A look at Rick Ross Since his major studio debut, Rick Ross has been a force. Sure, we can point out several weak spots in his career, as is the case with most, but the level of consistency that the veteran emcee has displayed over the years has never waned. His sound has evolved, he's experimented with various cadences and tried to shift gears on his content focus in later years, but Rick Ross, born William Leonard Roberts II, displayed a gradual rise to prominence that saw its commercial peak between the years of 2010 and 2013. Although he may no longer be at his peak popularity right now; it's hard for any artist to maintain the height of their popularity no matter their current stature, he's made sure to show growth, and thus his fanbase has had to evolve alongside him,.