William Leonard Roberts II, known professionally as Rick Ross, is an American rapper and music executive. 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.
From his 2006 debut *Port of Miami*, Rick Ross weaponized his baritone voice and cinematic hustler mythology to become hip-hop's most prolific empire-builder, launching Maybach Music Group in 2009 and cultivating a roster that would dominate the next decade. His beefs—most notably the 50 Cent clash over his alleged past as a correctional officer—only amplified his outsized persona, while collaborations with producers like Lex Luger ("B.M.F.") and affiliations with Trick Daddy cemented Miami's dominance in the 2010s. Albums like *Teflon Don* and *God Forgives, I Don't* showcased his ability to balance trap production with intricate storytelling, making him less a rapper and more a architectural force reshaping how the South could sound.
Explore in graph →