Maybach Music Group leader Rick Ross helped ignite last night's Hot 97 Summer Jam concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey after co-headliner Nicki Minaj pulled out of the event at the last minute.
At the highly publicized Sunday night event, Ricky Rozay relied on smash anthems to help keep fans' minds off Minaj's absence.
Much of the place continued to worship at the altar of the other Maybach Music guy, one Ricky Rozay, wielding the microphone and that sculpted beard of his for unmistakable presence. "I think I'm Big Meech, Larry Hoover! ... Hawh!" He followed that up with his monster hit "Hustlin'," accompanied by his Maybach associates, saving most-wanted track "Stay Schemin'" for last. Of course, French Montana's already here, but no sight of Drake, that other guy on the song ... and Young Money friend to the absent Nicki Minaj. (Star-Ledger)
Ross also had help from surprise guest Ma$e who came out to perform alongside MMG's Wale
Lauryn Hill and Nas still performed, and 2 Chainz guested during both Young Jeezy and Big Sean's sets, but the rest of Nicki's guests never made it out. Scheduled Cash Money acts DJ Khaled and Busta Rhymes were backstage but didn't perform, in what appeared to be a show of solidarity. Still, Maino set things off, performing his hits like "Hi Hater" and "All the Above," then bringing out Swizz Beatz, A$AP Rocky and New York rap veterans M.O.P. Slaughterhouse, Young Jeezy, J. Cole, Big Sean and Tyga all took the stage, and after a Nas/Lauryn Hill set, Rick Ross and his Maybach Music Group ended the night with a medley of hits like French Montana's "Shot Caller," Meek Mill's "I'm a Boss," Wale's "Slight Work" remix with Ma$e and Rick Ross' "Stay Schemin'." (MTV)
The event also got a boast of energy from billed rap stars J. Cole and Young Jeezy.
Victor Cruz, wide receiver for the New York Giants, introduced the Hot 97 morning show crew, and this time, no one asked him to salsa dance. And again, nothing was said about Nicki Minaj. North Carolina rapper J. Cole acted as the preface to the heavyweights on the bill, and might even be considered one himself, though his set was pretty mellow. His song "Work Out" has certainly gotten its fair share of play on Hot 97, but it was as if everyone was waiting for the summery uptempo of "Can't Get Enough." Yet even when that arrive, much of the crowd still treated him like a rookie. As the sky dimmed to dark blue, the true star arrived: Young Jeezy, who hilariously started with a clip of President Barack Obama name-checking the rapper at the recent White House Correspondents' Dinner. (Star-Ledger)
Minaj's decision to snub the concert came courtesy of Hot 97 radio personality Peter Rosenberg taking a shot at her earlier in the show.
Hmmmm..what happened in those few short hours to make Lil Wayne pull the plug? Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg made a comment that Young Money wasn't too fond of while on air during the pre-show to the effect of, "Shout out to all my real hip-hop heads and none of these Starship artists" So, how does this affect the show? Out of the entire YMCMB crew only Nicki Minaj and Tyga were confirmed to perform (although Nicki inevitably would have brought the whole family out with her.) Tyga has already taken the stage and performed his set, but he will be the last of the Young Money crew who makes an appearance. (Global Grind)
Prior to Summer Jam, New York rapper French Montana spoke on his anticipation to grace the stage.
He was actually supposed to hit the stage last year as a surprise during Rick Ross' set, but says he got bumped when Ross' set ran long. "I was kinda hurt," Montana said of the missed chance to perform "Choppa Choppa Down." But this time Montana has his own set. "It's a big thing for me, especially being from New York. It's the night that everybody talks about," he said of the concert, adding that over the years, the Summer Jam stage has seen the biggest entertainers, from Jay-Z to Michael Jackson. (New York Daily News)
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