Rick Ross might have dropped nearly one 100 pounds in weight, but the man still appears larger than life with an even bigger, ultra magnetic personality.
The self-proclaimed “Bawse” of all bosses is the consummate businessman. After his own record label Maybach Music Group propelled him on the single lane to moguldom, Ross a.k.a “Ricky Rozay,” now has entrepreneurial supremacy in his cross hairs.
His charge into the business world include a host of franchises, his record label and several other business ventures.
He sat down for an exclusive with BlackEnterprise.com at Def Jam Records for a two-part discussion about his 25 Wingstop franchises, his new investment in mCig, a new herbal electronic cigarette, and Belaire champagne, the Bawse’s bubbly of choice.
BlackEnterprise.com: You became a household name and brand fairly quickly after exploding on the scene in 2006. Were you already a business man at heart? And if so, how did that help accelerate the process?
Rick Ross: You know, I always felt I was. Even when I wasn’t I always thought I was a business man. I was 13 years old when I felt I had the entrepreneurial spirit. I just wanted to be out, I wanted to be around people and just make things happen.
You have various businesses, side-hustles and money-making ventures of that nature. Plus, you were a closet entrepreneur until you blew up. Can you give us a list and talk about the business projects dearest to the Bawse?
Everything I’m part of is dear to me because when I decide to partner with something it’s because I believe it’s the best, something I’m a fan of anyway, so, and I keep it close to me. But with that being said, [it’s been] most definitely Wingstop, and I’m a huge fan of Belair Rose, Ciroc, and mCig, which is the best e-cigarette company. I just love when I can bring something to the table or a brand that I’m a fan of and maybe I can introduce that brand to our culture. That’s something that I love to do.
What attracted you to mCig?
You know, I’ve been working out lately. I’ve been trying to get a little healthier. I lost a little weight and this is the best I’ve ever felt. I’ve been an avid smoker for years. Every time you see me, I’m either blowing a big cigar or inhaling some smoke. I just think that’s what’s next. That’s what’s next for me if I’ll really take this health thing serious. I’ve gotta ease my way out of the smoke game, and I think this is the best way for me to do it.
RELATED: Rick Ross Blocked from Detroit Venue
What about the nicotine patch?
Nah. I ain’t gonna do the patch (laughs). With the mCig, it doesn’t actually burn. It just produces the vapor. It’s not actual smoke that you’re inhaling, so it’s a better thing.
Growing up in Carol City in Florida, who did you look up to in business—in terms of being an entrepreneur. And did you have a mentor?
When I was coming up, it didn’t matter to me if you owned a car wash or if you owned your own record label, I just looked at it all a little different. If you found a way to get by, I always looked at you as a winner. Because I saw so many people that were failing just at living versus building something where you could actually go and invest in an idea or a dream, that was always big to me, and
I always respected that. So it most definitely began locally and then I just started being cognizant. Everywhere I looked, I would find something to marvel at and be like, “I see what he’s doing.”Did you dream first about being a businessman or a music mogul or vice versa?
I believe it was all one. I believe me being the artist that I am, that’s what really comes with it—you know the energy that I try to channel into music and when I’m screaming, “Bawse.” I believe that’s all a part of the energy that I want to put out as one of the things I admire the most which is being an owner.
Speaking about being an owner, you own about 25 franchises of Wingstop. How did you decide on this brand of wings, and who do you rely on to manage them? I know the Bawse isn’t walking around hiring and firing people at Wingstop.
I feel what makes a great ‘bawse’ is someone that can put a great team together. And that’s what I’ve been blessed with. You know, from my sister and my mom, I keep my family involved in everything I do as well as everybody else that we brought along on the team. We really became a beast. And for me, purchasing my first Wingstop just as a fan of lemon
pepper chicken wings, six months later I sat back, and I said ‘Whoa, this is something serious. We need to take this a lot more seriously. Let’s invest more time and more energy in it,” and then it just really exploded. I feel like I’m part of something new, something youthful, and I’m introducing it to a lot of people who’ve never tried it. So that’s the energy I get in return as well as what comes along with its success.Check out part two tomorrow, as Rick Ross talks more about his life, how he got started, his business interests in Nigeria, the artists on his label, and much more in part two of our exclusive interview.