Rick Ross

While Atlanta and Houston artists were establishing their cities as Southern strongholds, Rick Ross put Miami back in rap's national spotlight with "Hustlin'" (2006), the platinum introduction to a uniquely larger-than-life character with gruffly delivered tales about the spoils and pitfalls of drug trafficking. The rapper not only became a hip-hop fixture but an unlikely pop star as well. His debut smash Port of Miami and all of his subsequent studio albums entered the Top Ten, promoted by high-rolling hits such as "The Boss" and "Aston Martin Music." Through his own label, M...