French Montana may have entered his VERZUZ battle against Rick Ross as the underdog, but he left with the internet arguing in his favor.
The two rappers faced off on Thursday night, May 7, in the latest VERZUZ matchup. What many expected to be a smooth win for Ross turned into a much tighter battle than fans predicted. By the end of the night, French reportedly edged out Rozay with a close 10-9 score, thanks to a catalog built on street records, club anthems, and massive collaborations.
Before the battle, most of the conversation leaned toward Rick Ross. Fans pointed to his deeper solo catalog, his stage presence, and the weight of records like “Hustlin’,” “B.M.F.,” “Aston Martin Music,” and “The Boss.” Ross delivered those moments with the confidence people expected, reminding viewers why he remains one of rap’s most recognizable voices from the 2000s and 2010s.
French, however, had a different kind of advantage. His catalog may not carry the same critical weight as Ross’, but it has lived in clubs, parties, mixtapes, and feature runs for years. Once he started pulling out records like “Shot Caller,” “Ain’t Worried About Nothin’,” “Lockjaw,” and “Unforgettable,” the mood online began to shift.
The biggest turning point came when French’s combination of “Choppa Choppa Down” and “Pop That” helped him win one of the night’s most debated rounds. “Pop That” was already expected to be a major moment because both artists are tied to the record, but French’s use of it gave him one of the surprise wins of the battle.
Fans were not exactly quiet about the result. Some argued that Ross had the stronger discography and should have taken the night. Others felt French played the better VERZUZ game by choosing records that hit harder in a live setting.
“This is not funny. Rick Ross have a better discography,” one fan wrote on X.
Another questioned one of the night’s most controversial calls, writing, “UNFORGETTABLE OVER DEVIL IN A NEW DRESS WHAT ARE WE DOING.”
Still, even some Ross supporters admitted the battle was closer than expected. “I had Ross 10/9 but could of went either way,” one user wrote, adding that French nearly sealed the night once he played “Unforgettable.”
Ross still had plenty of winning moments. “I’m A Boss,” “Stay Schemin’,” “B.M.F.,” and “Aston Martin Music” all reminded fans why he was the favorite going in. His performance energy also gave him an edge in several rounds, especially when the battle leaned into presence rather than just streaming numbers.
But French Montana’s win speaks to what VERZUZ often rewards. It is not always about who has the cleaner album catalog or the stronger critical reputation. Sometimes, it comes down to timing, crowd memory, and the songs people instantly recognize once the beat drops.