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.
Valley Of Death
Rick Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's what the bible says
I need it.
Walk like a giant
Talk like a tyrant
Faith of a mustard seed destined for a triumph
David or Goliath
Kush burns slow as I chase my desire
Embrace my empire
Batta boy eat fire
Guns like choirs when they sing keep quite
Will I get to heaven? turn to psalm 27
Lord knows when I see this monkey I'm gon be the devil
Be him cause I'm clever
Beat him at whatever
You never was a G, nigga unit mean togetha
New York's unified down south love dat
When we get to shine? muthafuckas where the love at?
Real niggas gettin money betta log on
Think da games dead now? imagine when ya dogs gone [damn]
Imagine when this song gone
When ya phone off there's only one to call on.
I mean if I die today I can honestly say,
Thank you lord, thank you lord, thank you lord
I'm bigga than a title, bigga than a name
You could label, we the biggest label in the game
Put food on the table, fed the whole city
Tell me who be the food if the feds come get me
In "Valley Of Death," Rick Ross contemplates the question of his mortality and whether he will go to heaven or hell. He references the biblical verse "the meek shall inherit the earth" as a hopeful sign that even if he doesn't make it to heaven, he will have some sort of legacy that endures after him. Ross speaks to his success as a rapper, boasting about his fame and wealth, and how they have allowed him to provide for his community. He recognizes the risks of his lifestyle, however, with the line "tell me who be the food if the feds come get me," and seems to reconcile that his legacy will be defined not just by his success but by how he used it to help others.
Ross's reference to David and Goliath is interesting, as it speaks to his own underdog status in the rap game. The image of walking like a giant and talking like a tyrant provides a contrast to the image of the faith of a mustard seed, suggesting that Ross has a complex relationship with power and success. The line "be him cause I'm clever, beat him at whatever" speaks to Ross's own cleverness and resourcefulness, as well as a willingness to engage in violence if necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
The meek shall inherit the earth
As per the Bible verse, the humble will eventually gain prosperity.
That's what the bible says
This statement implies that the beliefs of the Bible are essential to the singer.
I need it.
The singer asserts that he requires materialistic possessions despite his religious beliefs.
Walk like a giant
The artist encourages the audience to carry themselves with great confidence and power.
Talk like a tyrant
The artist advises the audience to speak with great assertiveness and control.
Faith of a mustard seed destined for a triumph
The singer expresses that even with a small amount of faith, one can achieve great triumphs.
David or Goliath
The singer implies that one should not underestimate their abilities regardless of the circumstances.
Hate me or admire
The artist acknowledges that he is not universally loved by everyone, but some may respect him.
Kush burns slow as I chase my desire
The artist is willing to take his time and enjoy the process of chasing his desires.
Embrace my empire
The artist is proud of his empire and wants to continue to grow it.
Batta boy eat fire
The singer tells someone to be brave in the face of challenges and obstacles.
Guns like choirs when they sing keep quite
The artist is using a metaphor to describe how his guns are loud and intimidating.
Will I get to heaven? turn to psalm 27
The singer is seeking reassurance about his fate after death through the Bible.
Lord knows when I see this monkey I'm gon be the devil
The singer is suggesting that he can be provoked to act in a negative manner.
Be him cause I'm clever
The singer will defeat his opponent because he is intelligent and cunning.
Beat him at whatever
The artist is confident that he will win in any type of competition.
You never was a G, nigga unit mean togetha
The artist suggests that his opponents will never be as great as him because they lack unity.
New York's unified down south love dat
The singer recognizes the mutual respect and love between different regions of the US.
When we get to shine? muthafuckas where the love at?
The singer questions why he doesn't receive love from others despite his success.
Real niggas gettin money betta log on
The artist is encouraging those who are focused on making money to follow his example.
Think da games dead now? imagine when ya dogs gone [damn]
The artist is warning that if his team is no longer around, there will be no one to maintain the status quo.
Imagine when this song gone
The artist is implying that people will forget about him and his music in the future.
When ya phone off there's only one to call on.
The singer suggests that he is the only one who can be relied on in difficult situations.
I mean if I die today I can honestly say,
The artist feels content with his life and achievements.
Thank you lord, thank you lord, thank you lord
The singer expresses his gratitude to God for his blessings.
I'm bigga than a title, bigga than a name
The singer asserts that he is more significant than just his reputation or status.
You could label, we the biggest label in the game
The singer implies that his record label is the most prominent in the industry.
Put food on the table, fed the whole city
The artist has provided for his community and improved the lives of many.
Tell me who be the food if the feds come get me
The artist is questioning who will be able to continue feeding the community if he is incarcerated or removed from power.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM ROBERTS, ALDRIN DAVIS, BARRY WHITE, K. CATES, M. COLEMAN, L. GIVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind