William Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), known professionally as Rick Ross, is an American rapper.
Prior to releasing his debut single, "
Hustlin'
"Hustlin' is the debut single by American rapper Rick Ross, and the first single from his debut album ''Port of Miami'', produced by The Runners.
The song was a breakthrough for Ross, and skyrocketed him to worldwide fame almost overnight. It ...
", in 2006, Ross was the subject of a bidding war, receiving offers from
Diddy's
Bad Boy Entertainment
Bad Boy Records (or Bad Boy Entertainment) is an American record label founded in 1993 by rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs. It operates as an imprint of Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. It has been home to many artists, including ...
and
Irv Gotti
Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. (born June 26, 1970), professionally known as Irv Gotti, is an American DJ, music producer, record executive, and the CEO and co-founder of Murder Inc. Records. He is best known for producing multiple number-one rec ...
's
Murder Inc., until signing a multimillion-dollar deal with
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
on
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The ...
. Ross released his debut album ''
Port of Miami
The Port of Miami, styled as "PortMiami" but formally the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami, is a major seaport located in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River in Miami, Florida. It is the largest passenger port in the world, and one of the ...
'' through the label later that year, debuting at the top spot on the U.S.
''Billboard'' 200 album chart, with sales of 187,000 units during the first week.
Ross released his second studio album, ''
Trilla
''Trilla'' is the second studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on March 11, 2008, by Slip-n-Slide Records, Def Jam South Recordings and Poe Boy Entertainment. Production was handled by The Runners, J. R. Rotem, Drumma B ...
'', in 2008, once again debuting atop the ''Billboard'' 200.
Outside of his solo career, Ross was a lead member of the hip hop group
Triple C's
Triple C's, also known as Carol City Cartel, is an American hip hop group founded by Rick Ross in 2005. The group takes its name from the Carol City neighborhood of Miami Gardens, and consists of Gunplay from Miami, Torch from the Bronx, New Yo ...
, alongside fellow Florida rappers
Gunplay and
Torch
A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end, which is ignited and used as a light source. Torches have been used throughout history, and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggling entertainment. In ...
, in 2005. Ross founded the record label
Maybach Music Group in 2009, on which he released his studio albums ''
Deeper Than Rap
''Deeper Than Rap'' is the third studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on April 21, 2009, by his record label Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records; distributed by Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album t ...
'' (2009), ''
Teflon Don'' (2010), ''
God Forgives, I Don't
''God Forgives, I Don't'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on July 30, 2012, by Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records, and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. The album was produced by several recor ...
'' (2012), ''
Mastermind
Mastermind, Master Mind or The Mastermind may refer to:
Fictional characters
* Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde), a fictional supervillain in Marvel Comics, a title also held by his daughters:
** Martinique Jason, the first daughter and successor of th ...
and'' ''
Hood Billionaire'' (2014), ''
Black Market
A black market, underground economy, or shadow economy is a clandestine market or series of transactions that has some aspect of illegality or is characterized by noncompliance with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the se ...
'' (2015), ''
Rather You Than Me
''Rather You Than Me'' is the ninth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on March 17, 2017, through Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Raphael Saadiq, Chris Rock, Young Thug, W ...
'' (2017), ''
Port of Miami 2
''Port of Miami 2'' is the tenth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on August 9, 2019, by Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Wale, Gunplay, Summer Walker, Dej Loaf, Swizz Be ...
'' (2019), and his eleventh studio album
''Richer Than I Ever Been'', released in December 2021. It features acts such as American rappers
Future
The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...
,
Wale, and DreamDoll; singer
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Marie Sullivan (born April 9, 1987) is an American R&B and soul singer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, her debut album, ''Fearless'' was released in 2008. The record topped ''Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was certifie ...
; and even ex-con
Willie Falcon, serving as the narrator for the album’s introductory track.
Prominent industry acts have also been signed to Rick Ross through the Maybach Music label, including
Meek Mill
Robert Rihmeek Williams (born May 6, 1987), known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he embarked on his music career as a battle rapper, and later formed a short-lived rap group, ...
,
Wale, and
French Montana
Karim Kharbouch (Arabic: æɾiːm χɑɾbuːʃ born November 9, 1984), better known by his stage name French Montana, is a Moroccan-American rapper. Born and raised in Morocco, he emigrated to the United States with his family when he was 13. ...
, among others.
In early 2012,
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
named Ross as the
Hottest MC in the Game.
Early life
William Leonard Roberts II was born in
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Clarksdale is a city in and the county seat of Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. It is located along the Sunflower River. Clarksdale is named after John Clark, a settler who founded the city in the mid-19th century when he establishe ...
,
[Birth certificate](_blank)
of William Roberts (Rick Ross) as scanned by ''The Smoking Gun
The Smoking Gun is a website that posts legal documents, arrest records, and police mugshots on a daily basis. The intent is to bring to the public light information that is somewhat obscure or unreported by more mainstream media sources. Most o ...
'' and raised in
Carol City, Florida
Carol City is a neighborhood in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. The population was 61,233 at the 2010 census. It was formerly a census-designated place.
History
Julius Gaines, the developer, had originally planned to name it Coral City. Ho ...
.
After graduating from
Miami Carol City Senior High School
Miami Carol City Senior High School (MCCSH) is a public high school located at 3301 Miami Gardens Drive
in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. It was established in 1963. The school is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. The sc ...
, he attended the
historically black college
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. M ...
