

Through the landmarks and the landmark artists featured in the video, T-Pain sums up the prideful mission statement: “Bitch, I’m a Florida boy / Old school, big-ass rims, sittin’ like Tonka Toys / I got a Florida state of mind now, I be on my grind now / Let my ni**as shine now.” More than just a scenic ode to Florida, the clip features a who’s who of the state’s biggest stars, including DJ Khaled, Flo Rida, and Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell. Rick Ross is also the founder of the successful Maybach Music Group (MMG), which has released some 20 albums since he founded the label in 2009.Rick Ross, T-Pain, and Kodak Black rep their home state to the fullest in the video for “Florida Boy.”ĭirected by Ryan Snyder, the sleek clip kicks off with a joyride through Miami with Rozay at the wheel of an old school convertible and T-Pain chillin’ shotgun and models in the back. The latter attracted guest appearances by an elite A-list of friends, among them John Legend, Cee-Lo Green, Nas, DJ Premier, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Most recently, Rick Ross aka Ricky Rozay set a high-water mark when he released three consecutive full-length studio albums in less than two years, Hood Billionaire and Mastermind in 2014, and Black Market in 2015. Subsequent albums Trilla (2008) and Deeper Than Rap (2009) also debuted at #1 Soundscan, as did God Forgives, I Don't (2012), which included top hits "Touch'N You" featuring Usher, "So Sophisticated" featuring Meek Mill, and fan favorite "Diced Pineapples" featuring Drake and Wale. Twice featured as a Rolling Stone magazine cover artist, the "hip-hop heavyweight," as the New York Times described him, was living up to his reputation as "the number one ghostwriter in the South," his stock and trade since the millennium began.

His long string of signature top-charted Rap and R&B hits went on to include "The Boss" featuring T-Pain (RIAA platinum) "Here I Am" featuring Nelly and Avery Storm (RIAA gold) "Aston Martin Music" featuring Drake and Chrisette Michele (RIAA gold) "You the Boss" featuring Nicki Minaj (RIAA gold) and "The Devil Is a Lie" featuring Jay-Z (RIAA gold).

That album was his classic debut, Port Of Miami (in tribute to his hometown), the first of four Rick Ross albums to debut at #1. His drawing power was established virtually overnight when, in an earlier digital era, his 2006 label debut, "Hustlin'" became the first mastertone ever certified RIAA platinum before the associated album had been released. With eight #1 and #2 Soundscan original studio albums, and four Grammy Award® nominations under his belt since 2006, Rick Ross was a core artist on the Def Jam roster.
