Rick Ross - Lesson Learned Ft. Lil Wayne Link

He didn't need a pen. He stepped up to the microphone in his home studio, closed his eyes, and let the stream of consciousness flow:

When the two verses were mixed together, "Lesson Learned" became more than a rap song. It was an audio documentary of two titans who had survived the music industry's darkest labyrinths. Rick Ross - Lesson Learned ft. Lil Wayne

Wayne listened to the rough track Ross sent over an hour later. The beat was soulful, laced with heavy, mourning violins and a slow, deliberate bassline that felt like a heartbeat. He didn't need a pen

"Talk to me," the voice on the other end was raspy, instantly recognizable. Lil Wayne was awake in his own sanctuary, probably surrounded by skateboards and half-written verses. Wayne listened to the rough track Ross sent

He touched on the public battles with father figures and record labels, the agonizing years where his own music was held hostage.