Rick Ross is coming to the UK for an exclusive gig at the O2 in London. Rick Ross’s initial rise in the rap game came from his colourful glamorisation of Miami’s reputation for drug trafficking. The distinctive 300-pound, six foot rapper tattooed with pictures of AK-47s embraced his city's reputation on his debut single “Hustlin’” in 2006. While Atlanta and Houston artists were establishing their cities as Southern strongholds, Ross aimed at putting Miami back in rap's national spotlight.

Ross, real name William Roberts, grew up in Carol City, Florida, an impoverished northern suburb of Miami. Influenced by artists like Luther Campbell and the Notorious B.I.G., Roberts formed local rap group the Carol City Cartel and began rapping in the mid-'90s. (He took his rap name from Los Angeles drug kingpin "Freeway" Rick Ross, who ran one of the largest crack cocaine distribution networks in the country during the '80s and early '90s.) Ross had a brief stint on Suave House Records, former label of Eightball & MJG before he ended up on Miami-based Slip 'N' Slide Records, the label home of Trick Daddy and Trina. During the early to mid-2000s, he became popular and well known locally through touring with Trick Daddy and guest-appearing on a few Slip 'N' Slide releases, but didn't release any solo material until 2006.

Once "Hustlin’" caught the ear of a few executives within the national industry, a bidding war ensued that included offers from Bad Boy CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs and The Inc. (formerly Murder Inc.) president Irv Gotti. However, Def Jam president and veteran rapper Jay-Z stepped in and signed Ross to a multi-million-dollar deal. The Miami anthem "Hustlin'" went on to receive gold status from RIAA in May 2006 and sold over a million ringtone units before the physical release of his debut album, Port of Miami.

After founding his own label Maybach Music Group, in 2009 Ross self-released his albums Deeper Than Rap and Teflon Don under the guidance of legendary Miami DJ Khaled, both of which debuted at #1 and #2 positions respectively on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Teflon Don featured the hit single "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)", which cemented Rick Ross’s status as one of the biggest rappers in the world, with guest spots from Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Lil Wayne and Drake, culminating in him being awarded ‘Man Of The Year’ by hip hop bible Source Magazine.

Check out HERE for a FREE Rick Ross mixtape

Listing Information:

Event: Rick Ross (live)

Date: Monday 2nd April 2012

Times: 7pm – 11pm

Age: Over 18’s (I.D May be required)

Dress Code: Smart Casual (no hoods or Caps)

Tickets: Available from http://ticketmaster.co.uk

Prices: £32.50 in advance, £35 on the door

Address: Proud 2

The O2 Arena

Peninsula Square

London

SE10 0DX

Nearest Tube: North Greenwich