Miami
African music is dominating the global soundscape, with Afrobeats and other genres reshaping mainstream music worldwide. But Rick Ross, the stage name of William Leonard Roberts II, says this moment was inevitable — and believes Africa’s global influence should have arrived much sooner.
“I love it,” Ross said of Afrobeats’ global takeover. “For the ones that really understand live and real music, you understand. It’s been well overdue for a long time.”
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with CNN’s Lamide Akintobi in Miami, the American rapper and founder of the Maybach Music Group traced today’s Afrobeats explosion back decades to the pioneers who laid the foundation.
“When you think about Afrobeats now, that’s Fela Kuti,” he said. “That funk vibe been going on for years and years and years to me.”
Rick Ross on Afrobeats, African collaborations and his legacy in hip-hop
Drawing a parallel familiar to hip-hop fans, Ross compared pioneering Nigerian musician Kuti’s effect on African music to James Brown’s influence on early hip hop, noting, “So much hip hop was inspired by James Brown and his samples; to me that’s what Fela was.”
“It was always genius,” he added. “Now, I sit back and enjoy it. And I really feel it’s only the beginning.”
Early African collaborations — before it was mainstream
Long before cross-continental collaborations became commonplace, Ross was already building musical bridges. He recalled how his appearance on the 2012 remix of “Beautiful Onyinye” with Nigerian duo P-Square came together organically.
Ross described the music he released between 2009 and 2014 — what he calls his “Maybach Music era” — as an opportunity to explore a broader sound, weaving jazz and funk elements into hip-hop. “I love those records,” he said.
Ross said discussions with Senegalese American star Akon about African music drew him deeper into the sound. During one of those meetings, he connected with P-Square, which led to the remix of “Beautiful Onyinye.”
“They were young, but they were dope. I saw the vision. I saw the talent, and this was before this was popular… and it was just organic,” said Ross.
Years later, collaborations with artists such as Nigeria’s Yemi Alade continued that momentum.
“For one, she is on fire. She is just dope. Her style, her energy,” Ross said. “It’s organic, it’s real… and to me it’s something that, man, it ain’t no cap to it. There ain’t no limit on how big this sh*t just gonna continue to grow.”
He has also worked alongside artists including Nigerian American rapper Wale and Ghanaian star Stonebwoy, further expanding his African collaborations across genres.
Now, Ross is doubling down. He revealed that a new collaborative project with African artists and producers is already in motion through his label Maybach Music Group.
“So many African artists, producers, big ones, small ones… we’ve been collaborating on this project for over 12 months… halfway through this year, get ready for it, we’re gonna do some real big things.”
He also shared his ultimate dream lineup — a cross-generational African diaspora supergroup. “If I had a dream collaboration right now, it’d be Ricky Rozay (Ross’s nickname), it’d be Bob Marley, Fela Kuti and Burna Boy,” he said. “Imagine that… that’s king level.”
He added: “I wanna most definitely salute Burna Boy and what he got going on. Boy on fire, on fire… I see the young Rozay in him. Don’t stop… And to me, that’s what the game is about. The culture is about.”
The rapper’s connection to Africa extends beyond music. On a recent trip to Zimbabwe, Ross received a hero’s welcome from fans and local leaders.
During the visit, he expressed an interest in investing in property in the country — signaling that his ties to the continent may soon include business and real estate. The visit reinforced what he has long said publicly: Africa is a place of opportunity and long-term partnership.
Ross also recalled a powerful moment during his May 2025 trip to Durban, South Africa, where he headlined the Durban Music Fest at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Ahead of the show, he said he visited underserved communities, despite warnings from authorities.
“I saw the beauty in where we were going,” he said.
“The very next night I had one of the biggest concerts out there… and it was just one of those things, man… it felt good. The energy was there; the love was there. This is what Rozay is supposed to do right here.”
For Ross, Africa is not a moment — it is momentum. “It’s an amazing place and just warming up,” he said.
And as Afrobeats continues to dominate global charts, the Miami rapper insists the world is simply catching up to a rhythm that has always been there. “I sit back and enjoy it,” he repeated. “And I really feel it’s only the beginning.”