Albany State University
Albany State University is a public historically black university in Albany, Georgia. In 2017, Darton State College and Albany State University consolidated to become one university under the University System of Georgia (USG). Albany State Un ...
on a football scholarship. Roberts worked as a correctional officer for 18 months from December 1995, until his resignation in June 1997.
Career
Career beginnings
In his early years at Suave House Records, Roberts initially made his debut under the pseudonym Teflon Da Don. He made his recording debut on the song "Ain't Shhh to Discuss" on
Erick Sermon
Erick Sermon (born November 25, 1968) is an American rapper, musician, and record producer. He is best known as one-third—alongside PMD & DJ Scratch—of 1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD and for his production work.
Career
Sermon started prof ...
's lone album for
DreamWorks DreamWorks may refer to:
* DreamWorks Pictures, an American film production company of Amblin
** DreamWorks Television, an American television production company and division of the film studio
** DreamWorks Records, an American record label and f ...
, ''
Def Squad Presents Erick Onasis
''Def Squad Presents Erick Onasis'' is the third solo studio album by American rapper and producer Erick Sermon. It was released on June 27, 2000 via DreamWorks Records. The album peaked at #53 on the U.S. Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200 and reac ...
''. In the mid-2000s, he changed his name to Rick Ross. He derived his stage name from the former drug kingpin
"Freeway" Rick Ross, to whom he has no connection.
After being signed to
Suave House Records, former label for rap duo
8Ball & MJG
8Ball & MJG is an American hip hop duo from Memphis, Tennessee. They met at Ridgeway Middle School (Memphis, Tennessee) in 1984. In 1993, the duo released their debut album ''Comin' Out Hard''. They went on to release ''On the Outside Looking I ...
, he eventually signed a deal with Slip-n-Slide Records, which has been under the Def Jam label since 2006. While signed to Slip-n-Slide, Roberts toured with fellow rapper
Trick Daddy
Maurice Samuel Young (born September 27, 1974), better known by his stage name Trick Daddy, is an American rapper from Miami's Liberty City (Miami), Liberty City.
Early life
Trick Daddy was born on September 27, 1974, at Jackson Memorial Hospita ...
and made guest performances on other Slip-n-Slide albums.
2006–2008: ''Port of Miami'' and ''Trilla''
His debut album ''
Port of Miami
The Port of Miami, styled as "PortMiami" but formally the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami, is a major seaport located in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River in Miami, Florida. It is the largest passenger port in the world, and one of the ...
'' was released in August 2006 and debuted at the top spot on the U.S.
''Billboard'' 200 album chart, with sales at 187,000 units during the first week.
Christian Hoard of ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' magazine predicted that it would be "the summer's biggest rap record". The second single was "Push It", which samples "
Scarface (Push It to the Limit)
"Scarface (Push It to the Limit)" is a song written by record producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte and recorded by American musician Paul Engemann. It appeared on the soundtrack for the 1983 motion picture '' Scarface''. The song appear ...
", the theme song from the gangster film ''
Scarface''. The music video for "Push It" was modeled after the film. During that time, Ross made guest performances on two singles from
DJ Khaled
Khaled Mohammed Khaled (born November 26, 1975), known professionally as DJ Khaled, is an American DJ, record executive, record producer and rapper.
Khaled first gained recognition as a radio host in the 1990s on the radio station WEDR, 99 Ja ...
's debut ''
Listennn... the Album'': "Born-N-Raised" and "
Holla at Me
"Holla at Me" is the debut single by DJ Khaled, released in 2006 from his debut album '' Listennn... the Album''. The song features Lil Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Rick Ross and Pitbull, and was produced by Cool & Dre. It samples Afrika Bambaataa & ...
". ''Port of Miami'' received Gold certification from the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
on November 8, 2006.
In March 2008, his second album ''
Trilla
''Trilla'' is the second studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on March 11, 2008, by Slip-n-Slide Records, Def Jam South Recordings and Poe Boy Entertainment. Production was handled by The Runners, J. R. Rotem, Drumma B ...
'' was released and, as its predecessor ''Port of Miami'' had, debuted at the top of the ''Billboard'' 200.
Its lead single "
Speedin'
"Speedin'" is a song co-written and recorded by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released in October 16, 2007 as the lead single from his second album '' Trilla''. The song features R&B singer R. Kelly. The song is produced by production team ...
" featuring
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses.
During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwi ...
peaked at number 21 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles; the next one, "
The Boss" featuring
T-Pain peaked at number 17 on the Hot 100. The third single "
Here I Am" featured
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. (born November 2, 1974), better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, actor and entrepreneur. He embarked on his music career with the hip hop group St. Lunatics in 1993 and signed to Universal ...
and
Avery Storm.
MTV News
MTV News is the news production division of MTV. The service is available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network. In February 2016, MTV Networks confirmed it would refresh the MTV News brand in 2016, to compete with the likes ...
ranked Ross on the fourth spot in its 2008 "Hottest MCs in the Game" list among ten rappers. The fourth single "This Is The Life" featured
Trey Songz
Tremaine Aldon Neverson (born November 28, 1984), known professionally as Trey Songz, is an American R&B singer and rapper. His debut album, '' I Gotta Make It'', was released in 2005 through Atlantic Records. His follow-up album, ''Trey Day'', ...
and was released in July.
