It was supposed to be just another lucrative stop on the “Biggest Boss’s” never-ending tour schedule. On June 30, 2024, Rick Ross arrived in Vancouver, Canada, to perform at the Ignite Music Festival. The energy was high, the checks were cashed, and the fans were ready. But by the end of the night, the hip-hop world would be captivated not by the music, but by a chaotic brawl that has since reignited old feuds and solidified new rivalries. What transpired that evening turned a standard performance into a viral moment that united two of Ross’s fiercest enemies: 50 Cent and Drake.
The Trigger: A Disrespectful Drop in “Champagne Papi” Town
The catalyst for the violence was a decision that can only be described as either incredibly brave or supremely reckless. As Ross finished his set and prepared to leave the stage, the speakers blasted Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” This wasn’t just any song; it was the anthem of Drake’s public dismantling during their heated lyrical warfare earlier in the year. Playing the track that accuses Drake of heinous acts right in his home country was a direct provocation.
The reaction was swift and physical. Viral footage shows Ross and his entourage being confronted by a group of approximately 15 men. Words were exchanged, demands were made to cut the music, and then, the situation exploded. A punch was thrown, connecting with Ross, and chaos ensued. The video captures the “Biggest Boss” in a vulnerable position, his security team overwhelmed, and a member of his camp being brutally beaten on the ground.
Drake’s Silent but Deadly Co-Sign
While Drake wasn’t present at the festival, his presence was felt immediately in the digital aftermath. In the era of social media warfare, a “like” can be as damaging as a diss track. Drake liked a video of the fight on Instagram, which was captioned, “Y’all already know this a champagne poppy town.”
This was a clear, public endorsement of the violence. It signaled that the relationship between the two former collaborators—who once gave us hits like “Aston Martin Music” and “Lord Knows”—was profoundly dead. Drake’s satisfaction with Ross’s humiliation spoke volumes, marking a definitive end to a brotherhood that had already been fracturing since the release of the “Push-Ups” diss track in April 2024.
50 Cent’s Relentless Victory Lap
If Drake’s reaction was a subtle nod, 50 Cent’s response was a bullhorn. Curtis Jackson, who has been locked in a petty and personal feud with Ross for over 15 years, treated the Vancouver incident like a holiday.
50 Cent immediately took to social media, posting videos mocking the situation with his trademark blend of faux-concern and ruthless trolling. In one clip, he laughed uncontrollably while advising Ross to “get the Dreamchasers,” a pointed jab at Meek Mill’s label and Ross’s tangled alliances.
But 50 didn’t stop at Instagram posts. He took his trolling to the stage. During a performance at the Ottawa Bluesfest on July 6, 2024, he addressed the Canadian crowd directly, feigning shock: “I can’t believe what y’all did to Rick Ross. You f***ed him up!” He scanned the audience, pretending to look for the attacker, asking, “Who said Canada was soft?”
Weeks later, in Toronto on July 21, 50 Cent continued the barrage, thanking the crowd for making him feel at home because “some of y’all kicked Rick Ross’ ass.” For 50, this was vindication—ammunition for a war he has been waging since 2009.
The Denial and the Narrative Spin
Rick Ross, known for his unshakeable confidence and commitment to his own “boss” persona, attempted to flip the script. On July 4, he went on Instagram Live to give his version of events, painting a picture that starkly contradicted the viral footage.
“I’m still convinced ain’t no n***a punch me,” Ross insisted, claiming that the attacker “squatted down” to his eyes when confronted. He described the assailant as looking like “Bam Bam Bigelow” and claimed the man froze when Ross threatened him. Ross attributed his team’s inability to handle the crowd to legal issues, stating that his usual security detail couldn’t enter Canada due to felonies.
Whether fans believe Ross’s “action movie” version of events or the grainy reality of the smartphone footage is almost beside the point. Ross refuses to take a public “L,” transforming every defeat into a marketing opportunity for his brand.
The Tia Kemp Factor: Betrayal from Within
Adding insult to injury, Ross’s ex and mother of his child, Tia Kemp, jumped into the fray with zero hesitation. She went live on Instagram to roast Ross, mocking his “fat eye” and ridiculing his toughness.
The situation reached a peak of pettiness when Kemp commented on a photo of Drake celebrating Canada Day. Drake responded by calling her “my goat,” a masterstroke of disrespect that allied him with Ross’s bitter ex. Ross fired back, calling Drake a “pedo” and mocking Kemp’s age, but the damage was done. The alliance between Ross’s enemies was complete.
A History of Bad Blood
To understand the magnitude of this moment, one must look at the history. The Ross vs. 50 Cent beef is legendary, spanning lawsuits, bankruptcy filings, and cartoons. It allegedly started over a “dirty look” at the 2008 BET Awards. Conversely, the Ross vs. Drake fallout is fresh and arguably more painful, given their history of “Shack and Kobe-like” chemistry in the studio.
From planned joint albums to throwing punches in foreign countries, the trajectory of these relationships highlights the volatile nature of the music industry. DJ Khaled, a friend to all involved, has been left in the awkward position of preaching “love” while his brothers tear each other apart.
The Verdict
As of now, Rick Ross stands alone against a formidable lineup of adversaries. 50 Cent is energized, Drake is vindictive, and the internet is watching every move. The Vancouver brawl wasn’t just a fight; it was a shifting of the tectonic plates in hip-hop culture. While Ross sips his Luc Belaire and claims to lose no sleep, the footage remains forever on the internet—a reminder that in the rap game, no one is untouchable.