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Rick Ross

Early Life and Career Beginnings

William Leonard Roberts II, professionally known as Rick Ross, was born on January 28, 1976, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and raised in Carol City, Florida. He initially worked as a correctional officer before pursuing a career in music. Adopting the stage name Rick Ross, inspired by the notorious drug kingpin “Freeway” Rick Ross, he began his musical journey in the mid-2000s.

Musical Breakthrough and Success

Rick Ross gained significant attention with his debut single “Hustlin’” in 2006, leading to a bidding war among major record labels. He eventually signed with Def Jam Recordings and released his debut album, Port of Miami, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Over the years, Ross has released multiple successful albums, including Trilla (2008), Deeper Than Rap (2009), and God Forgives, I Don’t (2012), solidifying his position in the hip-hop industry.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Beyond music, Rick Ross is a savvy entrepreneur. He founded the record label Maybach Music Group (MMG) in 2009, signing prominent artists like Meek Mill, Wale, and French Montana. Additionally, Ross has invested in various business ventures, including a chain of Wingstop franchises and real estate properties, showcasing his business acumen.

Looking back at 2024

In 2024, Rick Ross continued to make his mark in the music industry with notable performances and announcements:

• Rolling Loud Miami 2024: Ross performed at the Rolling Loud Miami festival, held from December 13-15, 2024, at Hard Rock Stadium. The event celebrated its tenth anniversary and featured headliners like Future, Travis Scott, and Playboi Carti.

• New Album Announcement: In February 2024, Ross announced the title of his upcoming solo album, Champagne Moments. He also revealed plans to collaborate with African artists, aiming to create a project that bridges international sounds.

Upcoming Projects in 2025

Looking ahead to 2025, Rick Ross has several exciting endeavors:

• The Millennium Tour 2025: Ross is set to join “The Millennium Tour 2025,” performing across 24 cities from March to April 2025. He will share the stage with artists like Trey Songz, Omarion, and Bow Wow.

• Album Release: Fans anticipate the release of Champagne Moments in 2025, which is expected to feature collaborations with various African artists, highlighting Ross’s commitment to embracing diverse musical influences.

Legacy and Influence

Rick Ross’s impact on the hip-hop industry is undeniable. With a career spanning over two decades, he has consistently delivered chart-topping music while expanding his influence through entrepreneurial ventures. His efforts to collaborate with international artists demonstrate his dedication to evolving as an artist and contributing to the global music landscape.

FAT JOE

Grammy-Nominated Artist, Author, Actor, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

Fat Joe is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, author, actor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and media personality that hails from the Bronx, New York. With an acclaimed career that has spanned four different decades, Joe has cemented his legacy as a hip-hop heavyweight, having amassed several multiplatinum and gold studio albums, mixtapes, singles and collaborations, including “Lean Back,” “What’s Luv,” “Make It Rain,” and “All The Way Up,” among countless others.

Beyond his unprecedented longevity, Joe – who is of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent – helped play an integral role in bridging the intersection of hip-hop and Latin music, collaborating with Gloria Estefan, Thalia, Ricky Martin, etc. Joe has also displayed an eye for discovering and developing new talent, having signed the likes of DJ Khaled, Big Pun, Remy Ma and more to his Terror Squad label imprint.

Most recently, Joe reinvented himself into a media personality, hosting the BET Hip-Hop Awards for three straight years from 2022 to 2024 and episodes of The Drew Barrymore Show and The Wendy Williams Show. His pivot into media began in 2020, when he launched “The Fat Joe Show,” an Instagram Live talk-show where he interviewed a wide array of guests such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Floyd Mayweather, Jamie Foxx, etc. Those experiences ultimately paved the way for Joe to get his own show on STARZ.

The Bronx native expanded his résumé and became an author in November 2022, releasing his memoir, The Book of Jose, which pulled back the curtains on the trials, tribulations and triumphs throughout his personal life and professional career. Joe’s acclaimed memoir is in the process of being converted into a television series that will be executive produced by Kenya Barris.

He has shined in acting roles, most notably starring alongside Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish in “Night School” as well as in Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It” Netflix series. He is also slated to star alongside Susan Sarandon in an animated comedy series called “The Movers” that is currently in development at FOX.