2009: ''Deeper Than Rap''
I look at the game and the business and all different aspects, it's a lot of great lyricists on the corner that will never properly understand the business and know how to market themselves and get in a position where they can gain capital. I look at all the strategies people use and what made them successful. What made Birdman just as relevant today after selling 50 million records? That intrigues me. To see the class of Jay-Z, his accomplishments and see how he sits backs and accurately makes his moves.
A track from the album called "Valley of Death" was what stood out to MTV reporters. In the song, Ross speaks briefly on his controversial stint as a prison guard. "Keep it trilla, nigga, never had a gun and badge," which he stresses, leaving the word that he was indeed an officer of the law. "Kept a nice watch, smoking on a hundred sack/ Back in the day I sold crack for some nice kicks/ Skippin' school, I saw my friend stabbed with an ice pick/ Can't criticize niggas trying to get jobs/ Better get smart, young brother, live yours." Later, he implies that while he was working as a corrections officer, he was on the streets. "Only lived once and I got two kids/ And for me to feed them, I'll get two gigs," he raps. "I'll shovel shit, I'll C.O./ So we can bow our heads and pray over the meatloaf." He still provided no explanation for lying about being a C.O. to begin with, nor did he explain why he failed to pay child support for his children.
The cover of the May 2009 issue of
''XXL'' magazine, titled "Rick Ross Up in Smoke", featured Ross wearing a pair of
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier, commonly known as Louis Vuitton (, ), is a French high-end luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label's LV monogram appears on most of its products, ranging from luxury bags and leather ...
sunglasses. After publication, a spokesperson for the luxury-goods maker contacted ''XXL'' to inform them that Ross was sporting fake sunglasses in the cover image. It was later revealed that the rapper was wearing authentic Louis Vuitton sunglasses which were altered by Jacob Bernstein, known as "The Sunglass Pimp". Bernstein defended his customizations despite Louis Vuitton's insistence that such modification and resale of trademarked property is not legal.
2010–2013: Prime Rick Ross
Ross had a number of accomplishments in 2010. In May, he released the critically acclaimed ''Albert Anastasia EP''. In addition to that, he released his fourth studio album entitled ''Teflon Don'', on July 20, 2010. The lead single was "
Super High" featuring
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18, 1979), known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer. He gained fame for his songwriting abilities when he penned Mario's 2004 hit " Let Me Love You ...
. Actress
Stacey Dash
Stacey Lauretta Dash (born January 20, 1967) is an American actress. Dash played Dionne Marie Davenport in the 1995 feature film '' Clueless'' and its television series of the same name. She has also appeared in the films '' Moving'', '' Mo' Mo ...
made an appearance in the music video. A second official single was released titled "Live Fast, Die Young" which features and is produced by
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
. The album debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 selling 176,000 copies in its first week.
In November 2010, rapper and frequent collaborator,
Diddy, who in 2009 signed Ross to a management deal with his
Ciroc Entertainment, announced from his
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
account, that he and Ross are working on an EP together. A single was released for the project, called "Another One". Ross ended 2010 by releasing another mixtape, ''Ashes To Ashes'' on Christmas Eve 2010.
![Rick Ross in 2011](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Rick_Ross_in_2011.jpg)
In early 2011, Rick Ross signed Wale and Meek Mill to his Maybach Music Group imprint. The group released their debut compilation album, ''
Self Made Vol. 1
''Self Made Vol. 1'' is a compilation album by Maybach Music Group, MMG. The album was released on May 24, 2011, by Maybach Music Group and Warner Bros. Records. It features MMG's new roster additions, Wale (rapper), Wale, Meek Mill, Teedra Moses, ...
'' in May. Rick Ross performed at
BET Awards 2011
The 11th BET Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on June 26, 2011. The awards recognized Americans in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. Comedian and actor Kevin Hart host ...
, which aired on June 26, 2011. He also received a nomination for Best Male Hip Hop Artist. In early 2012, Ross was named the
Hottest MC in the Game.
Big things were happening for Ross's successful career in 2012 as well. He started the year by premiering his ''
Rich Forever
''Rich Forever'' is the second mixtape by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on January 6, 2012. It became one of the most downloaded hip hop mixtapes of all time. The mixtape spawned one commercial single, "Stay Schemin'" and features gue ...
'' mixtape to universal acclaim. Ross's MMG camp released their second compilation,
Self Made Vol. 2 in June 2012. Less than a month later, Ross's fifth studio album, ''
God Forgives, I Don't
''God Forgives, I Don't'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on July 30, 2012, by Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records, and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. The album was produced by several recor ...
'', was released on July 31, 2012, after a few delays.
Upon its release, the album charted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the UK R&B Albums Chart, making it Ross's highest-charting album and first top 10 album in the United Kingdom. The album debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, with first-week sales of 218,000 copies. Ross premiered four songs: "So Sophisticated" featuring
Meek Mill
Robert Rihmeek Williams (born May 6, 1987), known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he embarked on his music career as a battle rapper, and later formed a short-lived rap group, ...
, "
Touch'N You
"Touch'N You" is a song by American rapper Rick Ross, featuring vocals from American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor Usher. It was released as the first single from his fifth studio album, '' God Forgives, I Don't'' on May 22, 2012. The song ...
" featuring
Usher, "Hold Me Back", and "3 Kings" featuring
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American rapper and record producer. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and previously co-founded, co-owned, and ...
and
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
. The album was certified gold in less than two months. To celebrate his accomplishment and promote his upcoming MMG Tour, Ross released a mixtape, ''The Black Bar Mitzvah'' in October. Rick Ross was nominated by ''
The Source
''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the ma ...
