Rick Ross Was Inspired by Diddy

The Miami rapper says Cash Money and Bad Boy Records paved the way for his Maybach Music Group.

Posted: 05/16/2011 07:12 PM EDT

It looks like Rick Ross is channeling more than just Larry Hoover. The Bawse recently name-checked Diddy and Master P as his inspiration for starting Maybach Music group.

"Building Maybach Music Group, of course I was inspired by some of the earlier movements and earlier dudes that came along such as Cash Money [and] Bad Boy Records," Ross told Billboard.com. "To me, when I really think about the greatest era of hip hop, when I turned on the TV and saw Big, Mase, Junior Mafia, and the Lox, that was the most exciting era. I looked at the No Limit era and saw that camaraderie that they had, that unity, that brotherhood that they shared. I think it spilled over from [their] music."

With the collective's first joint album on the way, the Miami rapper says he recruited MCs with talents of their own.

"My thought process on choosing a selected few was really who I felt had the potential to blossom into one of the biggest artists," Ross said. In addition to Pill, Meek Mill and Wale, MCs Stalley, Gunplay, Torch and singer Teedra Moses also comprise the MMG crew.

"Bringing these guys into Maybach Music, it's automatic," Ross added. "I'm also a fan so the concepts on my album [are] gonna be great."

The cooperative's first compilation album Self Made Vol. 1 hits shelves on May 23.

(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

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