Rick Ross touched down in his hometown in Miami to accept the keys to the city and used the opportunity to encourage his brothers in Memphis to “put the guns down.”
The “Hustlin” rapper was honored at the 5000 Role Models’ Dr. MLK Jr. Scholarship Breakfast in Miami on Monday, receiving the key to the City of Miami from Mayor Francis Suarez and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, TMZ reports.
“I just want the youngsters to know, you have the attention of the entire world. You can never imagine the value that you actually carry. You can never imagine how much you’re really worth,” Ross said, as captured by KTVZ.
Ahead of the event, Ross took to social media to acknowledge the honor and send out a public service announcement to residents of the city of Memphis to stop the gun violence.
“I’m headed to an event titled ‘5000 Role Models’ where we acknowledging the young leaders, the young kings, our young brothers. We gotta empower the brothers,” he says to the camera.
“And while I’m speaking on this, our brothers in Memphis, I need y’all to know it’s only one way to wisdom and wealth, and that’s through each other.”
Ross continued. “Put the ski mask down. Put the guns down. Let’s embrace each other. Let’s show that love. Rest in peace to all our good brothers, man.”
His message came just days after Yo Gotti’s brother, Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, was fatally shot outside a restaurant in Memphis, Fox 13 Memphis reports. Police believe the shooting was a targeted attack.
Ross’ message to the city of Memphis appears to be in response to Jook’s murder. Ross later attended the 31st annual 5000 Role Models event on MLK Day, which honors the partnership between local men in the community and the young male students within the Miami-Dade and Broward County schools.
All the men in attendance at 5000 Role Models, which was founded by Congresswoman Wilson, wore red ties and held hands to symbolize their solidarity to amplify the next generation of male leaders.
“This benefits young men by raising funds to send them to college; it also validates why they had to struggle to get to this place. It’s not easy being a boy in America today, especially a little Black boy,” said Wilson.
The money raised at the breakfast helps Wilson Scholars seniors, all college-bound.