Quotes from Rick Ross

When I first came to Def Jam, in '06, all we ever did was win, put up big numbers.

I ain't trying to keep up with the trends - the hats, the hair colours, the dress codes.

I ain't makin' music for the media. I make music for the people in the streets - that want a street level of entertainment. I'm makin' music because I have the streets to feed.

Watching dudes come up is one of my biggest joys.

I love Adele. When I see her, I may kiss Adele.

Def Jam is an iconic label.

My father watched all the 'Star Trek' and 'Star Wars' that you could imagine, along with the martial arts. So I was into all that as a youngster, and I always rooted for the bad guy.

I'm fortunate enough to socialize with some of the greatest musicians around.

I always made a few records in the past - 'Aston Martin Music,' 'Diced Pineapples' - that the ladies would always be able to appreciate.

I come from Carol City. The city renamed it Miami Gardens.

If I quit all the things I loved cold turkey, I knew it would only be so long before I went back to my old ways.

John Legend is brilliant. I feel he may be my best collaborator when it comes to delivering that undeniable soulful sound, and he does it in such a classy way.

My mom's a hustler. She a grinder.

When I was coming up in Miami, the music in the city at the time sounded completely different. I loved it, but it just wasn't the type of music I wanted to make. I wanted my wordplay to be more sophisticated. I wanted the sound to be more lush. I wanted my music to sound like who I was and aspired to be - boss.

How many people you bless is how you measure success

You gotta judge a man by his principles.

Woman is the most precious gift known to man.

I remember the first time eating my chef's Caesar salad. It was just like one of those moments in the movie theater when everything gets quiet.

If you're a battle rapper on the block, the emcee battle challenger, not writing your rhymes could really hurt you. When you're an artist where maybe the focus is really the talent and the different things you bring to the game, I believe it's more understandable.

I've got a record titled 'Idols Become Rivals,' and it's basically me writing a letter to someone in the game that I looked up to damn near the most, and I hate what things have come to.

When I used to sit in the office with Jay Z and L.A. Reid... we would negotiate back and forth and discuss music. You're sitting in front of someone for hours. It's all about being passionate. Everything begins with yourself.

As artists, we are blessed to be able to make money but, on the same note, are held accountable for our federal tax obligations just like everyone else.

Some experiences can give you a chip on your shoulder, but they also teach you the value of independence and looking out for yourself.

I nickname my cars. Most of the time, it doesn't make any sense. One of my Benzes I call Justin Bieber. My Maybach is Oprah.