Rick Ross Says 'Don't Nobody Fear Drake's Album Release' in New Hot 97 Interview

Rick Ross has renewed his public feud with Drake just three days before the Toronto rapper's album Iceman is scheduled to drop, telling Hot 97 that 'don't nobody fear Drake's album release.' The blunt remarks came during a May 12 interview with Nessa as Ross promoted his new book, Renaissance of a Boss, and represent a notably sharper tone than the softer comments he had offered earlier this month.

The Details

During a May 12 appearance on Hot 97 with Nessa, Rick Ross addressed his ongoing conflict with Drake, who is preparing to release his album Iceman on May 15, according to Billboard. Ross brushed aside any suggestion that there is a broader plot against the artist, framing his own past responses as disciplinary rather than part of a collective effort.

'When somebody step out of line and you gotta chastise them or give them a spanking, that's what you do,' Ross said. 'But is it one of those things where there's a conspiracy? Hell no. Don't nobody fear Drake's album release. Nobody.' The quote, reported by Billboard, came during a promotional run for Ross's new book, Renaissance of a Boss, and just ahead of Drake's planned album launch. Ross made clear that he does not view the upcoming release as a source of concern or intimidation for others in the industry.

The interview occurred with Drake's album release imminent, making the timing of Ross's comments especially pointed.

Ross also outlined what a possible path to reconciliation might look like. He said Drake regularly communicates with French Montana, and suggested that any outreach from Drake to him would likely have to run through the Montana Bad Boy rapper. '[Drake] speaks to French,' Ross said. 'French says a lot of positive things that he should maybe send French a pecan pie for ... because nobody would speak on his behalf to me.' The comment indicates that, while public tensions remain high, there may be informal channels between the two camps via a mutual associate.

The May 12 interview landed squarely within a promotional run that also included a Verzuz battle with French Montana and came just days before Drake is scheduled to release Iceman. According to Billboard, Iceman will be Drake's first solo LP since 2023's For All the Dogs, making it a significant release in its own right.

Context

Ross's tone during the Hot 97 interview stood in stark contrast to remarks he had made only three days earlier. On May 9, according to Complex, Ross appeared on Apple Music's Rap Life Review and offered a more conciliatory message, saying directly: 'Drake, if you listening to this homie, listen to me, my n—a, shine. I don't want to see you lose.' The softer comment had briefly raised the possibility that the feud might be cooling, but the Hot 97 interview on May 12 showed no sign of a de-escalation.

The feud between the two artists began escalating in 2024, as Billboard has reported. The relationship soured after Drake dissed Ross on the track 'Push Ups,' prompting Ross to respond with his own diss track, 'Champagne Moments.' The public back-and-forth marked a dramatic shift for the pair, who had previously worked together on tracks including Money in the Grave, Lemon Pepper Freestyle, Gold Roses, Aston Martin Music, and Stay Schemin'. Those earlier releases had established a close creative partnership between the two before the 2024 public fallout turned their relationship adversarial.

Ross's appearance on Hot 97 followed his participation in a Verzuz battle with French Montana — the same artist Ross now identifies as the most plausible intermediary if the two sides ever move to reconcile. The sequence of softer remarks on Apple Music, followed by a sharper Hot 97 interview, has left the status of the Ross-Drake relationship ambiguous in the immediate lead-up to Drake's release date.

What's Next

Drake's album Iceman is scheduled for release on May 15. The ongoing public exchanges between Ross and Drake, which have played out through diss tracks and high-profile interview appearances since 2024, mark one of the most visible rivalries in hip-hop's current landscape. Ross has suggested that any reconciliation would have to go through French Montana, but neither artist has indicated that a formal truce is imminent.