Rick Ross on Kidnapping Case: “We’re In a Situation Where It’s Do-or-Die”

Over the last week, Rick Ross has tried aggressively to wrestle the spotlight back onto his music. He tried his hand at "Stick Talk," a standout song from Future's ubiquitous Dirty Sprite 2; prior to that he remixed unlikely breakout star Post Malone's "White Iverson." Perhaps most interestingly, Ross today (Oct. 29) lent his voice to "Hello," Adele's comeback single that has already started tearing up radio and the online charts (thanks in no small part to a video that co-stars Mack Wilds). The three songs are presumably part of a promotional run that will culminate with his just-announced December album, Black Market. But all this has failed to fully obscure the bleaker reality: Ross is facing kidnapping, assault and battery charges stemming from a bizarre case involving a landscaper at his Georgia home.

In a new interview with MTV, the Miami rapper speaks about the case in no uncertain terms. “I think me sitting here right now with you, with an ankle monitor on, out on bond, multiple millions of dollars tied up, we’re in a situation where it’s do-or-die,” Ross said. “So, now what you’ve been getting is music that I wanted to feed the streets with. These are things that have been at the top of my mind.” Earlier this fall, Ross dropped a surprise mixtape, Black Dollar, which showcased more focus than was evident on either of his last two official Def Jam efforts.