Rapper Rick Ross target by shooting
Hip-hop has long been marred in violence. Often the music is drenched in street tales, reflecting a tragic reality for some and entertainment for others. However when news broke on Monday that Rick Ross was the target of a drive-by shooting in Florida, things became all too real.
“I think this is a sad day for hip-hop because a lot of times we all partake in the entertainment of it, without realizing that hip-hop was always built on the foundation of realness and keeping it real” – Kim Osorio, editor in chief of The Source magazine told MTV News on Monday (Jan. 28).
Osorio is an industry veteran who has long used her editorial scope to not only dissect hip-hop music, but report on the culture as well. “There were a lot of people who had a problem with what Rick Ross was doing. Now we’re in a situation where the entertainment has become a reality. People are actually trying to hurt him and I think that’s sad for us” – she said.
Rick Ross.
“Teflon Don” rapper Rick Ross crashed his silver Rolls Royce into an apartment building after he heard gunfire along a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, street Monday morning, police said.
“The driver of the Rolls Royce attempted to drive away from the direction of the shots being fired and lost control of the vehicle, striking a nearby apartment building” – Fort Lauderdale Police Detective DeAnna Garcia said.
Ross and a female passenger were not hurt by the wreck or the gunshots, Garcia said.
“The suspects fled from the area prior to police arrival” – she said.
The incident, however, called attention to threats against the artist’s life made in a street gang’s videos and posted online in recent months.
“We’re pulling up on you,” a man who identified himself as a member of the Gangster Disciples warned in one of the videos. “Whatever city, whatever state, the pressure on.”
Police say Ross and his girlfriend were leaving the 24-hour diner The Floridian at around 5 a.m., after eating a late meal, when someone unloaded close to two dozen bullets into Ross’ gray Rolls Royce.
Ross reportedly tried to flee the shooting, but ended up crashing his car into an apartment near 15th Avenue and Las Olas Boulevard.
“A giant kaboom knocked me off the bed and I went to the front door and all I saw was a car” – said Beth Balk, who lives in the building.
Nobody was injured in the shooting and subsequent crash, but a number of businesses in the area were damaged by stray bullets.
An employee at The Floridian told ABC News affiliate WPLG-TV in Miami that Ross and his girlfriend were questioned by police inside the restaurant following the shooting and then driven away in a black SUV.
“They looked disheveled. They looked like they had been through something” – the employee said.
The 37-year-old rapper has released five studio albums and is the founder of the record label Maybach Management Company.
Reps for Ross couldn’t be reached for comment, but fellow rapper 50 Cent, who has been in a feud with Ross since 2009, posted a picture of the crash on Twitter, writing 0
@50cent “Hahaha fat boy hit the building? lol it looks staged to me. No hole’s in da car”
Police are still searching for the car and the suspect responsible for firing those shots. Anyone with information is asked to contact Fort Lauderdale police.
Ross’ representative did not immediately respond to ABCNews.com’s request for comment.