William Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), known professionally as Rick Ross, is an American rapper and record executive.[1] An influential figure in modern hip hop music, Rick Ross has become known for his "booming" vocal performance, "larger than life" persona, and vivid lyrical imagery. His lyrics form the hardships of street life and black market economic activity into a rags to riches narrative, often describing affluence, wealth, and luxury.[2]
Prior to releasing his debut single, "Hustlin'" in March 2006, Ross was the subject of a bidding war—receiving offers from Diddy's Bad Boy Entertainment and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc.—and ultimately signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Jay-Z on Def Jam Recordings.[3][4] In August of that year, his debut studio album, Port of Miami (2006) peaked atop the Billboard 200 chart upon release,[5][6] along with his second and third studio albums, Trilla (2008) and Deeper Than Rap (2009). His fourth album, Teflon Don (2010) spawned the single "Aston Martin Music" (featuring Drake and Chrisette Michele)—which received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)—while his fifth and sixth albums, God Forgives, I Don't (2012) and Mastermind (2014) peaked the Billboard 200 twice more.[7]
Outside of his solo career, Ross was a lead member of the hip hop group Triple C's, alongside fellow Florida rappers Gunplay and Torch in 2005. Ross founded the record label Maybach Music Group (MMG) in 2008, through which he has signed artists including Meek Mill, Wale, French Montana, and Omarion, among others. MMG entered a joint venture with Def Jam and later Epic Records to release his subsequent studio albums: Hood Billionaire (2014), Black Market (2015), Rather You Than Me (2017), Port of Miami 2 (2019), and Richer Than I Ever Been (2021). After which, it entered a joint venture with gamma. to release his collaborative album, Too Good to Be True (2023) with Meek Mill. Ross is the recipient of nine Grammy Award nominations, and has been named "Man of the Year" by hip hop magazine The Source in 2010 and 2011, as well as "Hottest MC in the Game" by MTV in the latter year.[8]
^Zisook, Brian (March 20, 2017). "Rick Ross on control of label artists". Djbooth. DJBooth.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
^"Jay-Z Gets Behind Rick Ross To Show He's 'Still In The Rap Business'". MTV. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
^"Rick Ross". Spotify. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
^Harris, Chris (August 16, 2006). "Rick Ross Sails Past Breaking Benjamin, Takes Port Of Miami To #1". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^"Port of Miami – Charts & Awards". Allmusic. 2006. Archived from the original on December 11, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
^Reid, Shaheem (March 19, 2008). "Rick Ross On #1 Trilla Beating Out Snoop, Fat Joe: 'I Told Them We Bossin' Up'". MTV News. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
^"Rick Ross Covers 25th Anniversary Issue of the Source". BET. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
professionally as RickRoss, is an American rapper and record executive. An influential figure in modern hip hop music, RickRoss has become known for...
Ricky Donnell "Freeway Rick" Ross (born January 26, 1960) is an American author and former drug lord best known for the drug empire he established in Los...
The discography of RickRoss, an American rapper, consists of 11 studio albums, one compilation album, 145 singles (including 100 as a featured artist)...
Rick Alan Ross (b. 1952) is an American deprogrammer, cult specialist, and founder and executive director of the nonprofit Cult Education Institute. He...
spawned the hit single "I'm So Hood" (featuring T-Pain, Trick Daddy, RickRoss and Plies). His two subsequent releases—We Global (2008) and Victory (2010)—both...
Deeper Than Rap is the third studio album by American rapper RickRoss. It was released on April 21, 2009, by Maybach Music Group, Slip-n-Slide Records...
Richard, Rick, or Ricky Ross may refer to: "Freeway" RickRoss (born 1960), also known as Ricky Ross, American drug trafficker Richard C. Ross (1927–2012)...
Port of Miami 2 is the tenth studio album by American rapper RickRoss. It was released on August 9, 2019, by Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The...
"Aston Martin Music" is the fourth single from rapper RickRoss's fourth studio album Teflon Don. The song was released as a single on October 5, 2010...
Richer Than I Ever Been is the eleventh studio album by American rapper RickRoss. It was released on December 10, 2021, through Maybach Music Group and...
(MAY-back; abbreviated MMG) is a record label founded by American rapper RickRoss in 2008. An imprint of gamma. since 2023, the label was previously an...
Ross, he sided with Jackson and offered to mediate: "RickRoss, holla at your boy, man" and "50 eating you, boy." On his album Deeper Than Rap, Ross refers...
Rather You Than Me is the ninth studio album by American rapper RickRoss. It was released on March 17, 2017, through Maybach Music Group and Epic Records...
Thug, Yebba, 21 Savage, Project Pat, Tems, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Wayne, RickRoss, and Kid Cudi appear as guest artists. It is the first part of what Drake...
song "Tupac Back" (featuring RickRoss) served as the album's lead single while its follow up, "Ima Boss" (featuring RickRoss) entered the Billboard Hot...
success, mainly stemming from its lead single, "Pop That" (featuring RickRoss, Drake, and Lil Wayne). His 2017 single, "Unforgettable" (featuring Swae...
80% of the world's cocaine.[citation needed] RickRoss (born January 28, 1960), a.k.a. "Freeway" Ricky Ross, is a convicted drug-trafficker best known for...
Global Information