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Published Nov 15, 2018

121: Freeway Rick Ross | Life in the Crack Lane

Freeway Rick Ross recounts his evolution from illiteracy to enlightenment in prison, rebuilding his life post-incarceration, and his rise as a notorious drug kingpin, all while exploring the deep-rooted societal influences and connections to power.
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  • South Central

    shares his experiences growing up in South Central Los Angeles, a neighborhood notorious for its crime and gang culture. He recalls how, as a child, he aspired to be a Crip but was steered away by his strict mother. Ross also discovered a passion for tennis, which offered a temporary escape from the harsh realities of his environment 1 2.

    When I was first coming up, I wanted to be a gang member. When I was about nine or 10 years old, I thought about being a Crip. But I got lucky; my mom was really strict at that time.

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    Despite his love for tennis, his inability to read and write ultimately thwarted his dreams of a college scholarship, leading him back to the streets of South Central 2.

       

    Family

    Ross discusses the significant influence his family had on his life choices. His mother, despite her strictness, always supported him, even bailing him out of jail when he was caught running a chop shop at 18. This familial support, however, did not prevent him from getting involved in more serious criminal activities 3.

    You can be the worst kid in the world, and you're still mama's baby. She's still going to back you.

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    He also recounts an incident from his childhood that highlighted the racial segregation of the time, which shaped his perception of societal inequalities and influenced his later decisions 4.

       

    Crime

    Ross's transition from a promising tennis player to a notorious drug dealer began with his involvement in petty crimes. He started by stealing cars and eventually moved on to more lucrative illegal activities. His reputation and name were later exploited by a rapper, who capitalized on Ross's notoriety to build his own career 5 6.

    He saw my name and my reputation, and what he did is he capitalized on it. He grabbed it, made it his own, and sold it to Universal and Warner Brothers.

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    This exploitation of his identity added another layer of complexity to Ross's already tumultuous life 6.

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