Rick Ross

While Atlanta and Houston artists were establishing their cities as Southern strongholds, Rick Ross put Miami back in raps national spotlight with "Hustlin" (2006), the platinum introduction to a uniquely larger-than-life character with gruffly delivered tales about the spoils and pitfalls of drug trafficking. The rapper became not only a hip-hop fixture but an unlikely pop star as well. Debut smash Port of Miami, and all nine of Ross subsequent studio albums, including the Grammy-nominated God Forgives, I Dont (2012) and Port of Miami 2 (2019), have entered the Top Ten of the Billboard 200, promoted with high-rolling, RIAA-certified singles such as "The Boss" and "Aston Martin Music." Through his own label,  -- the name of which has been imprinted on virtually every Ross recording since 2009 -- Ross has boosted the careers of fellow artists , , and . His multitude of guest verses have likewise supported hits by the likes of  (beginning with "We Takin Over"),  ("Monster"), s  ("Pop That"),  ("Bugatti"), and  ("New Flame").

The Clarksdale, Mississippi-born William Roberts grew up in Carol City, Florida, an impoverished northern suburb of Miami. Influenced by artists like Luther Campbell and , Roberts began rapping in the mid-90s and formed a local group, the Carol City Cartel. Taking his performing name from Los Angeles drug kingpin "Freeway" Rick Ross, Roberts had a brief stint on Houstons , former label of , before he ended up on Miami-based , the label home of  and . During the early to mid-2000s, Rick Ross the rapper became popular and well-known locally through touring with  and appearing as a guest on a few  releases.

Once "Hustlin," Ross Runners-produced debut as a lead artist, caught the ears of music executives, a bidding war ensued that included offers from  CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs and  (formerly ) president . Nonetheless,  president and veteran rapper  signed Ross to a multi-million-dollar deal. A Miami anthem, "Hustlin" was given a new life with  backing. Gold and a number seven R&B/hip-hop hit by the end of June 2006, it reached platinum status in August, the same month Ross released Port of Miami, his Billboard 200-topping LP debut. The albums commercial longevity was extended by the Scarface-referencing "Push It," Ross second Top Ten R&B/hip-hop single. Two more chart-topping albums, 2008s Trilla and the next years Deeper Than Rap, made Ross a bankable artist with "The Boss," "Here I Am," and "Magnificent" adding to his sum of Top Ten R&B/hip-hop entries. Linked with  long term and still affiliated with , he also launched a label of his own, . Furthermore, he was called upon by numerous fellow headliners for guest verses.  alone scored with Ross-assisted triumphs such as "We Takin Over," "Im So Hood," and "Out Here Grindin."

Ross grip rarely slackened throughout the 2010s. During the decades first half, he narrowly missed the top of the Billboard 200 with 2010s Teflon Don, only to crown the chart again with 2012s God Forgives, I Dont and 2014s Mastermind. He also earned his first Grammy nominations. "Im on One," yet another  track, was up for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and God Forgives was later nominated for Best Rap Album. Frequently heard at least once during any given hour of urban contemporary radio programming, Ross expanded his hits list with tracks such as "Super High," "B.M.F. (Blowin Money Fast)," "Aston Martin Music," and "Diced Pineapples," co-starred on a stream of airwaves staples by  (including "All I Do Is Win"),  ("Monster"),  ("John"),  ("Bugatti"),  (the Grammy-nominated "New Flame"), and  signees , , and . Additionally through 2014, Ross steered three volumes of the  compilation series Self Made into the Top Ten of the album chart.  was similarly successful with artist albums from , , and , plus Hood Billionaire, Ross second album of 2014 and his fifth solo LP to top the Billboard 200.

From 2015 through 2019, Ross placed only one more headlining single in the R&B/hip-hop Top Ten, and it was for Suicide Squad: The Album -- "Purple Lamborghini," a  collaboration nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Song Written for Visual Media. However, Ross continued to ride high with singles on which he was featured -- s "Do You Mind" was the most successful of all -- and his LPs. After the number six hit Black Market closed out his  era in 2015, Ross signed with , thereby reconnecting (albeit briefly) with former  executive L.A. Reid.

Ross new chapter officially started in 2017 with the number three entry Rather You Than Me. It continued in 2019 with Port of Miami 2. The sequel to his debut continued his career-long streak of Top Ten albums and was his most personal recording yet, reflecting upon the death of longtime associate and manager Black Bo and a personal health scare, two major setbacks he had experienced the previous year. The albums -assisted single "Gold Roses" scored a nomination for Best Rap Song in the 2020 Grammy Awards. Several collaborations marked Ross output that year including "Entanglement" with  and "Pinned to the Cross" featuring Finn Matthews. ~ Andy Kellman & Cyril Cordor, Rovi

EVENTS / CONCERTS

Sat, Nov 6 Colonial Life Arena , Columbia

Thu, Nov 11  787 Windsor , Atlanta

Sat, Nov 13 E11 Even Miami , Miami

UPCOMING EVENTS
Columbus Civic Center, Columbus
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E11EVEN MIAMI, Miami
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F.G Clark Activity Center-Southern University, Baton Rouge
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TD Pavilion at the Mann, Philadelphia
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Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
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Spectrum Center, Charlotte
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VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville
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Buck's Backyard, Buda
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