When Rick Ross took the stage in L.A. Thursday night for his Verzuz battle against French Montana, the competition was tight. But somewhere between“Hustlin'”and“B.M.F.,”it became clear that Drake was the real opponent—even if he wasn’t in the building.
As Ross prepared to launch into“Aston Martin Music,”the 2010 collaboration he recorded with Drake and Chrisette Michele, he made a decisive call. Rather than let Drizzy’s vocals carry the hook, Ross told the crowd to handle it themselves:“Sing lil man part.”It’s the kind of move that reads as a small moment in a live performance—but carries real weight given everything that’s happened between these two figures over the past year.
This wasn’t Ross’s first public dig at Drake. Back in April 2024, he dropped“Champagne Moments”during the Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef, and that’s where he coined the diss“BBL Drizzy.”That track made his position crystal clear. Last night’s performance simply reinforced it, turning a classic collaboration into an unexpected statement.
The irony? While French Montana walked away with a narrow 10-9 victory, the real story wasn’t about who won the Verzuz—it was about whose absence was felt most. By subtly reframing“Aston Martin Music”without Drake’s contribution, Ross delivered a message louder than any diss record could: the song, and maybe the legacy of their work together, plays better without him. It’s a power move disguised as a throwaway moment, and it landed exactly as intended.
Sometimes the most cutting verses are the ones left unsung.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.