Rick Ross Bio

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Simoun Redoblado

Simoun fell in love with Hip Hop when he first heard Eminem's single Lose Yourself in 2002. By the time he was an adult, he tends to listen to exclusively Hip Hop, a trend that continues to this day. As an English teacher, he loves Hip Hop for what it is underneath, beautiful poetry that blends sound, imagery, and wordplay. What's not to love!

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Listening to 2011’s “I’m on One” puts me in a different place, and it’s not hard to see why. You have DJ Khaled’s exquisite production, Drake’s unapologetic confidence, and Lil Wayne‘s efficient punchlines. (Seriously, I’ve never heard a more tightly packed set of puns and humorous bars in my life.)

And then, there’s Rick Ross.

When I first played “I’m on One” in my college days, I marveled every time I heard Rozay take over the mic. Maybe it was his booming voice that sharply contrasted Drizzy’s youthful pipes and Weezy’s playful cadence. Maybe it was the raw imagery unfolding in his lines (“Ever made love to the woman of your dreams/In a room full of money out in London as she screams?”) Or maybe—and I’m leaning towards this one—it was his authoritative “Humph” that punctuated his strongest bars.

I’ll be honest: of all the superstars on this smash hit, I was least familiar with Rick Ross back in 2011. Now, I have thankfully been caught up to speed. Basically, when it comes to the cutthroat competition of hip hop, Da Boss takes no prisoners.

Quick Facts

Early Years

He was born William Leonard Roberts II on January 28, 1976, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Right off the bat, Rozay’s birthday is a huge talking point. On the same date in 1968, the baby destined to be Rakim was born on Long Island. Fast forward to January 28, 1985, and you have the future J. Cole entering the world via a military base in West Germany. 1/28 has to be a mystical date, y’all.

His parents’ names are William Leonard Roberts Sr. and Tommie Roberts. During William II’s childhood, the family moved to Florida—specifically, the impoverished locale of Carol City, situated north of Miami. It was in this context that William II developed a love for rap music.

He grew a special affinity for Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., and Ice Cube. If I had to connect the dots, I’d say that all three of those icons eloquently spoke about socio-economic realities that young William had to grapple with. More importantly, the music of Pac, Biggie, and Cube is replete with themes of defying the odds and achieving success beyond the confines of one’s environment.

In high school, William II struggled to stay afloat in his academics. To compensate for his shortcomings in this regard, he developed a sense of humor. Calling himself a “jackass” and a “comedian” in a 2021 VIBE interview, Rozay saw humor as a way to mask his lack of comprehension in subjects like algebra. At that point in his life, young William realized that he wouldn’t be cut out for a profession like medicine or dentistry. But, as jocular as he was, William did harbor some distinct ambitions.

One of these was to play football. After getting his diploma from Miami Carol City Senior High School, William invoked a football scholarship to enroll at Albany State University (a historically black college in Georgia). However, a long-term run on the gridiron wasn’t in the cards for him; after just one year, William left Albany State and dropped out of college altogether.

As a sign of things to come, William started writing rap lyrics around this time. He especially liked to paint images of drug dealing—something that he saw firsthand as a child—in a rather romanticized way. As it turned out, this was the genesis of a career that would make the young man millions upon millions.

Rozay’s Career Gets Off the Ground

Interestingly, one of William’s post-college decisions would later raise eyebrows within the hip hop community. In 2008, The Smoking Gun (a website with one heck of an ominous name) released documents showing that Rozay spent time as a Florida-based correctional officer from December 1995 to June 1997.

I’d imagine that Rick Ross, an immensely proud wielder of Da Boss persona, would have preferred to consign this chapter of his personal life to obscurity. After all, which rapper would like their history as a prison guard to be placed side by side with their claims of street cred? Understandably, Rozay initially denied that he ever worked such a post, though he eventually came around to ‘fessing up. (I don’t blame you, Boss. Not one bit.)

At the turn of the millennium, the former football player and correctional officer finally made his official debut in the music industry. Adopting the name Teflon Don, he appeared on the track “Ain’t SHHH to Discuss” on Erick Sermon’s 2000 album Def Squad Presents Erick Onasis.

Honestly, I’m amazed by Teflon’s comfort level in this song with the former EPMD member. No rookie jitters can be heard in the internal rhymes and street-level imagery that he unloaded in his verse. Indeed, it takes a tremendous amount of confidence to take on a stage name that happens to be the moniker of reputed New York City gangster John Gotti.

Over the next few years, Teflon’s career started to pick up steam. For one, he adopted another name inspired by a notorious criminal: Rick Ross. This stage name was inspired by “Freeway” Ricky Ross, who was at the helm of Los Angeles drug empire in the ’80s and ’90s. Again, I can’t blame Rozay for this move: for rappers on the rise, adopting names from infamous figures is one way to project audacity in a shark-infested industry. The question, of course, was whether Ross could live up to his reputable (or is it disreputable?) name.

