Rick Ross is setting the record straight about his former relationship with Drake, insisting that the years they spent working together and publicly supporting one another were genuine despite their current fallout.

During a recent appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast, Ross addressed questions surrounding his highly publicized split from the Toronto superstar. Joe Budden suggested that some fans have wondered whether the friendship and frequent collaborations between the two rappers had been more of a business arrangement than a real bond, asking why neither artist has ever admitted that their relationship may have been a “facade.”

Ross quickly rejected that idea.

“No, no, don’t get it fed up. Nothing about that was fake,” he said. “If a na fk with you, a n*a f**k with you. If it’s something that go left, that’s when it go left.”

The MMG founder explained that relationships can change over time without invalidating what came before. According to Ross, the respect and friendship he shared with Drake during their run of hit collaborations was authentic, even if circumstances eventually caused the relationship to deteriorate.

Budden continued to question what could have caused such a dramatic split after years of working together. Ross responded by comparing the situation to Budden’s own professional history, referencing the podcast host’s split from former co-hosts Rory and Mal. He argued that not every falling out requires a hidden explanation and that people simply move in different directions as their lives and businesses evolve.

Ross and Drake were once among hip-hop’s most successful collaborators, delivering records including “Aston Martin Music,” “Lord Knows,” “Stay Schemin'” and “Money in the Grave.” Their relationship fractured during the industry-wide tensions surrounding Drake’s feud with Kendrick Lamar, with Ross eventually releasing diss records aimed at his former collaborator.

Although the two remain estranged, Ross has recently softened his tone when discussing Drake. Earlier this year, he said he did not want to see Drake fail and encouraged him to continue succeeding in his career, while making it clear that their personal issues had not erased the music they created together.

Ross echoed that sentiment again during the Joe Budden interview, saying he has no intention of pretending their collaborative history never happened. He explained that he will continue to celebrate the records they made because “you can’t change your past,” even if fans hoping for a reunion should not read too much into his performances of those songs.