Hurricanes

August 16, 2019

No one can accuse William Leonard Roberts II of living an uninteresting life, and his appropriately titled memoir is one wild ride. Under the name Rick Ross (taken from drug kingpin "Freeway" Rick Ross), the hip-hop star has achieved chart success, fame, notoriety, and personal wealth, all of which is explored in great detail in this account cowritten with Martinez-Belkin (coauthor, The Autobiography of Gucci Mane). Ross has fiercely crafted his persona, to the point in which he was caught denying--despite ample evidence to the contrary--his work as a corrections officer, just one of many episodes addressed here. At times the boasting and self-justification threaten to overwhelm the story, but there is sufficient description of the creation of Ross's recordings and collaborations to provide a fascinating window into the contemporary rap music scene. Considering that the author has "the gift of foresight," it's particularly fascinating to see the choices he's made, the accomplishments he's had, and the legacy he's creating. VERDICT A roller-coaster ride. Fans of Ross's work as well as his music-making projects with some of hip-hop's most acclaimed artists will race through this one.--Bill Baars, formerly with Lake Oswego P.L., OR

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Guy Lockard narrates rapper Rick Ross's memoir with panache and bravado. It's a clear interpretation of the life of the successful Florida rapper, who had a fair share of brushes with the law on his way to becoming a successful musical artist. Lockard does not imitate people in the book or change his voice except when he is narrating passages of reviews written about Ross's music, which he reads in a nasally timbre. Expect little remorse and few regrets from Ross, whose lyrics are interspersed throughout the work. Lockard enunciates well, and his tone and diction are appropriate. Warning: The N-word is used liberally. M.B. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

September 1, 2019
Rapper, entrepreneur, and record executive Rick Ross was born William Leonard Roberts II on the Mississippi Delta, but grew up on the edge of drug- and crime-riddled Miami. Young Ross excelled on both sides of the law and has survived health scares, run-ins with the authorities, and a drive-by shooting. He begins his candid memoir early on a June morning in 2015 in Fayetteville, Georgia, when a SWAT team arrested him and his bodyguard on kidnapping and assault charges. This incident, which haunts him, is indicative of the discrimination and violence in his world and of the controversies he's navigated, including a stint as a correctional officer. With coauthor Martinez-Belkin, Ross tells his remarkable story in a low-key, matter-of-fact style. He names 2 Live Crew as the inspiration for his all-consuming obsession with hip-hop, which led to the release of his debut single, Hustlin, ' in 2006, and a multimillion-dollar deal with Jay Z's Def Jam Records. Ross' many fans will be fascinated, and his story serves as a warning that anything can change in a moment no matter who you are.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Hip-hop fans will flock to Ross' frankly told and compelling life story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)