Having a top flight rap crew behind an artist is a standard in hip-hop. All throughout the genre's history, there has always been a crew behind a budding star. 50 Cent had G-unit, Cam'ron had Dipset, Diddy had the Bad Boy Family, to name a few. So when Rick Ross entered the game, he founded Maybach Music Group in 2009, right after his release of his third studio album, Deeper Than Rap. At that time, Ross had cemented himself as one of the bosses of the industry. But you can't be a boss without a support system having your back.

If Ross is the general of MMG, Meek Mill and Wale are his lieutenants. Things were very different in the crew back then. Meek was released from jail after serving time for gun and drug possession. The then-budding Philadelphia rapper built his strong fanbase from the ground up with his Flamers mixtape series and freestyle videos. Wale was one of the most sought-after rappers in hip-hop after releasing a string of critically acclaimed mixtapes such as The Mixtape About Nothing, Back to the Feature, 100 Miles & Running and More About Nothing.

Over time, Rozay would quickly building his team, signing members like Pill (a former member), Teedra Moses (also a former member), Gunplay, Triple Cs, Stalley, Omarion, Rockie Fresh, Fat Trel, Tracy T and Yowda. Over the last five years, MMG has released three volumes of their Self Made LP series. With Vol. 4 -- which is executively produced by Wale -- coming out later this year and Maybach Music Group Weekend happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, XXL takes a look at the best songs in the album series.

  • "I'm A Boss"

    Meek Mill Featuring Rick Ross
  • "Bag of Money"

    Wale Featuring Rick Ross, Meek Mill and T Pain
  • "Levels"

    Meek Mill
  • "Self Made"

    Wale, Meek Mill, Pill, Rick Ross and Teedra Moses
  • "Tupac Back"

    Meek Mill Featuring Rick Ross
  • "Power Circle"

    Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill, Rick Ross Featuring Kendrick Lamar
  • "M.I.A."

    Omarion Featuring Wale
  • "God Is Great"

    Rockie Fresh
  • "This Thing Of Ours"

    Wale and Omarion Featuring Rick Ross and Nas
  • "Fountain of Youth"

    Stalley Featuring Rick Ross and Nipsey Hussle
  • "Know You Better"

    Omarion Featuring Pusha T and Fabolous
  • "Rise"

    Pill Featuring Wale, Teedra Moses, Cyhi Da Prynce and Curren$y
  • "Don't Let Me Go"

    Pill Featuring Gunplay
  • "Black Magic"

    Meek Mill Featuring Rick Ross
  • "Poor Decisions"

    Wale Featuring Rick Ross and Lupe Fiasco

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