South Florida venues.