William Leonard Roberts II was born in Coahoma County, Mississippi and raised in Carol City, Florida, near Miami After graduating from Carol City Senior High School, he later attended the historically black college Albany State University in Albany, Georgia.
After being signed to Suave House Records, former label for rap duo 8Ball & MJG, he eventually signed a deal with Slip-n-Slide Records, which has been under the Def Jam umbrella since 2006. While signed to Slip-n-Slide, Ross toured with fellow rapper Trick Daddy and made guest performances on other Slip-n-Slide rap albums
His debut album Port of Miami was released in August 2006 and debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 album chart, with sales at 187,000 units after its first week
In March 2008, his second album Trilla was released and, as its predecessor Port of Miami had, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200.[8] Its lead single "Speedin'" featuring R. Kelly peaked at #121 on the Billboard Hot 100; the next one, "The Boss" featuring T-Pain peaked at #17 on the Hot 100. The third single "Here I Am" featured Nelly and Avery Storm
Deeper Than Rap is the third studio album by American rapper Rick Ross, released April 21, 2009 on his label Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records, with distribution from Def Jam Recordings. The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 158,000 copies its first week. Singles from the album were: Mafia Music, Maybach Music II, Magnificent, & All I Really Want.
Teflon Don is the fourth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross, released July 20, 2010 on Maybach Music Group and Def Jam Recordings. Production for the album took place during 2009 to 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including Clark Kent, No I.D., The Olympicks, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Lex Luger, Danja, The Inkredibles, The Remedy, and Kanye West
The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 176,300 copies in its first week. It attained some international charting and produced three singles with moderate Billboard chart success. Upon its release, Teflon Don received generally positive reviews from most music critics, earning praise for its cinematic production and Ross's lyrical persona.
Ross has signed Pill, Meek Mill, & Wale to his label Maybach Music Group. In 2010 Rick Ross made an offer to rapper Wiz Khalifa to sign to Maybach Music Group but he decided to sign with Atlantic instead.
Foreclosures
Rick Ross Lyrics
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Ever seen a rich nigga go broke?
They putting liens on a nigga things
Publicize your demise, and by all means
Your family fortune is forever what you stood on
Sold dreams, fantasies that put the hood on
You reap what you sow, and they speaking repossessions
To the culture itself, these are powerful lessons
They let you know my reputation when you in my town
A real nigga, you gonna know that by the contract
Bottom line blood, show me where them one's at
That paper it get funny when publishing is involved
Mechanicals never mattered because that was your dog
Now you hands-on, but things don't ever seem right
You make a call to give your lawyer the green-light
He look into it then hit you up with the bad news
It's so familiar, he did the same with the last dudes
Mafioso, baby girl, cash rules
Every dollar accounted for, double M the crew
Death Row, fast life
Foreclosed on my past life
The white man call us stupid niggas
We spend it all, nothing for our children
Had it all, now it's repossessed
Can't feed the clique cutting bad checks
Time to learn boy, that cash rules
Success is a precious jewel
Planting poison in a nigga mind
Chilling with your boys when it's time to grind
We both come from those humble beginnings
Still can't believe we never followed each other on Twitter
Funny thing is the animosity money brings
Real niggas out of style we may be one in three
Back against the wall outnumbered by fuckboys
One bullet, one target, one choice
You can take an L or take the shell
It's still double M still making mills
Made niggas respect my hustle on both coasts
I put the word out to see who hit back with the lowest
I need a hit handled, put me in touch with the closest
You still digging through ashtrays killing the roaches
And I never took an L back when Meek fell
Just drove the numbers all the way back up at retail
Death Row, fast life
Foreclosed on my past life
The white man call us stupid niggas
We spend it all, nothing for our children
Had it all, now it's repossessed
Can't feed the clique cutting bad checks
Time to learn boy, that cash rules
Success is a precious jewel
Can't be writing checks with your eyes closed
While you living out of homes in different time zones
Mind blown finna strip you out your rhinestones
Pistol to your ear, this that level I'm on
I apologize woadie but this all I got
Everybody in this office we could die tonight
I never met an artist who fully recouped
These the deals the deal dealers wanna deal to you
Young niggas, time to act your age
Buying belts you seen on other niggas waists
Hoes fucking for follows, they wanna post online
Whole time, shorty knowing I'm the gold mine
Put it on all he needed was a co sign
Black minks and gloves, nigga, the whole nine
TV on the Rolls, shit, I had to hold mine
You'll foreclose or fold just for soul signs
Death Row, fast life
Foreclosed on my past life
The white man call us stupid niggas
We spend it all, nothing for our children
Had it all, now it's repossessed
Can't feed the clique cutting bad checks
Time to learn boy, that cash rules
Success is a precious jewel
(Success is a precious jewel)
(Success is a precious jewel)
In "Foreclosures," Rick Ross presents a social commentary on the fleeting nature of wealth and the consequences of losing it all. He talks about how people who were once on top of the world can quickly fall from grace, with everything they own repossessed, leaving them with nothing. Ross highlights his own experiences with success and how he's seen people who were once around him suffer from economic losses. He addresses the idea that money changes people, often in negative ways, and how it can lead to the destruction of friendships and the loss of integrity. He encourages the listener to learn from these powerful lessons and understand the true value of wealth.