He would soon get the chance to build up his own notoriety. By the mid-2000s, he had already signed two record label deals: one with Suave House Records (which ended up being a short-lived partnership) and another with Slip-N-Slide Records (definitely not the hottest name for a record label). In 2005, Ross formed his own group called Carol City Cartel, which came to be more popularly known as Triple C’s. The group consisted of Ross and fellow emcees Gunplay, Torch, and Young Breed. To date, the Triple C’s have released just one album (2009’s Custom Cars & Cycles, which peaked at number 44 on the Billboard 200).

Eventually, Ross’ work in the underground scene attracted the attention of music companies that were all too eager to offer him a massive distribution deal. When the smoke settled, Jay-Z‘s Def Jam Recordings succeeded in securing the services of Ross. In a 2006 MTV interview, the rap mogul stated that he “didn’t mind getting into a bidding war with other companies to sign Ross,” an emcee that he certainly “had his eye on.”

A Trifecta of Number Ones

On August 8, 2006, Ross achieved a milestone by dropping his very first studio album Port of Miami (a joint release by Def Jam, Slip-N-Slide, and Poe Boy Entertainment). In this rousing debut, Ross takes the dark side of his home city—that is, Miami’s illicit drug trade—and harnesses it as the alluring backdrop of his vibrant tracks. Port of Miami spawned two successful singles: the gold-certified “Push It” and the double-platinum track “Hustlin'” (which, in my opinion, is the perfect introductory track to Ross’ entire discography).

Featuring appearances from Jay-Z (who dropped a verse on the remix of “Hustlin'”), Lil Wayne, and Akon, Port of Miami was eventually certified platinum. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200—an impressive feat for a hip hop artist dropping his first project. How could Rozay top this accomplishment? By taking his second and third studio albums straight to the number one spot as well.

In 2008, Ross dropped his next album Trilla. The critics’ reviews made it painfully obvious that Ross had set the bar unbelievably high for himself, as they pointed out that his vocal delivery was more remarkable than his lyrics. (I think even Rozay will admit that he’s never been in danger of making anyone’s top 5 list of lyricists!) Nevertheless, the powerful production and star-studded array of features (including Nelly, T-Pain, and the ever-controversial R. Kelly) propelled Trilla to a number one debut and gold certification.

Da Boss had a better critical showing with his third album, Deeper than Rap (which he dropped in 2009). Ross’ presentation of gangster culture was hailed, as was the improved depth of his lyricism. Once again, he received valuable assists from a who’s who of the music industry: Nas, Kanye West, T-Pain, and John Legend (among others) all appeared on this album.

Aside from his third straight number one album, Ross had a huge 2009 for other reasons. That year, he graced the cover of XXL magazine, stylishly clad in a pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses. It was also in 2009 that Ross established his own record label Maybach Music Group (which teamed up with Def Jam and Slip-N-Slide to release Deeper than Rap). As the head honcho of MMG, Ross would sign talents like Wale, Meek Mill, and Omarion in the ensuing years. And in 2012, MMG secured a distribution deal with Atlantic Records. Way to go, Boss!

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the legal issues that Rozay got embroiled in towards the end of the 2000s. In 2008, he was slapped with weapons and marijuana charges, as well as a lawsuit by YouTube personality DJ Vlad (who alleged that Ross coordinated an ambush on him after Vlad pried into his past as a prison guard). In 2010, “Freeway” Ricky Ross sued him for copyright infringement, but the lawsuit (and its refiled iterations over the next few years) would be ultimately dismissed.

Sustained Success in the 2010s

How many hip-hop fans realize that Rick Ross was this close to having six consecutive albums debut at number one?

Ross’ fourth album, in case you were wondering, debuted at “only” number two on July 20, 2010. Had this project claimed the number one spot when it came out (and, of course, with all other things remaining constant), Ross would have been in the same conversation as Justin Bieber and Metallica, who put out six straight number one albums. In the process, he’d surpass the legendary DMX, who managed five consecutive number one releases. (Which album was on top of the charts in July 2010? A project called “Recovery” by a rejuvenated Eminem.)

Despite coming up short of the number one spot, Teflon Don still came on strong. One of Ross’ more critically acclaimed albums, Teflon Don continued to bank on Da Boss’ gift for conjuring Mafioso imagery that perfectly matches his producers’ sleek beats. (This album’s production team, by the way, includes big names like Kanye West and No I.D.) My favorite cut from Teflon Don has got to be “Aston Martin Music,” which (as you can imagine) is an incredibly smooth listen in the car. Chrisette Michele’s vocals on the chorus are heavenly, while the verses by Ross and breakout superstar Drake are oozing with hubris.

