Rick Ross: For The Ghetto, The Streets & The Ladies
Published: Wednesday - December 26, 2007
Words by Tonya Raymond
Rick Ross (Photo: Def Jam)
If you think Port Of Miami was worth listening to -- with hits like "Hustlin'" and "Push It" -- then you haven't heard anything yet. Mr. Rick Ross, a.k.a. The Boss, is back with his sophomore album, Trilla and even though it's not officially out yet, it's already taking the hip-hop game by storm. The first single, "Speedin'" featuring R. Kelly, quickly made rotation on Urban Radio and was the no. 1 most added single during the week of November 15. With this album clearly in high demand, many Rick Ross fans want to know just one thing... the new album Trilla.
BallerStatus.com: Well first off, let's talk about your new album, "Trilla." When can fans expect it on shelves?
Rick Ross: You can look for it like on top of the New Year. We're tweaking everything, clearing all our samples.
BallerStatus.com: Now Trilla is actually a word, what does it mean?
Rick Ross: Trill down south, you know, that's the combination of "true" and "real." I put the "A" on it -- "Trilla." You know, Bun B had an album, that's like my uncle in the game, he had an album titled Trill, so I did it Trilla and I put my little Michael Jackson Thriller spin on it.
BallerStatus.com: So Michael Jackson is an inspiration on the album? How has he inspired you?
Rick Ross: The title is just what I'm saying, by that being the biggest album when I was a kid.
BallerStatus.com: How is this album different from your first?
Rick Ross: It's better. I really put more into it. The collaborations are better. On one record, it's Lil Wayne, Trick Daddy, Young Jeezy and myself. The record titled "Luxury Tax" is the price we pay living this life. It's a record the consumer will never forget. And me and Jay-Z, we collaborated on "Maybach Music." It's like Michael Jackson and Paul McCarthy fighting. Akon, he contributed [and] me and T-Pain we collaborated on a record titled "Boss." It is what it is, you know?
BallerStatus.com: Clearly "Hustlin' was your first and most successful single, so how you choose the right songs to be hits?
Rick Ross: I just go with the vibe. My partner, he clashes in the studio with me. I trust his skills to the up most 'cause I can get caught up in recording twenty songs in one week, twenty songs in two weeks. I can trust my partner and we can sit around and we all make the decisions.
BallerStatus.com: Your first single is called "Speedin'," featuring R. Kelly. What was it like working with Kellz?
Rick Ross: You already know I'm a big fan of his. I was just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself, and it did with this track, "Speedin'." Me and Kellz, we just collaborated on it, we shot the video two weeks ago. You should be seeing it real soon on TV.
BallerStatus.com: How do you feel about this single being featured on ABC NASCAR finals?
Rick Ross: Oh it is?
BallerStatus.com: Yea, Did you know about that?
Rick Ross: Nah, I didn't even know about that. See my team is so great they didn't even tell me NASCAR finals featured the record for whatever it is. I love that, that's what who we here for.
BallerStatus.com: What other tracks do you think will be huge for you?
Rick Ross: Of course the one me and Jay did. Shout out to the big homie. "Maybach Music," "Luxury Tax", the record me and T-Pain did is a smash, that's my brother. DJ Khalid checked in. I got some incredible music on there.
BallerStatus.com: Besides working on your new album, I read that you've been branching off into films and landed a role in "Days Of Wrath." Tell us about the movie.
Rick Ross: "Days Of Wrath," that was my acting debut. Laurence Fishburne is in the film and it's basically a story about a single parent raising his kids in a gang infested, drug infested neighborhood and that was one of the problems he had to deal with. So look out for that, it's gonna be a real good look.
BallerStatus.com: What was your role in the movie?
Rick Ross: I was, of course, on the corner with the top down, music up.
BallerStatus.com: Was it easy for you to play that role?
Rick Ross: Automatic. I didn't even read the script.
BallerStatus.com: Were you given advice from any of the other actors on set?
Rick Ross: Yeah, you know, I was talking to Wilmer Valderrama... that was one of my boys. He's a gang member in the movie and all the time, we were just kicking it, laughing, you know, having lunch and he was just giving me pointers telling me this and that. So shout out to Wilmer Valderrama.
BallerStatus.com: What was it like working with other music artists like Slim Thug and David Banner?
Rick Ross: Them dudes are dudes that I listen to and enjoy their music. David Banner, he gave me like five tracks for this new album. I forgot which one he produced that made it, but we was in the studio all the time. And Slim Thug, we was just kicking it on Lil Wayne's private boat in Miami. So it is what it is man, whenever you can see someone or another soldier in the field that's with you, it ain't nothing but love with me.
BallerStatus.com: Getting back to roles that you play, you also took up a role as producer for a new documentary. Tell us about that.
Rick Ross: Executive producer. The documentary titled "M.I. Yayo," you know, that's gonna drop on top of the new year. It's a top ten countdown of the ten biggest hustlers from my city. I mention dudes names like Convertible Bert or Kenneth "Boobie" Williams. And the reaction that the streets gave and those dudes done get fifteen, twenty years, ten years. They feel forgotten, they feel left behind knowing they set a lot of the trends that us young dudes are following now, so it was just my way of showing them that love and at the same time giving the whole game in the world a quick history lesson about this M.I. Yayo.
BallerStatus.com: What's next for Rick Ross?
Rick Ross: This new album, Trilla, is incredible. It's gonna do wonderful. My first album that I'm putting out for my label Maybach Music Group. Triple C's, Black Flag, The Resurrection, that's gonna come. Just look for the boss to be looking for new upcoming artists.
BallerStatus.com: Finally, why should people pick up your album?
Rick Ross: 'Cause it's the best album of the year. Because the Boss did it and The Boss do it for the people. I do it for the ghetto. I do it for the streets. I do it for the projects. I do it for the G's. I do it for the sexy ladies. I do it for the independent dads, the independent single moms. That's who I do it for. When they heard my first album, they loved it, so guess what? I went back in and made something you know more, Trillaaa!
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