The chorus speaks to the idea of how short-lived success can be, especially for those who don't manage their finances properly. Ross talks about how people in the African American community often spend extravagantly, leaving nothing for their heirs. The lyrics subtly address the idea of institutional racism and how the financial system is stacked against people of color. Ross believes that learning how to manage money is crucial, and that success is ultimately a precious jewel that one should hold onto tightly.
Overall, Ross's lyrics in "Foreclosures" tackle important issues of wealth, power, and friendship. The song is a cautionary tale of how quickly success can be lost, and how important it is to maintain one's financial literacy and integrity.
Line by Line Meaning
Learn to walk a tightrope
Be careful in navigating the ups and downs of life.
Ever seen a rich nigga go broke?
Have you seen a wealthy person lose it all?
They putting liens on a nigga things
They're placing legal claims on a person's assets.
Publicize your demise, and by all means
When someone falls, people are quick to broadcast the failure.
Your family fortune is forever what you stood on
Your wealth is built on the foundation of your family's legacy.
Sold dreams, fantasies that put the hood on
Promoted aspirations that inspired the community.
You reap what you sow, and they speaking repossessions
You face the consequences of your actions, sometimes suffering through asset seizures.
To the culture itself, these are powerful lessons
These events have significance for the entire community.
These niggas always smiled when I came around
People were friendly when this person was present.
They let you know my reputation when you in my town
The word gets around about this person's character when they're in town.
A real nigga, you gonna know that by the contract
This person is genuine and their commitment is reflected in the agreement.
Bottom line blood, show me where them one's at
Simply put, show me the money.
That paper it get funny when publishing is involved
Money becomes problematic when there's a dispute over content ownership.
Mechanicals never mattered because that was your dog
Ownership of the technical aspects of a song is irrelevant because of who the person is.
Now you hands-on, but things don't ever seem right
Now that this person is involved directly, things don't seem to add up.
You make a call to give your lawyer the green-light
You give your attorney permission to investigate the issue.
He look into it then hit you up with the bad news
The lawyer finds information that is unfavorable to this person.
It's so familiar, he did the same with the last dudes
This has happened before, and it's a common occurrence.
Mafioso, baby girl, cash rules
The mafia lifestyle is characterized by being wealthy and powerful.
Every dollar accounted for, double M the crew
This person's organization is meticulous with their finances.
Death Row, fast life
Life can be dramatic and dangerous, like the notorious record label Death Row.
Foreclosed on my past life
This person's previous situation fell apart due to financial difficulty.
The white man call us stupid niggas
The singer feels insulted and thinks society doesn't believe in their intelligence.
We spend it all, nothing for our children
Despite having wealth, people of color often fail to leave an inheritance for their offspring.
Had it all, now it's repossessed
What once belonged to this person is now taken away by creditors.
Can't feed the clique cutting bad checks
People in this person's social circle can't be supported due to their poor management of finances.
Time to learn boy, that cash rules
It's essential to master money management, otherwise they will lose everything.
Success is a precious jewel
Being successful is highly valued and is something to protect.
Planting poison in a nigga mind
Someone is negatively influencing this person's thinking.
Chilling with your boys when it's time to grind
Instead of working hard, the person is wasting time with friends.
We both come from those humble beginnings
Both people started from modest backgrounds.
Still can't believe we never followed each other on Twitter
In spite of their shared experience, they don't keep in touch through social media.
Funny thing is the animosity money brings
Ironically, wealth can create resentment between people.
Real niggas out of style we may be one in three
Authentic people aren't as valued as before, but some still exist.
Back against the wall outnumbered by fuckboys
This person is pushed into a difficult situation against many fraudulent people.
One bullet, one target, one choice
A harsh ultimatum to eliminate the problem person.
You can take an L or take the shell
Either lose or die trying to win.
It's still double M still making mills
The organization is still earning money despite their difficulties.
Made niggas respect my hustle on both coasts
People on both sides of the country recognize this person's hard work.
I put the word out to see who hit back with the lowest
This person is looking for the best deal and is willing to pit people against each other.
I need a hit handled, put me in touch with the closest
This person seeks informal assistance from someone who can solve their problem efficiently.
You still digging through ashtrays killing the roaches
Despite their wealth, they are still struggling with small problems and pests.
And I never took an L back when Meek fell
This person never failed when someone else failed.
Just drove the numbers all the way back up at retail
This person helped a struggling brand or product become successful again.
(Success is a precious jewel)
Being successful is highly valued and is something to protect.
(Success is a precious jewel)
Being successful is highly valued and is something to protect.
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIK ORTIZ, KEVIN CROWE, KENNETH BARTOLOMEI, WILLIAM ROBERTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind