Rick Ross: Taking Charge

Miami’s big boss is more than living up to his title. With a larger than life attitude, Rick Ross has taken the music industry by storm in 2009 by dropping two highly successful albums, as well as starting his own record label, Maybach Music, which he hopes to grow into one of rap’s most prolific labels.

Ross is no stranger to the pages of DUB. In fact, the last time we spoke to the Boss, he was in the midst of promoting his sophomore venture, Trilla, and riding around town in his (then) signature car, the white-on-white Bimmer. Having outgrown the Bimmer (Ross says that it just became too known for him to ride in since he was often “harassed” in it), he’s moved on to bigger and better things like his Rolls-Royce Phantom and Maybach. “I’m a Maybach man,” Ross answers when asked which of the two luxurious and high-end vehicles he liked most. Using the Phantom more when he likes to be chauffeured around, Ross prefers the Maybach when he feels like flaunting. But these are merely two vehicles out of a collection of about 20 rides, not including his bike collection. “I couldn’t even name them all,” Ross says. “I usually keep like seven or eight at the house and the others come out of the garage whenever we’re ready to play with them.”

There is one car in particular Ross has his mind on. “I gotta ’78 Thunderbird that I haven’t even driven yet,” he admits when asked which car is his most fav from his arsenal. “I can’t wait to really play with it a little bit; been out on the road and it was barely completed a while back. She’s waiting on me.” Quite satisfied with what he currently owns – everything from a Bentley GT, Corvette, Murcielago and Aston Martin – Ross hasn’t really seen anything on the market he lusts after. “Who knows though, I might wake up one day and go f*ck with something…you never know.”

Ross might be nonchalant about his car collection, but when it comes to his career, it’s all business. Ever since he first appeared on the scene with his 2006 debut album, Port of Miami, Ross hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. The Carol City, Florida native has risen through the ranks of hip-hop with chart-topping hits like “The Boss” and “Here I Am,” both off his 2008 Trilla album. Now Ross is sharing the love and his success with his Triple C’s venture. Comprised of himself, Young Breed, Gunplay and Torch, Triple C’s is a collective effort to showcase Ross’ long time friends and their lyrical talents.

“The team Triple C has been together for more than 10 years. From day one, in all of my projects, Triple C’s was on my albums. It’s only right, the time’s right,” Ross declares. “Now it’s just all about building a brand and taking it worldwide. We put lightning in a bottle and put all our potent music together on [Customs Cars & Cycles]. We got a huge street following and now we’re taking it to that next level of bringing the product to the masses.” Ross describes the sound on the album as “raw, edgy street music,” with notable collaborations from big names like Game, Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, Bun B and Akon.

Besides Ross’ Triple C’s project, he’s also still promoting his Deeper Than Rap album that was released back in March 2009. Growing to be his favorite so far, Ross describes the album as an “emotional roller coaster ride.” “I did some peak anthems, street songs, controversial ones and then turned around and gave them beautiful ones like the one with John Legend [“Magnificent”]. I gave both sides of the equation on this joint,” he says. “There’s so much energy in the album; it has a much faster pace and is mosdef a party-street record…that’s what makes it my favorite so far. I’m making the best music of my career. For everybody that got the album, I’m sure they enjoyed it cause it was critically acclaimed, and for the hip-hop lovers that don’t have it, you’re missing out on a vital piece for your collection.”

For the album, Ross collaborated with the industry’s best, including Kanye West, Nas, Robin Thicke, The-Dream, Ne-Yo, T-Pain, and Lil Wayne. “Whenever you can collaborate with an artist that you were a fan of before you became an artist is always big,” Ross admits. “Working with all of them was a great experience that’s opened up doors for my creativity.” Ross’ enhanced creativity already has him thinking ahead to his next album due out sometime this year, where he takes it back to his roots by calling it Teflon Don, his first rap name before he took on the moniker of Freeway Ricky Ross. “It’s going to eclipse all my other projects,” Ross says. Originally a nickname for the infamous John Gotti, Ross rapped under the name in the early-’90s and later changed to Rick Ross sometime in ’98.

But Teflon Don isn’t the only thing he has coming out in 2010. Ross has been busy recording tracks with Birdman to drop a collabo album, titled H. “We just feed the streets. Me being a fan of the hustle – the grind, [Birdman and I] have the same attitude and hunger coming from streets. He feels the same about me, you already know. We just went in the studio for the hood,” Ross says. “He gave me a lot of good advice for things that will help me be a better executive. We cooked up loads of tracks that we want to put out as a treat this summer.” The duo has also leaked a few things on the Web to give fans a taste of what’s to come.

While Ross will never let go of his place in front of a mic, he’s gladly embracing his role behind the scenes as the CEO of his Maybach Music Group imprint. “I feel like being the boss that I am, it was a natural progression going into ownership of my own label,” he says. “It was years in the making and called it Maybach Music because of the quality of sound we’re making.” As a fan of all musical genres, Ross plans to incorporate various types of artists on his label besides the usual hip-hop act. “Look out for Masspike Miles, an R&B sensation out of Boston, as well as my new Reggae act that’s on fire by the name of Magazeen. I look for that passion for the music in my artists.”

Ross also practices what he preaches, having an intense passion for both music and the business that he can’t choose which one he likes best. “They both go hand-in-hand and have perks. You gotta handle the biz, but you also have to love performing, being in the studio and being creative. They both give me that natural high.” While Ross is still growing as a businessman, artist and “Boss” man, he’s sticking to the same formula he started out with. “Everybody evolves,” he says. “Me, I’m just tapping into different things musically. I’m getting better at doing other things, too, so I’m far from my peak. Right now, music and business is all that matters to me.”

Photos: The WD Corp Photography - J. Price

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