Shaq and Rick Ross make a formidable pair.
While Rick Ross may be renowned as the biggest boss in the music industry, he certainly doesn’t overshadow the towering figure of Shaquille O’Neal, who stands at 7 feet 1 inch.
In October, Ross gained viral attention for gifting Shaq a custom chain adorned with the emblem of his record label, Maybach Music Group. Ross now reveals the meticulous process involved in crafting a necklace for someone of Shaq’s stature.
“First and foremost, you have to ensure you acquire flawless emeralds, and then the piece has to complement… This is someone who’s 7 feet tall, so his piece would appear much smaller on him than on me,” Ross shares with PEOPLE.
“So I suggested, let’s triple up on it. No budget constraints. It’s for the big homie, Shaq Diesel, Shaq Fu. You know what I mean?”
Ross chose a larger pendant and ensured that “the Cuban link was a lot thicker.”
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“But it was definitely worth it,” he asserts. “And it felt great. You know what I’m saying? I’m delighted that the homie enjoyed it. He kept texting me for the next few days.”
Beyond jewelry, O’Neal and Ross discuss various topics via text, delving into areas like business franchising and other strategic moves. Recently, their shared prowess on the microphone became a point of connection.
As part of Ross and Meek Mill’s November album, “Too Good to Be True,” they collaborated with O’Neal and NBA star Damian Lillard for a remix of the single “Shaq & Kobe.” This collaboration occurred three decades after Ross first purchased Shaq’s debut LP, “Shaq Diesel,” in 1993, sparking his recognition of Shaq as a true artist.
“I respected his gift. So him getting on our joint, him respecting my talent, me putting that Maybach Music piece around his neck, man, that meant a lot. You know what I’m saying? That meant a lot to Rozay,” Ross reflects.
Shaq’s towering presence never diminishes the brilliance of his larger-than-life personality.
