Rick Ross

Rick Ross was born William Leonard Roberts II in Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States.⁠[1]

He grew up in the Miami area and played high-school football. His later memoir connected his upbringing in Carol City with his early musical ambitions. Before becoming famous, he worked as a correctional officer.⁠[2][3]

Hustlin’ brought him wider attention. He signed with Def Jam and released his debut album, Port of Miami, which reached the top of the US album chart.⁠[4][5]

Trilla followed in 2008 and Deeper Than Rap in 2009; both debuted at number one on the US album chart.⁠[5]

He released his fourth studio album, Teflon Don, featuring B.M.F. and Aston Martin Music with Drake and Chrisette Michele.⁠[5][6]

Maybach Music Group, the label he founded, entered a partnership with Warner Bros. Records. The announcement named Wale, Triple-C and Meek Mill among its artists.⁠[5]

In August he signed a Memphis-area development agreement with Wingstop. His first restaurant was operating by an October announcement, with a grand opening planned for October 15. He participated as a franchise operator.⁠[7][8]

His contribution to DJ Khaled’s I’m On One brought his first GRAMMY nomination. His 2012 album God Forgives, I Don’t was nominated for Best Rap Album at the following year’s awards.⁠[1]

Following controversy over a lyric involving sexual assault, Reebok ended its partnership on April 11, criticizing his initial response. The next day he formally apologized for the offensive language and rejected using drugs to deprive women of their ability to choose.⁠[9]

Ricky D. Ross sued over alleged appropriation of his name and identity. California’s Court of Appeal held that the rapper’s name and persona incorporated substantial creative elements protected by the First Amendment, affirming summary judgment for the defendants. The plaintiff and rapper are different people.⁠[3]

He released Mastermind and Hood Billionaire in 2014, followed by Black Market in 2015.⁠[4]

Epic Records announced a new worldwide recording agreement with him. The announcement by then-label head L.A. Reid marked a new label affiliation for his solo recording career.⁠[4]

Wingstop announced that its 1,000th location, in Decatur, Georgia, belonged to Ross and the Boss Wings franchise team, including Tawanda and Tommie Roberts. The milestone referred to the entire chain.⁠[10]

In a case arising from a 2015 confrontation, he pleaded no contest to aggravated assault and received five years of probation. The AP later confirmed from court records that a Georgia first-offender order exonerated him of guilt on the felony count.⁠[11][12]

He released Rather You Than Me in 2017 and Port of Miami 2 in 2019. Collaborations from this period included Money in the Grave and Gold Roses with Drake.⁠[6][1]

Hurricanes, his memoir written with Neil Martinez-Belkin, was published by Hanover Square Press. It recounts his upbringing, music career, health difficulties and public controversies.⁠[2]

He and Neil Martinez-Belkin published The Perfect Day to Boss Up: A Hustler’s Guide to Building Your Empire, addressing business and personal working habits.⁠[13]

He hosted a car show in Georgia, documented by NASCAR in a visit by driver Rajah Caruth. The event developed into the annual Rick Ross Car & Bike Show at The Promise Land in Fayetteville.⁠[14][15]

The US Labor Department found wage-deduction, recordkeeping and child-labor violations at five Mississippi restaurants operated by Boss Wings Enterprises. It recovered $51,674 in wages and damages for 244 workers and assessed $62,753 in civil penalties. Ross accepted responsibility and said he would avoid repeating mistakes.⁠[16][17]

His contribution to DJ Khaled’s God Did received nominations for Song of the Year, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. The Recording Academy currently lists nine career nominations and no wins.⁠[1]

He and Meek Mill released Too Good To Be True, a 17-track joint album issued by Maybach Music Group under license to gamma.⁠[18]

He appeared in the channel’s Miami interview compilation, Asking Wealthy Americans How They Got Rich! (Miami). His segment begins at 5:33 within the program’s exploration of fame, business and wealth creation.⁠[19]

Hanover Square Press published Renaissance of a Boss, exploring creativity, renewed motivation and personal routines alongside his experience making a new album.⁠[20]

He released his twelfth solo studio album, Set In Stone, containing 19 tracks. The recording credits name Maybach Music Group under exclusive license to gamma.⁠[21]

He was arrested in Miami Beach on felony battery-by-strangulation and misdemeanor battery charges, then released on bond. He pleaded not guilty, and he and his attorney publicly denied the allegations. Local reporting scheduled his next appearance for October 22; the material reviewed through October 10 showed no final judgment.⁠[22]

Personal X: https://x.com/RickRoss (opens in a new window); official YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry artist channel: https://www.youtube.com/@rickrossmmgempire (opens in a new window); Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richforever/ (opens in a new window). His verified link page is https://link.me/richforever (opens in a new window).⁠[23][24]