Over the last year, rapper Rick Ross has been entangled in a legal battle with former drug kingpin “Freeway” Ricky Ross. Ross the former drug kingpin — who, at his height, sold as much as three millions dollars worth of cocaine a day, for which he later served 13 years in prison — accused Ross the rapper (born William Roberts II) of stealing his name and persona.
Following a lengthy court battle, a judge ruled this week that even though the rapper “created a celebrity identity using the name Rick Ross” and “raps about trafficking in cocaine and brags about his wealth,” he is protected under the first amendment, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The judge added, “[Ross] was not simply an impostor seeking to profit solely off the name and reputation of Rick Ross. Rather, he made music out of fictional tales of dealing drugs and other exploits—some of which related to plaintiff. Using the name and certain details of an infamous criminal’s life as basic elements, he created original artistic works.”
No sooner did the judge throw out the lawsuit than Rick Ross returned with new music in the form of a remix to Kanye West’s “Bound 2”. He doesn’t make mention of his legal victory, but he does profess his crush on Kanye’s future sister-in-law. Could you imagine that Thanksgiving dinner? Anyhow, listen below.