'' as its "Man of the Year".
On January 7, 2013, Ross revealed the title of his sixth album to be ''
Mastermind
Mastermind, Master Mind or The Mastermind may refer to:
Fictional characters
* Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde), a fictional supervillain in Marvel Comics, a title also held by his daughters:
** Martinique Jason, the first daughter and successor of th ...
''. The album was set to be released in 2013. The first promotional single from the album would come in the form of "Box Chevy" which was released to iTunes on February 15, 2013. The music video was filmed on April 1, 2013, and features cameos from MMG members
Gunplay,
Stalley
Kyle Alfonso Myricks (born October 30, 1982), better known by his stage name Stalley, is an American rapper from Massillon, Ohio.
Music career
In 2008, Stalley made his mixtape debut, titled ''Goin Ape'', with fellow Ohio-native rapper Terry U ...
and
Rockie Fresh.
During 2008, it was announced that Ross was set to release a collaboration album with his longtime friend
Birdman titled ''The H'', but after that, no information on the album was released. On May 16, 2013, Birdman and Rick Ross announced that ''The H'' would be released as a mixtape hosted by
DJ Khaled
Khaled Mohammed Khaled (born November 26, 1975), known professionally as DJ Khaled, is an American DJ, record executive, record producer and rapper.
Khaled first gained recognition as a radio host in the 1990s on the radio station WEDR, 99 Ja ...
on May 23, 2013. The project was recorded during a couple of days in 2008.
On September 5, 2013, Ross premiered the first official single from ''Mastermind'', "No Games" featuring
Future
The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...
produced by
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. (Just Undeniably Some of The Illest Composers Ever) League is an American record production team composed of producers and instrumentalists from Tampa, Florida. The group is made up of members Erik "Rook" Ortiz, Kevin "Colion ...
. The following day, it was released to
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary music, also known as urban music, hip hop, urban pop, or just simply urban, is a music radio format. The term was coined by New York radio DJ Frankie Crocker in the early to mid-1970s as a synonym for Black music. Urban contem ...
radio. It was followed by the singles "
The Devil Is A Lie" with Jay-Z and "War Ready" with Jeezy.
2014: ''Mastermind'' and ''Hood Billionaire''
Rick Ross released his sixth studio album, ''Mastermind'', in March 2014, the album received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one on the
''Billboard'' 200 chart with first week sales of 179,000 copies. As of April 8, 2014, the album has sold over 290,000 copies in the United States. In June 2014, it was announced that Ross would make a guest appearance on the docu-series ''
Sisterhood of Hip Hop
''Sisterhood of Hip Hop'' is an American reality television series on Oxygen starring five female rappers who "navigate their way through the male-dominated music industry." The show is executive produced by rapper T.I. and premiered on August 12 ...
''.
In October 2014, Ross announced he would be releasing another album, ''Hood Billionaire'', in order to make up for Meek Mill's ''
Dreams Worth More Than Money
''Dreams Worth More Than Money'' is the second studio album by American rapper Meek Mill. It was released on June 29, 2015, by Maybach Music Group and Atlantic Records. It was initially scheduled for release on September 9, 2014, however, it has be ...
'' album being shelved due to his incarceration. Rick Ross revealed cover art for ''
Hood Billionaire'' in October 2014 and announced the release date to be set for November 24, 2014. The album received mixed reviews, from fans and critics alike.
2015–present: Renzel and Epic Records
Ross had a mix of both adversity and accomplishments in 2015. Ross was arrested for kidnapping and assault charges and was sentenced to house arrest in his Georgia home. Ross joined the
Snapchat
Snapchat is an American multimedia instant messaging app and service developed by Snap Inc., originally Snapchat Inc. One of the principal features of Snapchat is that pictures and messages are usually only available for a short time before the ...
platform and began referring to himself as "Renzel", a play on the name of famous actor
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom". Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Washington ha ...
. In September, Ross released a mixtape, ''Black Dollar'', his third full-length release since March 2014. He soon announced his eighth studio album, ''
Black Market
A black market, underground economy, or shadow economy is a clandestine market or series of transactions that has some aspect of illegality or is characterized by noncompliance with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the se ...
'', for a December 2015 release. To promote his upcoming release, Ross released a remix tape, ''Renzel Remixes'' on Thanksgiving 2015. ''Black Market'' was released on December 4, 2015, and it served as Ross's final album for his original contract with Def Jam. The album's song "Free Enterprise" stirred up controversy because the lyrics included the line "Assassinate Trump like I'm Zimmerman" referring to
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
.
In January 2016 after much speculation, Rick Ross signed a solo deal with
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America
Sony Corporation of America (SONAM, also known as SCA), is the American arm of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Group ...
, reuniting him with
L.A. Reid
Antonio Marquis "L.A." Reid (born June 7, 1956) is an American record executive, A&R representative, and record producer. He is the founder and served as co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment. He also previously served as the chairman and CEO of Ep ...
, who originally played a major role in signing Ross to Def Jam.
On February 21, 2016, Rick Ross remixed Kanye West's "Famous". Ross was active in 2016, releasing many songs including "Make It Work" off of Self Made Vol. 4, "
Purple Lamborghini
"Purple Lamborghini" is a song by American DJ Skrillex and American rapper Rick Ross. It was released as a single for the motion picture soundtrack for the 2016 DC Comics film ''Suicide Squad'' on July 22, 2016, by Atlantic Records and Owsla. In ...
