Rick Ross

Rick Ross

Rick Ross is a US rapper from Clarksdale, Miami. He is known as William Leonard Roberts II and uses a stage name taken from the drug trafficker “Freeway” Ricky Ross. His work sits across gangsta rap, hardcore hip hop, hip hop, pop rap and southern hip hop.

Early life and career

Rick Ross is born in 1976 and is raised in Carol City, Florida, near Miami. He attends Carol City Senior High School and later studies at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. He first signs to Suave House Records, the former label home of 8Ball & MJG, before moving to Slip-n-Slide Records, which is under the Def Jam umbrella from 2006. While signed to Slip-n-Slide, he tours with Trick Daddy and appears on other rap releases from the label.

Maybach Music Group

Rick Ross founds Maybach Music Group, and it becomes the main label for much of his album work. He also signs Pill, Meek Mill and Wale to the label. His associated labels include 4 Blunts Lit at Once Publishing and 3 Blunts Lit at Once.

Albums and chart success

His debut album, Port of Miami, is released in 2006 and reaches number one on the Billboard 200. His second album, Trilla, also reaches number one on the Billboard 200. Deeper Than Rap is released in 2009 on Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records with distribution from Def Jam Recordings and also debuts at number one in the US. Teflon Don follows in 2010 on Maybach Music Group and Def Jam Recordings and debuts at number two on the US Billboard 200. The album is produced by a range of producers including Clark Kent, No I.D., The Olympicks, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Lex Luger, Danja, The Inkredibles, The Remedy and Kanye West. It receives generally positive reviews and is noted for its cinematic production and Ross’s lyrical persona.

He later releases God Forgives, I Don’t, Mastermind, Hood Billionaire, Black Market, Rather You Than Me and Port of Miami 2 through Maybach Music Group. His debut and second albums both reach the top of the Billboard 200, and Port of Miami sells 187,000 copies in its first week, while Deeper Than Rap sells 158,000 and Teflon Don sells 176,300 in its first week.

Collaborations and groups

Rick Ross is a member of the groups Bugatti Boyz, Triple C’s and The Dream Team. He works with artists including R. Kelly, T-Pain, Nelly, Avery Storm and Kanye West, and his singles from Trilla include “Speedin’,” “The Boss” and “Here I Am.” “The Boss” reaches number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Speedin’” peaks at number 121.