Rick Ross nabs his fifth cover in an important year in the MMG headmaster’s career.

Rick Ross has been here before – with his sixth album Mastermind, and his fifth cover of The Source Magazine – he’s out to prove that he’ll be here for a while. In an interview with Shaheem Reid, the Teflon Don recalls some of the memories that helped him actualize his dream of being a major businessman and music mogul, and discusses the goals he has for himself and his team. “It feel good as hell. When you look at these dope ass covers, just being on the bible, it still means that much to me. You understand? I’m going into my 6th album, my 5th cover just letting you know that every year they supported the team MMG. Get ready for the craziest Ricky Rozay story, as soon as you see me on the cover, pick it up, even if I’m not on the cover, still pick it up. It’s the culture.”

On flipping Wu-Tang’s “Shame On A N***a & working with Raekwon on Mastermind:
“It’s just like being blessed by the Hip-Hop Gods. They only open the Bible but for so many. I remember when Wu-Tang sucked all the air out of Miami, I was still in high school and it was the f*ckin’ Wu-Tang; n****s from the dirtiest areas and streets of America.

On referencing the attempt on his life on his new album, Mastermind:
“Me being in that position that I was in, or that I’m in, it was like ‘maybe the homie was really trying to tell us something, but we just took it as a record. We took it as a song.’ I was like that’s why it was so powerful and meaningful to us as a culture. We’re all fighting for our own existence. Every day we perform, every day you got to go to work, we’re fighting the critics off you, your bosses, your managers, your coworkers of whatever it is. We all on some level relate to those record”

On the Mastermind recording process being the longest of his career:
“I took my time. I toured with the team. Last album, I toured with the team and went back into this album. The approach production wise, the overall agenda for the music and the album, I took my time.

Be sure to pick up the new issue of The Source Magazine when it hits newsstands on November 26th.