Former drug kingpin Rick Ross has filed a lawsuit against William Roberts (the aforementioned rapper) for using his name and identity to build a profitable music career.
Filed on June 18 in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, the suit claims that Universal Music Group, Slip-N-Slide Records and Maybach Music Group were all at fault. Jay-Z has also been included in the lawsuit because he was the president of Def Jam Records during the time Roberts released his first album under the name Rick Ross. If summoned, Jay-Z will have to appear in court.
The real Rick Ross was a major drug dealer in Los Angeles during the 1980s and claims that he made $3 million per week at his peak. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 after attempting to purchase 100 kilos of cocaine. But due to good behavior, Ross’ sentence was reduced and he was released in 2009.
Roberts was raised in the Carol City section of Miami and attended Albany State University. He also served as a Florida correctional officer before signing a recording contract with Slip-N-Slide Records and taking on the Rick Ross moniker. –amir shaw
