How did Rick Ross get big/stay relevant?

[SlySlickSmooth]

This guy raps mafioso like he's been in the game, but its well known he stole his persona from "Freeway" Rick Ross, drug kingpin from LA.

Hell, Rick "fat" Ross was a correctional officer prior to being a rapper.

[Pugilist95]

Catchy lyrics, songs tend to have decent production quality etc.

[El-blanco]

This guy raps mafioso like he's been in the game, but its well known he stole his persona from "Freeway" Rick Ross, drug kingpin from LA.

Hell, Rick "fat" Ross was a correctional officer prior to being a rapper.

Haha I've actually never seen those photos. Wow. I think he created a persona, worked hard at it, and made some great connections. I find the music industry to be a game of luck, there plenty of guys like Ross or better who will never make a dime, somehow it worked out for him. I have his first album and he's nothing special, certainly lacks the charisma he has now. So it's really just a sequence of beneficial events that got him to where he is.

[-jose-]

This guy raps mafioso like he's been in the game, but its well known he stole his persona from "Freeway" Rick Ross, drug kingpin from LA.

Hell, Rick "fat" Ross was a correctional officer prior to being a rapper.

that's some shit I always thought he was a fake G but I world of never guessed he wore a badge back in the days

didn't some gang in Florida wanted to kill him at one point? I wonder if that was why

[kiaba360]

50 clowned him viciously, didn't he? What bothered me was how Ross would continuously deny that he was a C.O. The whole fiasco was entertaining to watch, but I knew it wouldn't affect him. Ross has stayed relevant because of his connections (i.e. Diddy, Young Money) and his ear for production. Some of the current "sounds" of Hip-Hop were popularized with his help (i.e. Lex Luger trap/heavy bass or Justice LEAGUE luxurious/cinematic). Consumers are concerned with how music sounds, not if the artist making it is authentic or lives what he creates. Being "real" is not a prerequisite for making music. It makes you appreciate those who actually have artistic integrity.

[El-blanco]

50 clowned him viciously, didn't he? What bothered me was how Ross would continuously deny that he was a C.O. The whole fiasco was entertaining to watch, but I knew it wouldn't affect him. Ross has stayed relevant because of his connections (i.e. Diddy, Young Money) and his ear for production. Some of the current "sounds" of Hip-Hop were popularized with his help (i.e. Lex Luger trap/heavy bass or Justice LEAGUE luxurious/cinematic). Consumers are concerned with how music sounds, not if the artist making it is authentic or lives what he creates. Being "real" is not a prerequisite for making music. It makes you appreciate those who actually have artistic integrity.

Good points, particularly regarding the justice league. Another thing about fans is, they will stick with an artist they love despite the evidence.

[kiaba360]

Good points, particularly regarding the justice league. Another thing about fans is, they will stick with an artist they love despite the evidence.

It's bizarre how he modeled his entire rap persona from someone who's alive, and then goes on to lie about a past occupation. Personas based on criminals aren't new in Rap: Biggie called himself "Frank White", Nas called himself "Nas Escobar", CNN got their names from Al Capone and Manuel Noriega, Ice-T's name is influenced by Iceberg Slim, Scarface got his name from the movie, etc. Ross' music is comparable to a summer action movie; It's meant to entertain your senses, not stimulate your mind. If you go in with the wrong expectations, you'll be disappointed. Like you said, those who were fans before will still be fans afterwards because they can look past his persona and enjoy the music for what it is. Anyone who wasn't a fan beforehand will have a tougher time.

[SlySlickSmooth]

I made this theory that he could of stole lyrics from inmates till he had enough to formulate into his persona for his rap debut.

[El-blanco]

It's bizarre how he modeled his entire rap persona from someone who's alive, and then goes on to lie about a past occupation. Personas based on criminals aren't new in Rap: Biggie called himself "Frank White", Nas called himself "Nas Escobar", CNN got their names from Al Capone and Manuel Noriega, Ice-T's name is influenced by Iceberg Slim, Scarface got his name from the movie, etc. Ross' music is comparable to a summer action movie; It's meant to entertain your senses, not stimulate your mind. If you go in with the wrong expectations, you'll be disappointed. Like you said, those who were fans before will still be fans afterwards because they can look past his persona and enjoy the music for what it is. Anyone who wasn't a fan beforehand will have a tougher time.

Ya it's ****** that he lied about it, if he was smart he could have said he got the job on purpose to move weight inside the jail, he could have created a deeper character who had the smarts to work from the inside. Plenty of cops like that who made out with millions. Rap is a an interesting musc genre, it's the only one I can think of where people create these characters.