Although he's denied the rumors of being a correction officer, Rick Ross' denial was proven wrong last week when The Smoking Gun (TSG) dropped a bombshell on the Miami rapper's credibility by leaking evidence that he was, in fact, a prison guard in the past.

The rapper recently addressed all the talk since the TSG leak, and he seems to be taking the crack in his street armor with a grain of salt. As he said when the rumors were first leaked on blogs, Ross maintains that he's the victim of a hater trying to tarnish his image.

In an interview with Phoenix, Arizona radio station Power 98.3 (KKFR-FM), Ross responded to questions about his prison guard past by saying "Don't believe the hype."

He continued his explanation, detailing the competition an artist faces when they enter the rap game.

"In the game we in, it's real competitive," Ross said. "Competitors have to do what they have to do to eat. We making the best music. ... We the biggest in the game, we the best in the game. Just keeping it real. And anytime somebody can attack my character. Like I said, you get nothing from the Boss. I don't give haters the pleasure."

As far as all the talk on the internet and controversy, Ross says it's a part of the job, and its helping him get even bigger.

"When you get to my level, you're a great conversation piece," the rapper explained. "I'm big on the blogs, I'm big on the magazines, and I appreciate that as an artist. That's why I'm in the game.

"Just keep the rumors coming," he continued.