miami
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African music is dominating the global soundscape, with Afrobeats and other genres reshaping mainstream music around the world. 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 sooner.
“I love it,” Ross said of Afrobeats’ global acquisition. “If you really understand live music and real music, you know this. It’s been a long time coming.”
In a wide-ranging interview with CNN’s Lamido Akintobi in Miami, the American rapper and Maybach Music Group founder said today’s Afrobeats explosion goes back decades to the pioneers who laid its foundation.
“When you think of Afrobeats now, it’s Fela Kuti,” he said. “That funk vibe has been with me for years and years.”
Rick Ross talks Afrobeats, African collaborations, and his legacy in hip-hop
“A lot of hip-hop was inspired by James Brown and his samples, and that’s what Fela was to me,” Ross said, drawing parallels familiar to hip-hop fans, comparing pioneering Nigerian musician Kuti’s influence on African music to James Brown’s influence on early hip-hop.
“It was always genius,” he added. “Right now, I’m just settling in and enjoying it. And I really feel like this is just the beginning.”
Early African collaborations — before they became mainstream
Long before cross-continental collaborations became commonplace, Ross was already building musical bridges. He recalled when he appeared on the remix of “Beautiful Onyinye” with Nigerian duo P-Square in 2012.
Ross described the music he released between 2009 and 2014 (which he calls his “Maybach Music era”) as an opportunity to explore a broader sound, weaving elements of jazz and funk into hip-hop. “I love those records,” he said.
Ross said he became more drawn to the sound by discussing African music with Senegalese-American star Akon. One of those meetings connected him with P-Square, which led to a remix of “Beautiful Onyinye.”
“They were young, but they were badass. I saw the vision. I saw the talent. And this was before this was popular…and it was just natural,” Ross said.
Years later, collaborations with artists such as Nigeria’s Yemi Alade took over.
“First of all, she’s on fire. She’s just crazy. Her style, her energy,” Ross said. “It’s organic, it’s real…and to me, it’s open-ended. There’s no limit to how big this shit can get. It’s just going to keep growing.”
He has also performed with artists such as Nigerian-American rapper Wale and Ghanaian star Stonebwoy, further expanding his African collaborations across genres.
Now Ross has doubled. He revealed that new collaborative projects with African artists and producers are already in the works through his label Maybach Music Group.
“So many African artists, producers, big and small businesses…we’ve been collaborating on this project for over 12 months…It’s halfway through the year, get ready, we’re going to do something really big.”
He also talked about his ultimate dream lineup: an intergenerational African diaspora supergroup. “If I had a dream collaboration right now, it would be Ricky Rozay, Bob Marley, Fela Kuti and Burna Boy,” he said. “Imagine…that’s king level.”
He further added, “I definitely want to pay homage to Burna Boy and what he’s done. Burning, burning boy… I saw a young Rozay in him. Don’t stand still… And to me, that’s what the game is about. What the culture is about.”
The rapper’s connection to Africa extends beyond music. During a recent visit to Zimbabwe, Ross received a hero’s welcome from fans and local leaders.
During his visit, he expressed interest in investing in real estate in the country, suggesting that ties with the African continent could soon extend to business and real estate. The visit confirmed what he has long said publicly: Africa is a place of opportunity and long-term partnerships.
Ross also recalled a powerful moment when he traveled to Durban, South Africa in May 2025 to headline the Durban Music Fest at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Ahead of the show, he said he visited underserved areas despite warnings from authorities.
“I saw the beauty of where we were going,” he said.
“The very next night I had one of the biggest concerts there…and it was just one of those, hey hey…it felt good. There was energy there, there was love there. This is what Rozay is supposed to do here.”
For Ross, Africa is not a moment, but a momentum. “This is a great place and I’m just warming up,” he said.
And as Afrobeats continues to dominate the global charts, the Miami rapper insists the world is simply catching up to the rhythms that have always existed. “I’m sitting back and enjoying it,” he repeated. “And I really feel like this is just the beginning.”