" of ''
Suicide Squad: The Album'', "Supa Cindy", and "Freaky Hoe".
He announced that his ninth studio album, ''
Rather You Than Me
''Rather You Than Me'' is the ninth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on March 17, 2017, through Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Raphael Saadiq, Chris Rock, Young Thug, W ...
'', was slated for a March 2017 release. The album debuted and peaked number three on the
'' Billboard'' 200. On February 2, 2018, Rick Ross released "Florida Boy" with T-Pain and Kodak Black as the first single from the album, which was slated for a 2018 release. On June 22, 2018, Ross released "Green Gucci Suit" with Future as the second single from his tenth studio album ''
Port of Miami 2
''Port of Miami 2'' is the tenth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on August 9, 2019, by Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Wale, Gunplay, Summer Walker, Dej Loaf, Swizz Be ...
'', released on August 9, 2019. The album debuted at number two on the
''Billboard'' 200. The album also included the single "
Gold Roses" with
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for
Best Rap Song
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs in the rap music genre. Honors in several ...
at the
62nd Annual Grammy Awards
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on January 26, 2020, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from October 1, 2018, to August 31, 2019. Al ...
.
On July 19, 2020, Ross teamed up with singer
August Alsina
August Anthony Alsina Jr.(April 8, 2013)R&B Singer August Alsina Talks Working With The Dream, Preps Def Jam Debut, ''Life + Times'' (confirms middle name; other sources confirm he is a "junior") (born September 3, 1992) is an American singer f ...
for a track titled "Entanglements", a
diss track
A diss track, diss record or diss song (diss – abbr. from ''disrespect'') is a song whose primary purpose is to verbally attack someone else, usually another artist. Diss tracks are often the result of an existing, escalating feud between the ...
towards Alsina's ex-lover
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Koren Pinkett Smith (; née Pinkett; born September 18, 1971) is an American actress and talk show host. She is co-host of the Facebook Watch talk show '' Red Table Talk'', for which she has received a Daytime Emmy Award. ''Time'' named ...
.
On August 7, 2020, Ross released the single "Pinned to the Cross", featuring Finn Matthews, following his ''
Verzuz
''Verzuz'' is an American webcast series created by record producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, that airs on Verzuz TV.
Verzuz was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as a virtual DJ battle, with Timbaland and Swizz Beatz facing off in ...
'' battle with
2 Chainz.
2021: ''Richer Than I Ever Been''
On August 26, 2020, during an interview with
Hot 97
WQHT (97.1 FM, ''Hot 97'') is a commercial radio station, licensed to New York, New York, which broadcasts an urban contemporary music format. The station is owned by Mediaco Holding and operated by Emmis Communications under a shared ser ...
, Rick Ross announced his eleventh album, ''
Richer Than I Ever Been
''Richer Than I Ever Been'' is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on December 10, 2021, through Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Willie Falcon, The-Dream, Benny th ...
'', which was released on December 10, 2021.
On September 7, 2021, Ross' book ''The Perfect Day to Boss Up'' debuted at number 5 on ''The New York Times'' weekly bestsellers list.
Personal life
Religion
Rick Ross is a
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
,
and in an interview with Corey "Coco Brother" Condrey on ''
Lift Every Voice'', he indicated that "I had told myself at one point no matter what I go through, I never question God."
In addition, Ross indicated that he
prays
''Prays'' is a genus of moths of the family Praydidae, formerly assigned to (depending on the author) Plutellidae or Yponomeutidae.
Selected species
*'' Prays acmonias'' - Meyrick, 1914 (from India)
*''Prays alpha'' - Moriuti, 1977 (from Japan) ...
every time he goes on stage to perform.
Correctional officer photos
In July 2008, ''
The Smoking Gun
The Smoking Gun is a website that posts legal documents, arrest records, and police mugshots on a daily basis. The intent is to bring to the public light information that is somewhat obscure or unreported by more mainstream media sources. Most o ...
'' produced details linking Ross's social security number to an 18-month stint as a correctional officer at the South Florida Reception Center, along with a photograph first publicized by
Media Take Out
Media Take Out (formerly affiliated with the site MTO News) is a blog-style gossip website mainly focused on entertainment and celebrity news involving African Americans topics and celebrities.
The website was founded by Fred Mwangaguhunga, a fo ...
purporting to be Ross in his
correctional officer
A prison officer or corrections officer is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation of prisoners. They are responsible for the care, custody, and control of individuals who have been ...
uniform.
Ross initially denied that the photograph was of him, but after overwhelming evidence of his past came into the public's eye, Ross later admitted that he did work as a correctional officer in Florida for 18 months between 1995 and 1997. In a 2008 interview with AllHipHop.com,
"Freeway" Ricky Ross claimed offense that Roberts used his name and identity when he learned that ''The Smoking Gun'' posted documents revealing Roberts' previous employment as a Florida correctional officer.
Seizures
On October 14, 2011, Ross suffered two seizures in the same day, once in the morning and again in the early evening. Following the morning seizure, he was unconscious and
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure consisting of chest compressions often combined with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore sponta ...
was performed. After suffering the second seizure, Ross was admitted to a hospital in
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...
, where doctors ran a battery of tests. They declared him healthy. Ross attributes the episodes to a lack of sleep in the previous week.
