Author: UAA Staff

Rick Ross put Miami back in rap’s national spotlight with “Hustlin‘” (2006), the
platinum introduction to a uniquely larger-than-life character with gruffly
delivered tales about the spoils and pitfalls of drug trafficking. The rapper
became not only a hip-hop fixture but an unlikely pop star as well. Debut smash
Port of Miami, and all nine of Ross’ subsequent studio albums, including the
Grammy-nominated God Forgives, I Don’t (2012) and Port of Miami 2 (2019),
have entered the Top Ten of the Billboard 200, promoted with high-rolling,
RIAA-certified singles such as “The Boss” and “Aston Martin Music.” Through
his own label, Maybach Music –the name of which has been imprinted on
virtually every Ross recording since 2009 — Ross has boosted the careers of
fellow artists Gunplay, Wale, and Meek Mill. His multitude of guest verses have
likewise supported hits by the likes of DJ Khaled (beginning with “We Takin’
Over”), Kanye West (“Monster”), Maybach’s French Montana (“Pop That”), Ace
Hood (“Bugatti”), and Chris Brown (“New Flame”). Ross carried his success into
the next decade with 2021’s Richer Than I Ever Been. From 2015 through 2019,
Ross placed only one more headlining single in the R&B/hip-hop Top Ten, and it
was for Suicide Squad: The Album — “Purple Lamborghini,” a Skrillex
collaboration nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Song Written for
Visual Media. However, Ross continued to ride high with singles on which he
was featured — Khaled’s “Do You Mind” was the most successful of all — and
his LPs. After the number six hit Black Market closed out his Def Jam era in
2015, Ross signed with Epic, thereby reconnecting (albeit briefly) with former
Def Jam executive L.A. Reid.

Green released her debut album, “A Love Story“, in 2002. The album was certified Gold and featured the hits “Emotional Rollercoaster” and “Fanatic.” She followed it up with her sophomore album, in 2005, Vivian, which featured the hit singles, “Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)” and “I Like it But I Don’t Need It.” Green sold close to 800,000 between the two releases. Ms. Green also has a well-earned reputation as a riveting live performer, and has shared stages with such artists as Maxwell, Teena Marie, Betty Wright, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Anthony Hamilton, and Common.

T.I. counts a string of hit singles such as “Bring ‘Em Out,” “What You Know,” “Whatever You Like,” “Live Your Life” featuring Rihanna and “Dead and Gone” featuring Justin Timberlake. His multi-platinum tally includes a total of four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1’s plus sales of more than 30 million singles and 14 million albums.

One of Jamaica’s most consistently popular crossover acts among international audiences, Third World has performed to thousands of music fans on 6 of the 7 continents, mixing in elements of R&B, funk, pop, and rock and, later on, dancehall and rap, Third World’s style has been described as “reggae-fusion” loved by thousands of fans