Rozay continued his reign of dominance in the industry by releasing two consecutive albums—the fifth and sixth of his discography—that debuted at number one. In 2012, he released the menacingly titled God Forgives, I Don’t, which boasts the platinum-certified single “Diced Pineapples” (featuring Wale and Drake), along with the mind-blowing collaborative track “3 Kings.” (That would be Ross, Jay-Z, and Dr. Dre. Unreal.) In 2014, Ross dropped Mastermind, which featured masterful production from Sean “Puffy” Combs and features from The Weeknd, Big Sean, and French Montana.

Of course, no amount of success can ever ensure the invincibility of emcees—not even Da Boss. On January 28, 2013 (his 37th birthday, for crying out loud), Ross and his girlfriend crashed their car into a Fort Lauderdale apartment after an unknown assailant fired nearly twenty-four bullets into their vehicle. (Fortunately, no one was hurt in this incident.) Then, on 2015, he and his bodyguard were taken into custody after they reportedly attacked an individual who owed money to the rapper. Two years later, Ross received a prison sentence arising from the subsequent assault charges.

Da Boss Stays Relentless

For the rest of the 2010s, Rozay continued to stayed relevant in the hip-hop scene. Though he hasn’t put out a gold- or platinum-certified project since 2012’s God Forgives, I Don’t, the four albums that he released from the mid-to-late 2010s all cracked the top 10 of the Billboard 200.

On November 24, 2014—just eight months after the release of Mastermind—Ross dropped his seventh album Hood Billionaire. In hindsight, perhaps Ross could have kept this project in the lab for a longer period of time, as critics called it “half-baked” and “diluted.” A year later, Ross’ eighth album Black Market was better received, thanks to its depth and consistency. Both Hood Billionaire and Black Market peaked at number six.

To date, 2015’s Black Market is Ross’ final project with Def Jam. In January 2016, Epic Records announced via Twitter that it had signed Da Boss. (I’m not exactly sure why Ross left Def Jam, though I speculate that he may have wanted a new scenery after spending a decade in that record label.) Ross’ partnership with Epic yielded three albums: 2017’s Rather You than Me, 2019’s Port of Miami 2, and 2021’s Richer than I Ever Been. In May 2022, he announced his departure from Epic. To date, Rozay is a free agent being wooed by various labels, including his former home Def Jam.

No matter where he ends up, it’s a safe bet that Ross will score a W or two for his new team. Like a star athlete on the gridiron, Ross powers his way to the end zone time and time again. It’s clear, then, that record labels will have to talk the talk of multimillionaires to even have a shot of locking Da Boss down. With all due respect to his longtime collaborator DJ Khaled, all Rick Ross does is win.

Legacy

If I told you that a football player-turned-prison guard would have an iron grip on the music charts for a decade, you’d probably think I was hoodwinked. Rick Ross proves that unlikely (even laughable) backgrounds don’t have to be a hindrance to hip hop stardom. Clearly fancying himself as a Mafia don that can’t be denied, Rozay has a propensity for getting his competition out of the way. And whenever he does so, I can’t help but notice that no one’s even thinking about laughing.

Why is Rick Ross Influential?

Rozay has never lacked confidence. From the moment he debuted on Erick Sermon’s track to the most recent project that he’s released, Rick Ross has exuded bravado at excessive levels. Ross’ powerful personality—projected in his braggadocious tracks and sumptuous music videos—sets a template for all young emcees to consider when it comes to stage presence and overall temperament.

FAQs

Bottom Line

If I had to pick a verse that’s so Rick Ross, I’d go with—you guessed it—the lines he spit on “I’m on One.” In particular, Rozay is best summed up by this bit: “Walking on the clouds, suspended in thin air/The ones beneath me recognize the red bottoms I wear.” In other words, go up against Da Boss at your own risk. Chances are, you and your career will get burned while Ross counts his cash carefully.

Sources

• Rick Ros Biography
• Rick Ross All Music
• The Sound of Success – Rick Ross’s confidence game
• Rick Ross Admits He Used Humor To Compensate For Academic Struggles In High School
• Rick Ross Spins a New One
• Today in Hip-Hop: Rick Ross Confirmed as a Former CO
• ‘Freeway’ Ricky Ross Taking Battle Over Rapper Rick Ross to Appeals Court
• Jay-Z Gets Behind Rick Ross To Show He’s ‘Still In The Rap Business’
• Billboard 200 Chart
• Rapper Rick Ross Target of Drive-By Shooting
• Rick Ross Signs To Epic Records, Leaves Def Jam After 10 Years
• Rick Ross Talks Leaving Epic Records, Sparking A Bidding War
• Interview: Rick Ross’ Sister Tawanda Roberts Talks About Working With The Bawse
• Rick Ross Fined for Labor Law Violations at Mississippi Wingstop Locations
• Rick Ross Seemingly Throws Shade At 50 Cent
• Rick Ross Net Worth
• Rick Ross Children
• William Leonard Roberts II/ Rick Ross (1976- )

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