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Hip Hop artist and Miami native Rick Ross landed behind bars Thursday on domestic violence charges following accusations from his ex-girlfriend.
The Miami Gardens-raised rapper, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts II, is a staple in Miami’s hip hop culture.
The 50-year old drew fame in 2005 with his hit “Hustlin” and debut album “Port of Miami.” Since then, Ross has released chart-topping songs and collaborated with artists such as Drake, DJ Khaled and Jay-Z, just to name a few.
Rapper Rick Ross spoke to the media about the allegations he faces following his domestic violence arrest Thursday.
Past arrests
Thursday’s arrest was not the first run-in with the law for Ross. The rap artist was arrested in 2011 for marijuana possession in Louisiana. In 2015, he was arrested again for marijuana possession in Georgia. Two weeks later, Ross was arrested again on kidnapping and assault charges.
Fort Lauderdale shooting
The “Aston Martin Music” rapper survived a shooting in 2013 in Fort Lauderdale. Ross and his then-girlfriend were uninjured after someone opened fire on the Rolls Royce they were driving in, causing it to crash into a building.
Ross has faced criticism after pictures showing him on duty as a Florida corrections officer in the early 1990s surfaced. The image-conscious convicted drug trafficker “Freeway” Ricky Ross sued him for copyright infringement. The case was later dismissed.
Giving back to the community
The Miami native is also known for his philanthropic work throughout South Florida. He has held community events with the City of Miami Gardens and he has served as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs in South Florida.
In 2024, Ross was presented with the Key to the City of Miami.