Freeway Rick Ross: The Rise of the Crack Era 

Rick Ross (born William Leonard Roberts II on January 28, 1976) is a famous American rapper, songwriter, and record executive. Known for his deep voice and stories about luxury and street life, he is a major figure in modern hip hop. [1, 2]

Here is a history of his life and career in easy English.

Early Life

• Birthplace: He was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, but grew up in Carol City, Florida, near Miami.

• Education & Sports: He went to Miami Carol City Senior High School and later attended Albany State University on a football scholarship.

• Early Job: Before becoming a rapper, Roberts worked as a correctional officer (a prison guard) in Florida for about 18 months, from 1995 to 1997. [1, 2, 3]

Music Career Beginnings

• Name Change: He started rapping under the name "Teflon Da Don" before changing it to Rick Ross.

• The Inspiration: He took the name "Rick Ross" from a famous 1980s Los Angeles drug dealer named "Freeway" Ricky Ross. The rapper has no connection to the actual drug dealer, which caused legal issues later.

• Early Efforts: He signed with Suave House Records and then Slip-n-Slide Records, touring with rapper Trick Daddy in the early 2000s. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

"Port of Miami" and Success (2006–2009) [1]

• The Big Hit: In 2006, he released his debut single, "Hustlin'". It was a massive hit and made him famous.

• #1 Album: His debut album, Port of Miami (2006), was released through Def Jam Recordings and went straight to number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

• Continued Success: He released Trilla (2008) and Deeper Than Rap (2009), which were also very successful. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Maybach Music Group and "Teflon Don" (2009–2014) [1, 2]

• His Own Label: In 2009, he founded his own record label called Maybach Music Group (MMG). He signed popular artists like Meek Mill, Wale, and French Montana.

• Critical Success: His 2010 album, Teflon Don, is considered a classic and includes the hit "Aston Martin Music".

• Hottest MC: In 2012, MTV named Rick Ross the "Hottest MC in the Game". [1, 3]

Controversies and Legal Issues

• Correctional Officer Past: In 2008, it was revealed he worked as a prison guard, which caused controversy because he rapped about being a drug dealer.

• Lawsuit: The real "Freeway" Ricky Ross sued the rapper for using his name, but the rapper won the case.

• Legal Troubles: He has been arrested for drug possession and assault. In 2015, he was arrested for kidnapping and assault, but he later pled no contest and was released. [1, 2]

Recent Years and Business (2015–Present)

• More Albums: He continued releasing successful albums like Rather You Than Me (2017) and Port of Miami 2 (2019).

• Business Mogul: Ross is also a successful entrepreneur. He owns dozens of Wingstop restaurant franchises and has invested in real estate, including a huge mansion in Georgia.

• Book Author: He wrote a book about his life called Hurricanes. [1, 2, 4, 5]

As of 2026, Rick Ross is respected as one of the most consistent and successful rappers in the industry, known as "The Boss". [1, 2]