Rick Ross is between stops in New York and D.C. when he connects with Urbanology. Doing phone interviews between public appearances and radio shows, he conveys sporadic enthusiasm. With a career-changing feud with 50 Cent thrusting him into the spotlight, he's had more questions thrown at him than ever before. With that comes opportunity, but also pressure to go places and talk about topics he doesn't necessarily accept with open arms. Nevertheless, driven by the promo cycle for Deeper Than Rap, Rick Ross talks back.

DEEPER THAN RAP IS IN STORES NOW. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
Rick Ross: I feel magnificent. Streets is excited. I'm excited. It's a great life. Looking at my third number one album in three tries... That's a big statement.

I'VE SEEN YOU ON THE COVER OF SOME TATTOO MAGAZINES. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE TATTOO?
Rick Ross: I don't think I have a favourite. I just love the body of work. I love all my... tattoos.

BUT WHICH TATTOO THAT HAS A PARTICULAR MEANING WAS INSPIRED BY SOMETHING DRAMATIC?
Rick Ross: When I got my first million I got millionaires right above my left forearm.

WHAT YEAR WAS THAT?
Rick Ross: I can't remember. That was a few years ago.

I READ YOU USED TO SELL WEED AT THE CAR WASH. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
Rick Ross: I used to work at the car wash from eight in the morning to eight at night... They gave mans like 30 bucks for the whole day. That was hard work but you could live off the tips and other things you did.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR RAPS AND WHAT TO STAY AWAY FROM?
Rick Ross: It depends on the situation. Certain things are too sensitive, other things you can splash around a bit.



YOU SAID YOU WERE PART OF A TEAM AND YOU WERE ASKED TO GO IN AND DO THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER THING. HOW COME YOU DON'T RAP ABOUT THAT BUT YOU RAP ABOUT DEALING ON THE STREETS?
Rick Ross: 'Cause that's getting real specific.

BUT YOU ALLUDE TO IT IN INTERVIEWS SO WHY NOT RAP ABOUT IT?
Rick Ross: I might. You gotta decide. It ain't my job to tell you what was what. I put it in the music and it's up to the listeners. They know what's going on in the streets. I might say certain things in certain places. It's up to the listeners to know what's going on.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN BE FREER ABOUT RAPPING ABOUT NOW BECAUSE YOU'VE ADDRESSED IT?
Rick Ross: That was never the issue. It was the things surrounding it. But like I said, we all addressed that and Deeper Than Rap is in stores.

ARE YOU ONE THAT STAYS IN YOUR ZONE OR ARE YOU ONE THAT IS CONSTANTLY TAPPING INTO THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION?
Rick Ross: What's your opinion?

I THINK TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU THINK AND YOU GO WITH THAT, NOT NECESSARILY DEPENDENT ON WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS SAYING.
Rick Ross: That's what I like. I just like to make music and moves people can make opinions on. That's the business side of it, so that's cool.

THIS ALBUM HAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL, LUXURIOUS, GRANDIOSE SOUND TO IT. HOW DO YOU SEE LISTENERS HURT BY THE RECESSION RESPONDING TO IT?
Rick Ross: Same way I did when I was listening to Biggie talk about Versace. Same thing I did when I saw Diddy wearing $100,000 watches when I was in the struggle. It's the same thing. It's all for inspiration. Now an insecure person could take that as false association. Nah, you gotta look at certain things that motivate yourself. Obama should be inspiration. You look at Jay-Z; that should be inspiration. Not that we came from the ghetto, nah we warriors. Boss up, stand up and find something that can motivate you to go to that next level. And I think that's what it's about with me and my music. It's for bosses and that's not meaning financial status. It's your mentality. That's what it's about. It's all about a person's mindset. I don't expect everyone to buy my music and that's great. But the people that do buy it I expect them to know what it is and want to think and dream big. It's not necessarily about... what you drive... It's all about your drive for life and your drive for being a winner. If you want to win that's what you need.

WITH THIS ALBUM YOU'VE BEEN ON THE INTERNET MORE THAN I'VE EVER SEEN YOU. HAS THIS ALBUM, AND ESPECIALLY THE FEUD WITH 50 CENT, MADE YOU MORE IN TUNE WITH THE INTERNET?
Rick Ross: That's what the game is. Especially with a number one album you gotta spread your hustle, so of course.

DO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT 50 CENT ANNOY YOU BECAUSE YOU GET SO MANY OF THEM EVERYDAY?
Rick Ross: Do they annoy me?

AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER DOES IT GET LIKE "I'VE HAD ENOUGH"?
Rick Ross: I just wouldn't do the interview. I know how to hang up. I know how to not do interviews before it annoys me. S o to say it annoys me I wouldn't say that. We're promoting an album, so that's what it's about. Dumb questions may annoy me, but particular questions about Curly don't annoy me. Bad interviewers annoy me, but other than that, that shit can't annoy me.

WHAT'S YOUR BEST JAB TO 50?
Rick Ross: That's for the people to decide.

IN YOUR OPINION, FOR YOU, WHAT'S THE BEST ONE YOU'VE PUT OUT?
Rick Ross: You gonna ask me the same question twice or you gonna go to the next one? I just told you I make music for the people. It's for the people to decide. I don't want to decide what jabs are the best, I jus t spit it. That's what I do.

OKAY WELL, YOU SAID ONE WAY OR ANOTHER YOU'LL BE INTERACTING WITH EMINEM, WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING WITH HIM OR HE'S THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR YOU. ARE YOU REACHING OUT TO HIM OR GOING AT HIM?
Rick Ross: I don't know. You just gotta wait and see.

Words By: Jonathon Brown