Freeway Ricky Ross Seeks Injunction To Stop Release of Rick Ross' Album 'Teflon Don'

By Miles Bennett | Published 06/08/2010

Former Los Angeles kingpin, "Freeway" Rick Ross, recently announced that he and his team will be seeking an injunction against Miami rapper Rick Ross for the unauthorized use of his name and to block the release of the rapper's upcoming album Teflon Don.

Freeway Ricky's team sent us a press release last week revealing their plans, as well as explaining that their campaign against the rapper of the same name is not a beef.

"To set the record straight this is not a beef with no one its a lawsuit to reclaim his name," the release read. "Freeway Ricky Ross has major respect for all artists in the music industry."

As reported last month, the former drug dealer planned to file a lawsuit against rapper Rick Ross, and his labels, Def Jam and Universal for profiting "off of his name unlawfully while he was in jail, without his consent."

"It's no secret that the boss at FreewayEnterprise.com is unhappy with how his name has been exploited and misused since he went to prison in 1995, and in 2006, the above-named parties signed [William L. Roberts II] (Rick Ross' government name) to a big record deal and then spent, and made, millions off Ross' name," Freeway Ricky's camp said previously.

The "real" Rick Ross was released from prison in May 2009 after serving for 20 years for operating a $2 million per day multi-state drug empire. While incarcerated, Miami-based rapper Rick Ross broke onto the scene boasting a similar background of moving drugs, although it was later revealed that he worked as a correctional officer in his past.

Freeway Ricky claims that the rapper has stolen his name, image and likeness and leveraged them for profit, without his permission.

"If William Roberts attempts to use the 'Rick Ross' name that he spent years earning and spending time in prison to uphold, he will be met with an injunction," Ross' rep said. "Simple as that. This is not a publicity stunt, a game or a hoax, to sell some Rick Ross albums, as some have suggested. In fact, [Freeway] Rick Ross intends to halt the release of any Summer 2010 'Rick Ross' album."

At press time, it's unknown the amount in damages Freeway Ricky is seeking in their lawsuit.

Teflon Don is scheduled for a July 6 release date.

Categories: Music Tags: Court Watch, Freeway Ricky Ross, Rick Ross

rick

Rick Ross is an ex pig period!!!
http://www.nikhandson.co.uk Nik

nice to see a man who's taken so much from society trying to give back by trying to get an undoubtedly wack album from reaching the public
Trell561

Wack album huh? Nik what are you doing with your life? nothing probably so why you gotta hate on a man thats making money and feeding other people in the streets of Carol City...
rosssuckscock

Nik hit the nail on the head, fake ass rick ross is a faggot. freeways doin us a solid by holdin back these wack albums
Reno Red

...Well I dont really listen to ricks albums but people like em so he mus make kool ass muzikk...but tha whole name taking thang is not kool at all....i kan see if he flipped hella keys and did time in the belly of the beast....but naww..he flipped hella hamburgers in his mouth and worked in a prison...jus a modern day studio gangsta..i mean (dope hustla) kum up off tha name homie....
Ask bout me

Da "real" Rick Ross is q b1tch came out broke now wants to sue Ross for half his sh1it he ever made that's a b1tch move Ross ain't tryna b you so get over urself u past your time now let it go yea niggas know who you are but ain't no1 tryna be you fkn lame get q job n quit tryna get free money if you a real nigga just listen to blowin money fast Ross ft styles p Ross ain't tryna b you you d1kheaf n Nick get off rosses balls quit hatin n get a life
anzee11

Can we all graduate from this C.O. bulls**t? Sorry to say, but Rick Ross is putting out some decent music right now.
http://www.asdf.com Munny

LOL at NIK's COMMENT HAHA///
BigWill

Let me get this shit straight the real Rick Ross was doing time while the fake Rick Ross was working as a punke ass C. O is that how he came across the name and was like fuck that C. O shit I wanna be a drug dealer but wait a minute I might get shot I might get a 20 year bid like this Freeway Ricky Ross nigga fuck that I'll just fake it, it's safer
GEORGE

How about the Rick Ross sold death to his people and Ross the Bawse sold his people records. Are we ever going to stop making heroes out of criminals?
http://thetonygrands.wordpress.com Tony Grands™

@Reno Red
That's how I was last year, then I decided to see what the buzz was about. I'm only in this for music, & Rapper Rick Ross makes some cool stuff. I think people take themselves & rap music too seriously, then they get wrapped up in some fantasy world, instead of...enjoy the sonic entertainment, which is what music is.

Anyway, give him some listens, Reno.
GEORGE

@Tony Grands, you made the most sense on these comments. I got to say amen.
this is dumb

yo rapper ross was a c.o. for like 5 months wen he was 19 years young. then qiut the job and started selling dope agian. none of yaull got youll facts straight.

and if rapper ross just hollad at real ross wen he got out there would be no issue you cant just take a man name and not pay homage
http://spit.org thacurser07

Unless The real Rick Ross has proof of trademark this won't go far
http://cdbaby.com/jsmoothrap J-SMOOTH

Him being a CO is not the problem. The fact that he lied about it when confonted with the facts is. How can you so harshly deny something and 6 months later come clean. The nigga is a fraud and I cant listen to a fraud azz nigga.
Frank Rizzo

I don't know how anyone whose a hip hop 'head' can purchase a Rick Ross album. Everything is about credibility and it's obvious by what's been dug up on fat boy that he's anything close to credible. I hope he goes broke and ends up back in his CO uniform.
ReallyRicky

Man, he said he was the biggest Boss that we seen thus Far, but he ain't even the Rickest Ross that we seen thus Far.
http://myspace dash

i dnt think wat rick ross did was cool stealin someones name out of spite is wrong. rick ross thought ricky ross was gone do life and i dnt care wat kind of s*** he sold. that aint right stilling someones name.cuz if somebody stole my name i be pist and rick ross is geting exactly wat he deserves cuz hes a fake as foney. now that ricky ross is out he gone get justice. believe that.
Michaelterrelle

I had heard about this sometime ago. I held back comments about this then, thinking that this squabble was/is loose. If the courts take a legitimate non-bias look at these particular state of facts, the case must turn on constitutional issues. Knowledge and intent will guide the courts decision, but I gotta say, I personally would never knowingly use a name belonging to another while having already a personal name belonging to me, and for someone to profit off of that use, not having the person's permission or non-passive consent is at the very least 'reckless' (and more contemporary, identity theft). We gotta remember, respect is a must in our community and culture.

We all know that to work as a security guard in a prison requires a mentality that seriously contrasts individuality. ie guards follow orders right or wrong, nobody is right except the supervisor, prisoners are scum (in every case). We also know rappers are generally forthright in narrating their experiences and displaying who they are in art form. Thieves and fakers are usually one in the same. I think that Rozay, in order to survive this, should go on record and clear up somethings, and then still it is not guaranteed that his survival will manifest.

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