Critically received better than its predecessor, the album featured production from big names such as Mannie Fresh and DJ Khaled, as well as up-and-comers the J.U.S.T.I.C.E.

With his second album doing the same, Trilla appeared to have a bit more direction in the creative department. Also featuring the Scarface inspired ‘Push It To The Limit’, the album further promotes rap’s obsession with the drug game.

In many circles, the album is regarded as one of the best from the “coke rap” sub-genre. With the help of Miami-based songwriting/production team The Monsters & The Strangerz, it went on to sell over 500,000 copies. Helping Ross to push ‘Hustlin” nationally, the record went on to sell over 5.6 million copies which saw the RIAA certify it 5x platinum.įollowing the success of ‘Hustlin”, Rick Ross released his debut album, Port Of Miami, the same year. Regardless of such high-profile interests, Rozay opted to sign with Def Jam after Jay Z, who at the time was president of the label, offered him a multi-million dollar deal. (formerly Murder Inc.) president Irv Gotti. A bidding war ensued, which included offers from Bad Boy CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs and The Inc. Releasing ‘Hustlin” in June of 2006, it caught the ear of a few executives within the industry. Not releasing any material of his own until a joint venture between Slip-n-Slide and Def Jam took place, Ross did pop up on three cuts from Trick Daddy’s Thug Holiday album while also appearing on four of Trina’s five albums.Īt a time when Atlanta and Houston’s artists were establishing their cities as Southern strongholds during the mid-00s – Mike Jones, Ludacris, Chamillionaire, and Paul Wall were all dominating commercial radio – Ross aimed at putting Miami back in rap’s national spotlight. As a label, they were moderately successful thanks to Trick Daddy, known in the world of rap as the Mayor of Miami, and stripper-turned-rapper Trina.

Waiting in the wings for his time to rhyme, Rozay learnt a lot whilst housed at Slip-n-Slide. Slowly but surely Ross began making his way up the rap ladder. Starting out with a brief stint at Suave House Records, former label of southern legends Eightball & MJG, he ended up on Miami-based Slip-n-Slide Records. Forming the rap group Carol City Cartel (later known as the Triple C’s), Ross began rapping towards the end of the 90s. Rick Ross, real name William Roberts II, grew up in Carol City, Florida, an impoverished northern suburb of Miami.

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