The hip-hop world is witnessing another explosive chapter in one of rap’s most storied rivalries, as 50 Cent has unleashed a blistering tirade against Rick Ross following the disastrous first-week sales of Ross’s latest album, “The Setting Stone.” According to the Queens rapper, the project moved a paltry 2,000 copies in its debut week, a figure that, if accurate, would mark one of the most significant commercial failures for a major hip-hop artist in recent memory. 50 Cent, never one to miss an opportunity to bury a long-time adversary, took to social media and a recent podcast clip to mock Ross mercilessly, questioning everything from his street credibility to his financial decisions.
The attack comes just days after Rick Ross embarked on an extensive promotional tour, hitting podcasts and interviews to push the album—an effort that now appears to have fallen flat.
The numbers, as reported by industry insiders and echoed by 50 Cent, paint a grim picture for the Miami-based boss. While streaming totals for “The Setting Stone” reportedly reached around 1.
5 million streams in its first week, physical and digital album sales are alleged to be catastrophically low. 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, claimed the album sold only 2,000 units in pure sales, while Billboard data suggests the actual figure is under 10,000 copies. In either scenario, the performance represents a steep decline from Rick Ross’s previous projects, which have often debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200 and sold tens of thousands of copies in their opening weeks.
The discrepancy has given 50 Cent ample ammunition to revive a feud that dates back over a decade, reigniting tensions that many thought had cooled.
During a segment of the “Nation of Podcasting Daily Podcast,” host Oshea played a clip of 50 Cent going off on Ross. In the clip, 50 Cent is heard saying, “Either you were targeting Rick Ross.
Is it me attacking Rick Ross or is it Rick Ross attacking me? Why would you even respond to a Rick Ross? Why ignore it when I can destroy him and create a portfolio of dead bodies that indicate the artist is not cool to try and compete when you’re not ready.”
The monologue escalated quickly, with 50 Cent referencing Ross’s 2008 controversy over his past as a correctional officer—a 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓁 that has haunted Ross for years. “Once he’s admitted to being a correctional officer, in order to be a correctional officer, you have to not have any criminal history,” 50 Cent said, laughing. “What kind of rich [__] cut his own grass?
Why you out there cutting your own grass? You trying to save money, [__]? You don’t want to pay for the lawn to get cut, huh?
AC broken in the [__]?”
The attack did not stop at sales numbers or personal jabs. 50 Cent also dragged up the performance of Rick Ross’s former group, Triple C’s, whose album sold only 4,000 copies.
“What was Rick Ross’s last album? Triple C’s. You know how many copies that record sold?
4,000 copies,” 50 Cent said, adding a dismissive laugh. He then compared Ross’s attempts to compete in the rap game to a novice boxer thinking he is ready to fight Floyd Mayweather after being called “champ” at the gym. The analogy was pointed: 50 Cent views Ross as an unworthy opponent who has never truly been on his level.
“What is destroy?” 50 Cent asked rhetorically. “Because you went to the gym the first few days and the coach called you champ don’t mean you’re ready to fight Floyd Mayweather.”
The dig was a clear message to Ross and to the broader hip-hop community that 50 Cent considers himself untouchable.
The feud between 50 Cent and Rick Ross is one of the longest-running and most personal in hip-hop. It began in 2009 when 50 Cent released a track called “Officer Ricky” after photos surfaced of Ross working as a correctional officer, contradicting his 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔-dealer persona.
Ross retaliated with diss tracks, and the two have traded barbs ever since. However, 50 Cent’s latest assault comes at a vulnerable time for Ross, who has largely stayed out of direct conflict in recent years. The album “The Setting Stone” was supposed to be a comeback statement, showcasing Ross’s signature luxurious production and lyrical storytelling.
Instead, it has become a target for 50 Cent, who seems determined to keep the pressure on until Ross’s career is left in ruins.
Podcast host Oshea, who analyzed the clip, noted that 50 Cent’s strategy is to never let go. “Once an enemy of 50 Cent, it’s like always an enemy.
Ask Ja Rule, RIP Irv Gotti, ask The Game, you know, all of these folks,” Oshea said, listing a who’s who of rappers who have been on the receiving end of 50 Cent’s legendary trolling. He added that Rick Ross is simply the latest in a long line of casualties. “If you got a problem with 50 Cent and you’ve been going in this back and forth with him, hey, he’s not going to let up.
He’s going to step on your neck while you’re drowning.” Oshea acknowledged that he personally enjoyed the album, calling it “smooth” and “nice,” but admitted the sales numbers are devastating. “It’s a bad look for Rick Ross cuz he’s been going on this promotional tour, talking about his album, doing all the interview circuits, going on all the podcasts, promoting this album.
It had some decent cuts on there. But at the same time, it’s not moving the units. It’s not moving the needle for the sales direction, which is crazy crazy work.”
