It’s been five years in the making, but Rick Ross and Birdman are finally ready to drop their joint album The H: The Lost Album, Volume 1. And it’ll be available for free download.

DJ Khaled will host the album, which is currently scheduled for release on May 23, and will include material that the two rappers recorded back in 2008. An official announcement came by way of a video shot by Derick G, with some words from both Rozay and Stunna. “We did so much music and we’ve just been sitting on it,” Ross explained “Stunna just hit me like, ‘Man, let’s go and feed the streets with that.” And there you have it.

Both MMG and Cash Money have plenty of releases due in the next few months, including an album from Rich Gang, Ross’ Mastermind, Wale’s The Gifted and even Khaled’s Suffering From Success. It’s primed to be a big summer for both labels.

by Nadeska Alexis

Uli Becker, the CEO of Reebok, has addressed the company’s highly-publicized termination of its contract with hip-hop star Rick Ross. The athletic apparel brand dropped Ross last month after women’s groups threatened to boycott the company due to the rapper’s controversial lyrics on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” which referenced drugging a woman and having sex with her.

Touching on the situation via a tweet by Footwear News, Becker said that he feels Ross needs better people around him.

“It’s unfortunate because he’s a great guy,” Becker said. “He just has stupid advisors around him. #FNCEOSummit”

Contributor : Martin James

The loss of his lucrative deal with Reebok could cost Rick Ross a significant amount of money. Ross’s contract with the athletic wear giant was terminated following protests from women’s groups regarding the rapper’s controversial lyrics on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.,” which referenced drugging and having sex with a woman who wasn’t aware of it.

TMZ reports that the rap star could lose anywhere from $3 to $5 million from the terminated Reebok deal.

It is reported that Ross got paid every time he was featured wearing Reebok apparel. Neither he nor the company have spoken publicly about the particulars of their former contract, however.

Contributor : Martin James

Rick Ross has been the most hated rapper in America for the past several weeks, and pundits, feminists, writers and fellow artists all seem to be chiming in with their perspective on Rozay’s lyrics and the fact that he was dropped from his endorsement deal with Reebok last week. But one hip-hop superstar has been noticeably quiet.

Ross’s longtime rival, 50 Cent, hasn’t said anything about the controversy. That is, until now.

50 posted a humorous photo of Ross on Twitter yesterday (April 15th)

“I hear reebok are looking for a new face,” 50 captioned.

Contributor : Martin James

Rick Ross released an “official” apology today.  A day after being released from his endorsement deal with Reebok in the wake of the backlash that surfaced regarding his lyrics on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.,” Ross said in a official statement that he takes responsibility for his mistake.

“Before I am an artist, I am a father, a son, and a brother to some of the most cherished women in the world. So for me to suggest in any way that harm and violation be brought to a woman is one of my biggest mistakes and regrets. As an artist, one of the most liberating things is being able to paint pictures with my words. But with that comes a great responsibility. And most recently, my choice of words was not only offensive, it does not reflect my true heart. And for this, I apologize. To every woman that has felt the sting of abuse, I apologize. I recognize that as an artist I have a voice and with that, the power of influence. To the young men who listen to my music, please know that using a substance to rob a woman of her right to make a choice is not only a crime, it’s wrong and I do not encourage it. To my fans, I also apologize if I have disappointed you. I can only hope that this sparks a healthy dialogue and that I can contribute to it.”

Contributor : Stephen Willis

God Forgives, Reebok Don’t. That was the most popular tweet on Twitter Thursday (April 11) after the sneaker giant succumbed to the mounting pressure from women’s rights groups who rallied in protest of Rick Ross’ controversial ‘rape’ lyrics on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” by dropping Rozay from their roster of brand representatives. So, what happens now? Are fans satisfied?

“Reebok holds our partners to a high standard, and we expect them to live up to the values of our brand. Unfortunately, Rick Ross has failed to do so,” Reebok told MTV News in a written statement issued. “While we do not believe that Rick Ross condones sexual assault, we are very disappointed he has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue or an appropriate level of remorse,” the statement read. “At this time, it is in everyone’s best interest for Reebok to end its partnership with Mr. Ross.”

The MMG Bawse, who was part of the shoe company’s popular “It Takes A Lot to Make a Classic” campaign, came under fire for rapping the line, “Put Molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it,” which was largely considered a glaring example of date rape.

After Ultra Violet activists gathered in front of Reebok’s flagship store in New York City in protest last week, the “Diced Pineapples” MC tried to apologize for his lyrical transgressions via Twitter, but his social media mea culpa was ultimately dismissed as insincere and devoid of the gravitas needed to make full amends for his misogynistic verse.

“I dont condone rape.Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape. #BOSS,” Ross tweeted last Thursday (April 4), adding, “Apologies to my many business partners,who would never promote violence against women. @ReebokClassics @ultraviolet.”

In addition to losing his role as brand ambassador with Reebok, the Mastermind rapper was not included on the remix of the song that started it all in favor of Wiz Khalifa, because, as Rocko puts it, “the type of traction that the record has as far as radio and all over the country, it puts me in a position where I have to change it.”

Ross has yet to comment on his dismissal, but Internet trolls wasted no time chiming in with jokes, rants and varied comments agreeing and disagreeing with the Adidas subsidiary’s decision. His MMG team is standing firm though: @MeekMill: Reeboks right next 2 FILA when it come 2 sneaks that shit corny… I was only was feeling swizz & tyga projects… #boom

@PersiaNYC “If Rick Ross couldn’t get noone to wear Reebok’s he damn sure wasn’t gonna influence dudes to put molly in a chicks drink #YallGoinTooHard”

@DasJohnDoe “Rick Ross got dumped from Reebook…..it’s not like anybody still wears Reebooks anyway.”