Ross later noted the incident in the remix of
Meek Mill
Robert Rihmeek Williams (born May 6, 1987), known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he embarked on his music career as a battle rapper, and later formed a short-lived rap group, ...
's song "
Ima Boss
"I'm a Boss" is a hip hop song by American rapper Meek Mill, released on May 17, 2011, as the fifth single from the Maybach Music Group compilation album, ''Self Made Vol. 1''. The song is also included on Meek Mill's mixtape, '' Dreamchasers''. ...
", with the line "Had a couple seizures, call it minor setbacks / Everybody praying for me, I respect that / Woke up in the hospital, where my checks at? / Then I put 8 chains where my neck's at".
Drive-by shooting
On January 27, 2013, while celebrating his 37th birthday, Ross and his girlfriend were the targets of a
drive-by shooting
A drive-by shooting is a type of assault that usually involves the perpetrator(s) firing a weapon from within a motor vehicle and then fleeing. Drive-by shootings allow the perpetrator(s) to quickly strike their target and flee the scene before ...
in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale () is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and largest city in Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth ...
. Neither Ross nor his girlfriend were hurt, but they ended up crashing their car into an apartment in an attempt to escape the shooting.
2018 hospitalization
On March 2, 2018, Ross was hospitalized after being found unresponsive in his Miami, Florida, home from a possible heart attack. Ross was on life support. He was released from hospital just a few days later.
Family
Ross has four children: Toie Roberts, William Roberts III, Berkeley Hermes Roberts, and Billion Leonard Roberts.
Ross was briefly engaged to Lira "Galore" Mercer in 2015.
Legal issues
![Rick Ross mug shot](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Rick_Ross_mug_shot.jpg)
In January 2008, Ross was arrested on gun and marijuana charges. During a deposition of Officer Rey Hernandez, a Miami Beach police officer who arrested Ross, Ross's lawyer, Allan Zamren, asked Hernandez why Ross's case was assigned to the gang task force. The officer stated that it was because Ross claimed affiliation with
Triple C's
Triple C's, also known as Carol City Cartel, is an American hip hop group founded by Rick Ross in 2005. The group takes its name from the Carol City neighborhood of Miami Gardens, and consists of Gunplay from Miami, Torch from the Bronx, New Yo ...
(aka Carol City Cartel), and other known gang members. Zamren pressed Hernandez for a personal link between Ross and the gang members, but the officer did not provide proof.
In August 2008, YouTube entertainer
DJ Vlad
Vladimir Lyubovny (russian: Владимир Любовный; born June 28, 1973), commonly known as DJ Vlad, is an American interviewer, journalist, and former disc jockey. He is the CEO of video and news website VladTV.com. His YouTube channel ...
filed a lawsuit against Ross for assault and battery. Vlad claimed Ross organized an ambush on him at the 2008 Ozone Awards in
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...
, Texas for asking questions about his past as a correctional officer.
In June 2010 "Freeway" Ricky Ross sued Ross for using his name,
filing a
copyright infringement
Copyright infringement (at times referred to as piracy) is the use of works protected by copyright without permission for a usage where such permission is required, thereby infringing certain exclusive rights granted to the copyright holder, s ...
lawsuit
-
A lawsuit is a proceeding by a party or parties against another in the civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today. The term "lawsuit" is used in reference to a civil actio ...
in a California federal court.
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...
had been called to testify in the lawsuit, as he was CEO of Def Jam when Ross/Roberts was signed.
"Freeway" Ricky Ross, a reformed drug kingpin, sought $10 million in damages in his lawsuit.
Also, Freeway Ricky Ross threatened to block the release of Ross's album, ''
Teflon Don.''
A week after the lawsuit was filed, Rick Ross responded to the charges: "It's like owning a restaurant, you're gonna have a few slip and falls. You get lawsuits, you deal with them, and get them out your way ... sometimes you lose."
He denied rumors that he would change his name to "Ricky Rozay" as a consequence of the lawsuit. The lawsuit was thrown out of court on July 3, 2010.
The album ''Teflon Don'' was released as scheduled on July 20, 2010.
A federal judge ruled that the case should be refiled in California state court because it fell under California state law. "Freeway" Ricky Ross refiled the case with the State of California and the federal case is on appeal in the
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (in case citations, 9th Cir.) is the U.S. federal court of appeals that has appellate jurisdiction over the U.S. district courts in the following federal judicial districts:
* District ...
.
The state case was filed in 2011 in California.
"Freeway" Ricky Ross refiled in Los Angeles Superior Court with publicity rights claims. Trial was set for early May 2012. The case was dismissed by a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court.
The California State case was updated with a motion in Freeway Rick Ross's favor as to
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...
and their use of the name and image Rick Ross in July 2012.
The ''
New York Post
The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com, and the entertainment site Decider.com.
It was established ...
'' reported that a trial was set for August 27, 2013, in Freeway Rick Ross versus Rick Ross and
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and t ...
.
On December 30, 2013, the court ruled in favor of the rapper Rick Ross, allowing him to keep the name based on a
First Amendment
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
ruling.
In 2011, the rapper Teflon Don filed a
trademark infringement
Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attached to a trademark without the authorization of the trademark owner or any licensees (provided that such authorization was within the scope of the licence). Infringement may o ...
lawsuit against Ross for the use of the name as an album title.
On March 26, 2011, Ross was arrested in Shreveport for possession of
marijuana
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various tra ...