Industry analysts are trying to make sense of the numbers. Streaming has reshaped how albums are consumed, and physical sales have declined across the board. However, even by streaming-era standards, 2,000 to 10,000 first-week sales for a veteran artist like Rick Ross is alarming.
For context, Ross’s 2019 album “Port of Miami 2” sold 46,000 equivalent album units in its first week, with about 15,000 in pure sales. His 2017 project “Rather You Than Me” did 50,000 units. The precipitous drop for “The Setting Stone” suggests either a lack of buzz, poor timing, or perhaps a disconnect with Ross’s core audience.
50 Cent, ever the opportunist, has seized on the data to paint Ross as a has-been who is out of touch. “Man, anybody would have panicked,” 50 Cent said, referencing the panicked buying of copies to inflate numbers. “Oh, you saw the number trending like you was … So you what you was trending?
20? Everyday I’m hustling I’m thinking that’s who he is. Then you look in the bank you’re like, ‘Wait, he’s a cop.’”
The “correctional officer” angle remains 50 Cent’s favorite weapon. He has never allowed Ross to live down the revelation that he worked as a prison guard, a job that requires a clean criminal record—directly contradicting the lavish 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔-dealer image Ross cultivated on albums like “Teflon Don.” In the clip, 50 Cent argues that Ross cannot write authentic street verses because he never lived that life.
“He can still write a verse. But his verse always has 𝒹𝓇𝓊𝑔 dealer references in them,” 50 Cent said, before pivoting to the practical absurdity of a rich man cutting his own lawn. The implication is clear: Ross is a poser, a fraud, and now a flop.
And 50 Cent is making sure the entire industry knows it.
The timing of this attack is particularly brutal. Rick Ross was riding a wave of goodwill after several well-received singles and features, including tracks with Drake and Lil Wayne.
His label, Maybach Music Group, has been promoting “The Setting Stone” as a return to form. But 50 Cent’s mockery has overshadowed any positive coverage, turning the album’s release into a referendum on Ross’s relevance. Social media is ablaze with clips of 50 Cent’s rant, with many fans and critics weighing in.
Some have defended Ross, arguing that album sales are not a perfect measure of quality or impact. Others have pointed out that 50 Cent himself has not released a studio album since 2009’s “Before I Self Destruct,” and his own musical output has dwindled. Yet 50 Cent’s success as a television producer, entrepreneur, and investor has given him an unassailable platform from which to taunt his rivals.
Oshea, the podcast host, posed a question to his audience: “Nation, what do y’all think about 50 Cent clowning Rick Ross? What do you think about Rick Ross’s new album, ‘Set in Stone’? Did you like it?
Did you not like it? Nation, what do you think about 50 Cent clowning him for only selling 2,000 copies of his album?” The question reflects the divided opinions within hip-hop culture.
Some see 50 Cent’s relentless bullying as unnecessary and petty, especially given his own history of financial struggles and controversies. Others view it as part of the sport of rap—a competitive art form where credibility is everything, and failure is mocked without mercy. For his part, Rick Ross has not yet issued a public response to 50 Cent’s latest onslaught, but sources close to him say he is focusing on the next phase of his album rollout, including potential deluxe editions and tour announcements.
The broader implication of this feud is a reminder that hip-hop’s tribal loyalties remain strong. 50 Cent, now 49, has transitioned into a role as a cultural commentator and provocateur, using his social media presence to stay relevant. Rick Ross, 48, still commands a loyal fan base, but his commercial peak may be behind him.
The album’s failure—if 2,000 copies is indeed the correct number—could be a signal to labels and artists that streaming-era loyalty is fickle, and that even established icons can face a rapid decline. But 50 Cent is not interested in industry analysis; he is interested in victory. “You haven’t destroyed Rick Ross’s career,” he said, mocking the idea that he hasn’t already done so.
“What is destroy?”
As the news spreads, fans are already calling for a response track from Ross, though it remains unclear whether he will engage. Past attempts to diss 50 Cent have resulted in memorable back-and-forths, with tracks like “They Want My Money” by 50 Cent and “3 Kings” by Rick Ross featuring Dr.
Dre and Jay-Z. But that was over a decade ago. Today, the landscape has shifted.
50 Cent no longer needs to sell records to dominate headlines; he has Starz network shows like “Power” and a lucrative liquor brand. Ross, on the other hand, is fighting for relevance in an industry that moves at lightning speed. The “Setting Stone” was supposed to be his foundation for a return.
Instead, it may become the stone that sinks him.
One thing is certain: 50 Cent will not stop. The man who built his career on showing no mercy will continue to rub salt in the wound.
Whether Ross can recover from this blow remains to be seen. But for now, the narrative is clear: 50 Cent has struck again, and Rick Ross is left counting his losses. The hip-hop world watches, waits, and wonders who will be next to fall under Curtis Jackson’s relentless shadow.