@CoolKidsCloset “Come on Reebok. It was cool to Sign Rick Ross knowing he promotes drugs, guns, killing, b****&h*** etc. Why drop him after 2 bars now?”

@GeneWilly “Rick Ross lost his Reebok deal because of that Molly bar? Lmfaoooo”

@NaijaWarrior “Reebok could care less about what Rick Ross says. Just dont hurt their sales.”

@AshinKushington “I Gotta Feeling Reebok Really Wanted To Keep Rick Ross”

@TMJR1914 “Rick Ross done fcked up… He ain’t een kno it”

@Kenny_Burrs “Not condoning what Rick Ross said but the Media OD’n on him now though. I’ve heard wayyyyyy worse”

@darijorozayy “In all honesty I thought that line was sick that Rick Ross said. It went perfect with the song”

@mikeztyme “Rick Ross is a good example of, ‘the same sword they KNIGHT u with they gon GOODNIGHT you with’”

@UptownStackz “Confused y reebok dropped rick Ross tbh. He talks about killing ppl n selling drugs in every single record but was still the face of reebok”

@IndigoRush_ “This one little line should not be messing with Rick Ross career like that. These feminist chicks need to get over themselves . “

@LazyEyedWonder “Rick Ross is a great example of what getting faded in a studio can get you.”

@DragonflyJonez “Rick Ross released by Reebok for rapping about rape. Toungue twister! nh nh nh nh nh nh nh nh nh nh nh nh nh”

@AndOne9d9 “Let me say this: I think it was stupid 4 Reebok 2 dump Rick Ross. They never should’ve picked him n the 1st place! What did they expect?”

Do you think Reebok made the right move in dismissing Rick Ross as brand ambassador?

By Maurice Bobb

Talib Kweli spoke about the Rick Ross controversy during a recent appearance on HuffPost Live, and the rapper received some criticism for appearing to offer a sympathetic perspective on the Miami superstar’s offensive lyrics. Kweli called in to Hot 97′s Cipha Sounds & Rosenberg Show to clarify his position on the matter that has Ross at the center of a media firestorm.

“The blogs have been getting on me saying I’ve got opinions about Ross or opinions about Lil Wayne. I’m like, ‘Yo, I’ve got opinions just like the next man.’ But I’m glad through social media you can get it straight from the horse’s mouth,” he said. “You can go on my Twitter and find out what I really think as opposed to trusting what a blog might have to say about me. But I’ve got my opinions just like anybody else in Hip Hop. And I’m not no authority on Rick Ross or Lil Wayne or anybody else. I’m not no authority. I don’t make no demands. I don’t have no power over these men. But I state my opinion just like anybody else.”

“All these artists that have lyrics that offend people, especially Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, I’m a fan of both of these men. I know both of these men. I’m friendly with both of these men,” he shared. “I have no issues with these people as artists. I think we should embrace our artists. But if people say something that I don’t agree with, I have no problem saying that it’s wrong. I do think that Ross was wrong on those lyrics. I do think that…I do think that [Ross] was dead wrong with that particular lyric.”

“I think when it comes to Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, a lot of so-called Hip Hop fans just don’t like them in general,” he continued. “So they’re looking for other reasons to not like them. Whereas they’ll accept rape lyrics from a Biggie Smalls, or an Eminem or an Odd Future. They look at that and they’ll condone that but they won’t condone it from rappers whose music they don’t like.”

Contributor : Martin James

With a protest taking place today (April 4th) outside of Reebok’s New York City headquarters regarding the athletic wear brand’s endorsement of controversial rapper Rick Ross, Ross again tried to diffuse the backlash that is currently swarming regarding his lyrics on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.,” which reference drugging a woman and taking her home for sex.

The rapper again called the lyrics “misinterpreted” and said that he doesn’t condone rape.

“I dont condone rape.Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape. #BOSS,” Ross tweeted. “Apologies to my many business partners,who would never promote violence against women. @ReebokClassics @ultraviolet”

Contributor : Chris G.

While many male hip-hop stars have remained conspicuously silent regarding Rick Ross’s controversial lyrics in “U.O.E.N.O.,” which seem to reference and condone drugging a woman and having sex with her afterwards, rapper Talib Kweli is loudly voicing his criticism of the MMG star.

“I don’t care if Rick Ross is 40 years old — he’s a misguided 40-year-old person,” Kweli said. “Rick Ross condoned rape in that song … and he should apologize, and his apology that he offered was unacceptable.”

Ross previously tried to pass the backlash off as a misunderstanding.

The Miami rap superstar has come under fire for the song, with women’s advocacy groups demanding that Reebok drop him as a pitchman.

Contributor : Chris G.

After furor has been building several days over Rick Ross’s lyrics in Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” that some have stated condone date rape, the rapper finally spoke about the controversy and called the situation a “misunderstanding.”

“I want to make sure this is clear,” Ross said. “Woman is the most precious gift known to man, you understand? It was a misunderstanding with a lyric, a misinterpretation where the term ‘rape’ wasn’t used. I would never use the word ‘rape’ in my records. And as far as my camp, hip-hop don’t condone that, streets don’t condone that. Nobody condones that, you understand me? I just wanted to reach out to all the queens that’s on my timeline, all the sexy ladies, the beautiful ladies that have been reaching out to me about the misunderstanding. We don’t condone rape and I’m not with that.”

Contributor : Chris G.