. According to the police records, a strong odor of marijuana was detected from his room at the Hilton in Downtown Shreveport. Ross was arrested on June 27, 2014, in Greensboro, N.C., following his performance at the 2014 SuperJam at the Greensboro Coliseum. The arrest stemmed from a year-old warrant for another North Carolina arrest related to marijuana possession; Ross reportedly failed to appear in court for that violation in 2013.
On June 24, 2015, Rick Ross and his bodyguard were arrested in
Fayette County, Georgia
Fayette County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 119,194, an increase from 106,567 in 2010. Fayette County was established in 1821. The county seat, Fayett ...
on kidnapping and assault charges. Both were accused for forcing a landskeeper into a guesthouse and beating him in the head with a handgun, allegedly over money he owed Ross. On April 4, 2017, Ross pled no contest to a felony count of aggravated assault. The other felony charges were dropped. Ross was sentenced to time served in jail, having already been incarcerated for a week and was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
Ross was sentenced as a first-time felony offender; and, upon payment of the fine, the conviction was erased from his record. Ross pled no contest to 5 misdemeanours: assault, battery, two counts of pointing a pistol at someone, and possession of less than 1 oz of cannabis. For the five misdemeanours, he was given a total of 60 months probation.
Business ventures
As of 2017, Ross owned several different
Wingstop
Wingstop Inc. is an American multinational chain of aviation-themed restaurants specializing in chicken wings. Wingstop locations follow a 1930s and 1940s pre-jet aviation theme.
The restaurant chain was founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas ...
restaurant locations. Wingstop is a fast-food chain specializing in chicken wings.
Controversy
Feud with 50 Cent
In January 2009, Ross started a feud with rapper
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and businessman. Born in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 2000, when he produced ...
because he supposedly looked at him the wrong way at the
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006; it was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and w ...
in 2008. 50 Cent told news sources that he did not remember seeing Ross there. In late January, "Mafia Music", by Ross, leaked onto the Internet. There were several lines that seemed to diss 50 Cent. Days later, 50 Cent released "Officer Ricky (Go Head, Try Me)" in response to Ross's disparaging remarks on his "Mafia Music" song.
Before going to
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
, 50 Cent uploaded a video entitled "Warning Shot", wherein he stated: "Rick Ross, I'mma fuck your life up for fun." In addition, 50 Cent released the first of a series of "Officer Ricky" cartoons. Early in February, 50 Cent once again made a video which he uploaded to YouTube in which he interviewed "Tia", the mother of one of Ross's children. She verifies that he was a correctional officer and claims his whole persona is fake and fraudulent. On February 5, 2009,
The Game, who 50 Cent has a long-standing "beef" with, called up
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
R&B station
KUBE. When asked about the beef between 50 Cent and Ross, Game sided with 50 Cent and said that things are not looking good for Ross. He offered to help, stating, "Rick Ross, holla at your boy, man," and, "50 eating you, boy."
On his album ''
Deeper Than Rap
''Deeper Than Rap'' is the third studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on April 21, 2009, by his record label Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records; distributed by Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album t ...
'', Ross references 50 Cent in the song "In Cold Blood". A video for the song was released that portrayed 50 Cent's mock funeral. Upon release, Ross stated that he has ended 50 Cent's career. That same day Ross released a new diss track called "Push 'Em Over The Edge". The next day 50 Cent released the controversial video "A Psychic Told Me", dissing
DJ Khaled
Khaled Mohammed Khaled (born November 26, 1975), known professionally as DJ Khaled, is an American DJ, record executive, record producer and rapper.
Khaled first gained recognition as a radio host in the 1990s on the radio station WEDR, 99 Ja ...
. On February 12, 50 Cent responded with "Tia Told Me", along with Lloyd Banks' response "Officer Down" and Tony Yayo's "Somebody Snitched".
In an interview, 50 Cent said Ross is "Albert From ''
CB4
''CB4'' is a 1993 American satirical comedy film directed by Tamra Davis and starring Chris Rock. The film follows a fictional rap group named "CB4", named after the prison block in which the group was allegedly formed (Cell Block 4). The movie ...
''. You ever seen the movie? He's Albert," he added. "It never gets worse than this. You get a guy that was a correctional officer come out and base his entire career on writing material from a drug dealer's perspective."
On January 30, 2013, 50 Cent claimed via Twitter that the drive-by shooting that Ross experienced on his birthday two days ago was "staged", reigniting the feud.
A year later, on March 28, 2014, Rick Ross was asked about his feud with 50 Cent. He stated that he does not wish to speak on him anymore, and that he is done with the feud.
His feud with 50 Cent has been resurfacing. The reason of the second reignition would be because of Ross's MMG record-label artist
Meek Mill
Robert Rihmeek Williams (born May 6, 1987), known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he embarked on his music career as a battle rapper, and later formed a short-lived rap group, ...
, who defended his mentor and criticised 50 on his ''4/4'' EP.
Lyric controversy
In a line on rapper
Rocko
Rocko Rama is the main protagonist of the animated television series '' Rocko's Modern Life'', the Netflix special Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, and the comic book series of the same name. Carlos Alazraqui provided the voice of the anthropo ...
's 2013 song "
U.O.E.N.O.", Rick Ross raps the line, "Put molly all in her champagne / She ain't even know it / I took her home and I enjoyed that / She ain't even know it." A petition containing 72,000 signatures was presented to
Reebok
Reebok International Limited () is an American fitness footwear and clothing manufacturer that is a part of Authentic Brands Group. It was established in England in 1958 as a companion company to J.W. Foster and Sons, a sporting goods company ...