Joe is also the owner and founder of three UP NYC stores in New York City, which sells exclusive sneakers from brands such as Jordan and Nike as well as sports apparel, caps, etc. Joe is also the co-owner of Rewind It 10, a men’s at-home beard and hair coloring collection. Rewind It 10 is made from high-quality, professional-grade, Italian formulas that allow men everywhere access to salon-quality results from the comfort of their home or local barber.

For more information on Fat Joe, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube

Bow Wow

Dubbed “Mr. 106 & PARK” with nearly 25 years in the film, television and music industry, Bow Wow continues to remain a dominate force in the entertainment world.

At age five, Shad Moss was discovered by Snoop Dogg and featured on the icon’s groundbreaking “Doggystyle” album. With a promising career ahead Bow Wow moved to Atlanta and teamed up with Jermaine Dupri of So So Def for his debut album release “Beware of Dog” in 2000, which was the kickoff to a string of platinum and gold albums that spawned six No. 1 singles throughout his career.

He is the youngest solo rapper to ever hit No. 1, and has sold more than 10 million albums to date. He is the first rap artist of his generation to become a legitimate entertainer, excelling as a rapper, stage performer and actor. As a young star, Bow Wow helped build, brand, and headline the groundbreaking Scream Tour multiple times and selling out Madison Square Garden an astonishing three times.

With a successful music career, Bow Wow continued to pursue his film and tv career by starring in; “Like Mike” [2002; his first movie, grossing $35 million its first week in theaters], “Johnson Family VacaKon” [2004], “Roll Bounce” [2005], “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriN” [2006], “Hurricane Season” [2009], “LoQery Ticket” [2009], “Madea’s Big Happy Family” [2011], “Allegiance” [2012], “Scary Movie” [2013]. Bow Wow also appeared as series regular in HBO’s “Entourage.” as Charlie and CBS’s drama CSI: Cyber as Brody Nelson. In 2012 Bow Wow became the host of BET’s 106&Park, a daily live show with studio audience.

Most recently, Bow Wow served as the host of “House Of BET” for the 2023 BET Awards, additionally he is the host of BET’s “ANer Happily Ever ANer’ da show. He is the executive producer and star in WeTv’s hit show Growing Up Hip Hop. In 2020 Bow Wow went to the finales as the Frog in Fox’s “The Masked Singer”, in the following months Fox tapped Bow to serve as the host of The Masked Singer podcast. He also reprised his Fast and Furious role of Twinkie in “Fast 9” [2021]. Bow Wow went on (2) two 34 city arena tours “The Millennium Tour 2021 & 2022” in which he won a Billboard Award for Top Rap Tour of 2021. Despite his long list of accomplishments, Bow Wow is just getting started, a new single featuring Chris Brown is scheduled to be released summer of 2024 and a tour to be announced for the fall. With new music this year and many tv projects in development, Bow Wow has no plans of slowing down any time

soon.

Soulja Boy

Soulja Boy, is an American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence with his self-released 2007 debut single, “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”, which peaked the Billboard Hot 100 for seven non-consecutive weeks. After its commercial re-release by Collipark Music, an imprint of Interscope Records, the song and its follow-up, “Soulja Girl”, both preceded the release of his debut studio album, Souljaboytellem.com (2007). Despite unfavorable critical reception, it peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and spawned the single “Yahhh!”

His second album, iSouljaBoyTellem (2008)—supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 singles “Turn My Swag On” and “Kiss Me thru the Phone” (featuring Sammie)—was met with moderate commercial reception and a further decline in critical reception. Way was listed at number 18 on the Forbes list of Hip-Hop Cash Kings of 2010, as he earned US$7 million that year. His third album, The DeAndre Way (2010)—supported by the top 40 single “Pretty Boy Swag”—saw a steeper decline in commercial reception, leading him to part ways with Interscope in favor of an independent career.

Soulja Boy is noted for his pioneering use of grassroots social media and digital marketing strategies during his mainstream popularity. Outside of recording, he has pursued side ventures including video game development, record production for other artists, and his record label Stacks on Deck Entertainment. He has received a Grammy Award nomination, as well as three BET Award and four Teen Choice Award nominations.