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Interview Podcast

After recording independently and paying dues for more than a decade, Miami rapper Rick Ross took the world by storm with his smash single "Hustlin'" in 2006. His Def Jam debut album Port of Miami has sold nearly one million copies to date, something that is increasingly rare in the download era. MP3.com caught up with Rick to speak about his upcoming album, the local music scene, and advice for fledgling young artists. Brolin: Hey Rick. Rick Ross: What it do pimp? How you doing, man? You already know, I'm hustlin'. That's what's up. So let's talk about this new album, Trilla. Yeah, Trilla. You know, hittin' stores December 18th. I poured the last five months of my heart into it. You know what I'm saying? Excellent, man. And how would you say this compares to the debut? It's bigger and better, man. It's a lot more explosive. You know, my first album, the first single took off. I hit the road doing shows and promo tours. So, I pretty much finished my whole album in the back of the bus. The difference in this go around was I actually got to get in the studio, and instead of just rapping over beats I actually collaborated with the producers. You know what I'm saying? So, Toomp, The Runners, Cool & Dre, Akon and J.R.Rotem, everybody just gave me meat! Nice. And the first single is the "Speedin'" joint with R. Kelly? Rick Ross Yes, the "Speedin'" joint with R. Kelly. I'm getting a lot of love. You know what I'm saying? We will be going and embracing a record. We're shooting a video this weekend. You know, I've been a big fan of Kelz for forever. So, you know what I'm saying? I've just been waiting for this to happen. Now, your last album was huge. "Hustlin'" was a gigantic single, like an anthem, nationwide. Being that your last single was so big, does that give you kind of more pressure to live up to that, or less pressure because you've already had that huge hit or what? Mostly it just motivates me and just let me know of my capabilities. And you know me coming back around this time I came with the R. Kelly first single, and I'm still dropping that big monstrous street single. So, it's the same effect. I'm just doing it in a newer way, in a better way. So, lyrically, would you say that—are you pretty much touching on the same themes, you know, moving weight and hustling and stuff like on the first album? You know, that's what's in my heart. You know what I'm saying? And that's what I know best. But I most definitely stepped the lyrics up, the content. You know what I'm saying? Like on the first album, when I did my record for the females like "Hit U From The Back," versus this go-around, I got Marsha from Floetry on the record with me just to make it—to take it to that next level. And that's what I did with a lot of this stuff. I upped the flows. You know what I'm saying? And I improved everything. As soon as you hear the music, it's going to reflect. Sounds good man. Now, as you know, a lot of people are tripping about the industry is messed up. Downloads is f***ing things up, and record sales is not what they used to be. You're one of those rare artists…you're a new artist, and while a lot of other people were complaining about that, you just did your thing, and blew up. People still embraced you, still bought the album. Is that something that concerns you at all, or are you just making new music? No, man, I just was always one of them dudes growing up that's felt like, bitches bitch. You know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. Bitches complain. Real Gs make real things happen, and you got to work! And that's what it's about. A lot of times, a lot of people's downfalls is themselves. You're sidetracked, not putting in, and paying those dues properly. But I'm one of them dudes that after just putting out some singles, I'm over 900 [thousand units] sold, and I'm still in the studio, hungrier than I was before "Hustlin'" came out. You know what I'm saying? Cuz I'm motivated by when I go in clubs, and I'm embraced. And that's what bring out the best music in people, is when they're sincere. You know what I'm saying? You can't put a dollar sign on that. Yeah, no doubt. Are you going to be doing a big tour once the album drops? Of course. We're putting together the Trilla tour now. Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Plies, Flo Rida, Brisco, Lil' Boosie and Webbie, you know what I'm saying? We just getting everybody that's on our team, Birdman, Wayne, and we're just trying to make everything pop off on the top of the year. Nice. Do you feel like—you know, a lot of people, in terms of sort of where hip-hop is like headquartered at…first it was New York. Then it moved to Cali. Then it was Atlanta, Houston. Do you feel like now it's time for Miami? There's a lot of talented artists like yourself and others in Miami. A lot of people have kind of relocated down there and are based out there now. Do you feel like that's the next big city to blow? Yeah, you know what I'm saying? I love that. I'm happy to be a part of the resurgence that we got now. That's why we rep that movement in DJ Khaled, and Cool & Dre, Poe Boy Entertainment. You know, I'm just happy to be a part of that whole movement and us doing what we're doing right now. We doing it big. That's what's up. Well, I've just got one more question and then I'll let you roll. Everybody—every kid out there wants to rhyme. Everybody's got their CDs out, and got their MySpace page, and they look up to a cat like you that did his thing, came out with his own sound, and blew up on the strength of it. What advice would you give to that next generation of kids that's trying to get on? Put God first and go hard. I felt like I ain't been asleep in ten years. You know what I'm saying? And it took me twelve years to get on. So, you gotta realize there's only a few who make it. But you got to promise and make sure you're one of them few. Because I was one of the same dudes that was just dreaming, sitting in the Projects, looking out the window, listening to Ice Cube, and dreaming. And I just stayed down there. And I'm here now. You know what I'm saying? Right on. Well, thanks a lot for taking the time to talk to me, man. I appreciate it, and good luck with the new record. I appreciate the love. Make sure you cop Trilla December 18th. Boss. (Editor's Note: Trilla has been pushed back to February. Check out the mixtape here).