Hustlin' Flow

Still, Ross's real-life rock tale, unusually direct delivery, and use of repeated incantations attracted the attention of Jay-Z in 2005. The hip-hop star then made way for Def Jam distribution of Ross's label, Miami's Slip-n-Slide. Ross says his street-wise image isn't compromised by affiliation with Def Jam; his objective is for people to hear his record.

"This album was twelve years in the making to be a classic," says Ross. "I had connections in the music world through business. Those individuals became aware of my interests, my writing, my talent.... I ghost-wrote raps for years. This is more than a decade of my life, and people who hear it — a lot of people — are going to stop and think about Miami."

Colby Katz

Rick Ross: "I'm always surprised how different — different worse — some people act when they get two dollars in their pocket"

Details

Typical of the fluctuating world of hip-hop performance, Rick Ross decided to forgo some local and statewide shows set for the remainder of October and instead gave a few impromptu concerts this past week in and around Miami. Ross will resume touring later in the fall, culminating with an appearance at the BET Hip- Hop Awards (he has been nominated for one) November 10 in Atlanta. Meanwhile, check out Ross's bio page on the Def Jam Website, www.defjam.com, where his recently launched line of downloadable ring tones may also be accessed.

Related Content

• Rick Scott Suddenly Wants Barack Obama's Handouts
  March 29, 2013
• Holy Ship!!! 2014 Announces Dates, New Vessel, Departing From Port of Miami
  March 25, 2013
• Rick Ross: Calm Down or End Up Like Biggie
  February 7, 2013
• Reebok CEO on Rick Ross: "He Has Stupid Advisers Around Him"
  May 1, 2013
• Rick Ross's Reebok Endorsement Deal Killed Over "U.O.E.N.O." Rape Lyrics
  April 12, 2013

More About

• Port of Miami
• Rick Ross
• Water Transportation
• Seaport and Harbor Management
• Hip-Hop and Rap

Ross is similarly unapologetic and direct about the image he presents — as a gangster turned music mogul — to his fans.

"Look, my philosophy is this: Get the money," Ross says. "My objective for my people, the example I wish to set is: When we have more money, we have the agenda. Once we blacks control financial operations, that's where talking about other things begins."

Ross ties his identities — wealth accruer, sensitive musician, former hoodlum, lifeguard — together with a rather nimble sense of humor that doesn't come through clearly in lyrics or dialogue. The condition upon which Ross granted New Times an interview was that it "better not be boring." When we presented him with a word-association game, he provided the following multiword responses:

New Times: NASA

Rick Ross: You mean, the Space Shuttle? Why'd you pick that?

NT: I think it's about to take off again or something. Hawaii.

Ross: Weed! Really good weed! The best weed in the world. I think the best of the best is from ... which island is it? Kahoolawe?

NT: I don't know! Construction.

Ross: Oh, man, there's too much construction in Miami. I'm just driving, right now, trying to get something to eat, and I can tell it's going to be another hour before I even make it to the next light. That's too much construction.

NT: Multitasking.

Ross: No, I try to resist that. If you're really important, you're not tied down to a cell phone, an instant message. I try to do one thing at a time.

NT: Ocean liner.

Ross: Really big, large ships. Extremely large vessels.

NT: Um.

Ross: At ... the Port of Miami! Oh, I get it.