Rick Ross changed the landscape of rap when he forged his indomitable empire Maybach Music Group. His new signees, Wale and Meek Mill, were unproven commodities who simply needed a chance to thrive and eclipse expectations. Under Ross' tutelage, both artists have sculpted strong careers and have expanded their fanbases exponentially. Wale’s poetic ambiance fused with Meek’s rugged and street demeanor is what makes MMG go. When they’re both on a track, you’re almost guaranteed nothing but energy and fiery bars. We decided to pick some of our favorite tracks and pit the two MMG alpha dogs against one other. Who had the better verse between Meek and Wale? Check it out and cast your vote.
Rick Ross Featuring Wale & Meek Mill - “Pandemonium”
Tracks like “Pandemonium” only conveyed Ross’ genius at the time. This was just another MMG banger during their impeccable era. Ross let the dogs out on this one. Meek and Wale both showed out and showcased their promise. “Fuck your girl, give her back I’m courteous/I can keep a secret with Vicky, have a ménage with Nicki/And be out London with Lauren and telling Megan good morning/Catch me rolling with Kelly or at the Hilton with Paris,” said Meek. Wale upped the ante with a myriad of bars. "Where I’m from it’s cold and n*ggas get at you like handkerchiefs," he rapped. He kept getting stronger as he rapped. “God bless you unless you was disrespectful/Bitches disappoint you but money won’t ever stress you/They say I’m special as Devin Hester on fourth down/So all the shit you n*ggas talking we ain’t worried about,” Wale exclaimed. Wale tore this beat a new one.
Winner: Wale
Your Vote:
Rick Ross, Wale, Meek Mill, Pill & Teedra Moses - “Self Made Intro”
This intro was beyond cold. Both Meek Mill and Wale wanted to establish themselves as reputable artists with MMG and prove that they were worth the investment. What better way to prove it than by eviscerating the intro to their first MMG collaboration album? When Ross elected to add members to bolster his roster, who would have thought that Meek and Wale would transform into the beasts they are now. “It’s funny how Pucci made all the snakes gone/I’m winning cause Ricky made my mistakes known/It’s funny that since I put this chain/These bitches appear quicker than State Farm,” rapped Wale. He didn’t stop there. “Wale Folarin, something they can’t ever smoke/Weed I can’t pronounce man, this shit would leave Rosetta stoned.” Meek countered back and swung for the fences. “I made it myself, guess I’m self-made/Fire starter, put me anywhere I just blaze/dropped out of school and never made it to the 12th grade/I’m so fucking raw haters hoping I catch AIDS.” The animated star kept his foot on the pedal-- “I kill these rappers early in the game, abortion/Spit a verse like lemme get ya fam, extortion/Send these n*ggas back to when they came, deportion/Make em’ forfeit and I’m porshin’, 600 horses.” This is a toss-up, but we’ll go with Wale. His bars were unreal.
Winner: Wale
Your Vote:
Wale Featuring Meek Mill & Teedra Mosses - "Runnin' Rebels"
Wale and Meek teamed up on the last track for Self Made. Both men delivered hellacious performances lyrically. “Moving in unison, used to be such a hooligan/But now I’m on a roll, I think I’m Patches O’Houlilhan/Ben Stiller, Zoolander, same face/Bars change a n*gga life, n*gga scared straight/Jordan 8 stragged up, blazing out some backyard," rapped Folarin. Meek was next up and stole the show. “Lead by strategy, winning I do sporadically/Try attacking me, automatic shoot automatically/city back me, headed for it, no looking back at me/lyrical assault, they charge me without the battery.” Give the bucket to Meek.
Winner: Meek Mill
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Wale Featuring Rick Ross & Meek Mill – “Ambition”
This chilling record featured Meek and Ross. This track only signified the seamless chemistry between Wale, Meek, and Ross. Meek thrives over dark and ominous beats. Meek may not be the most lyrical, but his energy and candor outshines his vices. “I was raised by the stop sign/no religion, I was getting saved by the Glock nine/by the minute, I was getting paid like a hot line/Server rollin’, fiends was callin’ we was dot com,” Meek rhymed over “Ambition.” “Now I move with aggression, use my mind as a weapon/Cause chances are never given, they token like interceptions/so throw that pass, I’ll be the cornerback/Me and Folarin, MMG’ gon bring that Warner back,” he continued. Grrr *Flex voice* Wale did this thing and had a crazy quotable when he said, “LeBron shit, I was in the six after 23,” but Meek still overpowered him on this one.
Winner: Meek Mill
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MMG Featuring Kendrick Lamar - "Power Circle"
“Power Circle” served as the intro for Self Made 2. By this time, both Meek and Wale proved that they were formidable solo acts and more than capable rappers. Attaining new levels of success didn’t stop the two men from flexing lyrically on “Power Circle.” “I give her D, I throw up two, I call that shit a safety,” said the football savant that is Wale. "So shut the fuck up and listen, fuck all them stuck up musicians/my circle small but regardless my circumference official," he rapped. He punctuated his verse with another metaphor by saying, “We don’t deal with weak squares in this power circle.” Meek was up next and was aggressive from the jump. “Clique full of real n*ggas that’ll probably murk you/cause they about that murder game, you do a lot of verbal,” he said. Normally, Meek’s gritty delivery outshines most, but here, Wale’s cogent lyricism put him over the top.
Winner: Wale
Your Vote:
Wale Featuring Meek Mill - "Heaven’s Afternoon"
Folarin and Meek linked back up again, this time on Wale’s junior effort The Gifted. Wale returned the favor after Meek stole the show on “Ambition.” “I’m appeased and obliged/Scorpio freaks, quantity Gemini.” Instead of just tossing a slew of hard-hitting bars, Wale was more insightful than anything on this track. “Dreamkillers out, I put you in the rear/Before I put them in a song, put them in a prayer,” he said. After Wale’s verse, the two MMG rappers were playing volleyball with the beat and did their best Jada and Styles P impression. Meek switched up his flow and delivered something different on that front, but lyrically, Wale edged him on this record.
Winner: Wale
Your Vote:
Wale Featuring J.Cole, Meek Mill, & Rockie Fresh - "Black Grammys"
If you’re been following this series from day one, you’ll probably remember we used "Black Grammys" for J. Cole Vs. Wale. Meek Mill also appeared on this track for Self Made 3 and demolished every bit of it, as well, so let's look at it at different angle today. “Yeah, everything fine and dandy/Hurricane flow, dropped my album, it was sandy/On another level, so they couldn’t understand me/I guess I gotta take what I like Meyer Lansky,” he rapped. Meek scripted some unforgettable bars that made you sit back and marvel at his talent. “I eat a n*gga first four bars without a Kit-Kat, pause.” He continued to finish his verse with gusto and put a nail on the coffin with these last lines: “I learned to hustle when I took that loss, I did/18 when I took that charge/time to retire old n*ggas like they did Brett Favre, you dig?” The point goes to Meek.
Winner: Meek Mill
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