, demanding they drop Ross as a spokesman for the lyrics which appeared to condone
date rape
Date rape is a form of acquaintance rape and dating violence. The two phrases are often used interchangeably, but date rape specifically refers to a rape in which there has been some sort of romantic or potentially sexual relationship between ...
. Ross has apologized for the lyrics, claiming they weren't about rape.
On April 11, 2013, one month after the song's release, Ross was dropped by Reebok. Reebok stated, "while we do not believe that Rick Ross condones sexual assault, we are very disappointed he has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue or an appropriate level of remorse." They continued on to say, "at this time, it is in everyone's best interest for Reebok to end its partnership with Mr. Ross."
Though Ross apologized for the lyrics, he also argued that his lyrics were misinterpreted because he did not directly use the word "rape." He says, "You know I would never use the term rape in my records ... in reality some people do these things, and shouldn't it be brought to light so young women can protect themselves?!" He continued on Twitter, "I would never use the term 'rape' in my records and as far as my camp. Hip-Hop don't condone that, the streets don't condone that, nobody condones that."
A 2013 Ross concert organized by the student association of
Carleton University
Carleton University is an English-language public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1942 as Carleton College, the institution originally operated as a private, non-denominational evening college to serve returning World ...
was cancelled after protests that his lyrics promote
rape culture
Rape culture is a setting, studied by several sociological theories, in which rape is pervasive and normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality. Behaviors commonly associated with rape culture include victim blaming, slut-s ...
. Rocko later dropped the Rick Ross verse in order to get radio play.
Comment on female rappers
In 2017, Ross was criticized for stating in an interview that he never signed a female rapper because "I would end up fucking
erand fucking the business up."
Ross quickly apologized through a Facebook post where he called his comments "insensitive" and a "mistake
e regrets
E, or e, is the fifth letter and the second vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''e'' (pronounced ); plura ...
"
Discography
Studio albums
* ''
Port of Miami
The Port of Miami, styled as "PortMiami" but formally the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami, is a major seaport located in Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River in Miami, Florida. It is the largest passenger port in the world, and one of the ...
'' (2006)
* ''
Trilla
''Trilla'' is the second studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on March 11, 2008, by Slip-n-Slide Records, Def Jam South Recordings and Poe Boy Entertainment. Production was handled by The Runners, J. R. Rotem, Drumma B ...
'' (2008)
* ''
Deeper Than Rap
''Deeper Than Rap'' is the third studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on April 21, 2009, by his record label Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records; distributed by Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album t ...
'' (2009)
* ''
Teflon Don'' (2010)
* ''
God Forgives, I Don't
''God Forgives, I Don't'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on July 30, 2012, by Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records, and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. The album was produced by several recor ...
'' (2012)
* ''
Mastermind
Mastermind, Master Mind or The Mastermind may refer to:
Fictional characters
* Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde), a fictional supervillain in Marvel Comics, a title also held by his daughters:
** Martinique Jason, the first daughter and successor of th ...
'' (2014)
* ''
Hood Billionaire'' (2014)
* ''
Black Market
A black market, underground economy, or shadow economy is a clandestine market or series of transactions that has some aspect of illegality or is characterized by noncompliance with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the se ...
'' (2015)
* ''
Rather You Than Me
''Rather You Than Me'' is the ninth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on March 17, 2017, through Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Raphael Saadiq, Chris Rock, Young Thug, W ...
'' (2017)
* ''
Port of Miami 2
''Port of Miami 2'' is the tenth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on August 9, 2019, by Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Wale, Gunplay, Summer Walker, Dej Loaf, Swizz Be ...
'' (2019)
* ''
Richer Than I Ever Been
''Richer Than I Ever Been'' is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on December 10, 2021, through Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Willie Falcon, The-Dream, Benny th ...
'' (2021)
Collaborative albums
*''
Custom Cars & Cycles
''Custom Cars & Cycles'' is the debut and only album by Miami-based hip-hop group Triple C's. It was released October 27, 2009, by Maybach Music Group and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances by Birdman, Bun B, Gucci Mane, Yo ...
'' (with
Triple C's
Triple C's, also known as Carol City Cartel, is an American hip hop group founded by Rick Ross in 2005. The group takes its name from the Carol City neighborhood of Miami Gardens, and consists of Gunplay from Miami, Torch from the Bronx, New Yo ...
) (2009)
Filmography
Awards and nominations
Bet Awards
Grammy Awards
The
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
are awarded annually by the
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The Recording Academy (formally the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; abbreviated NARAS) is an American Learned society, learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is famous f ...
of the United States. Rick Ross has nine nominations
The Source
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, Rick
1976 births
Living people
21st-century American male musicians
21st-century American rappers
African-American businesspeople
African-American Christians
African-American male rappers
African-American players of American football
Albany State Golden Rams football players
American football offensive linemen
American music industry executives
Atlantic Records artists
Businesspeople from Miami
Businesspeople from Mississippi
Def Jam Recordings artists
Epic Records artists
Pop rappers
Musicians from Clarksdale, Mississippi
Musicians from Miami
People from Carol City, Florida
Players of American football from Miami
Players of American football from Mississippi
Rappers from Florida
Rappers from Miami
Rappers from Mississippi
Southern hip hop musicians
Sportspeople from Clarksdale, Mississippi
Suave House Records artists