TRILLA - Rick Ross DESCRIPTION FROM SLIP N SLIDE/DEF JAM: Miami's six-foot, 300-pound rap figure known as Rick Ross 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 grew up in Carol City, FL, 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. Ross ended up on Miami-based Slip-N-Side 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. Nonetheless, Def Jam president and veteran rapper Jay-Z 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. Released in August 2006, Ross' debut was Slip-N-Side's first project under the Def Jam partnership, and it went to number one on the Billboard album chart. TRACK LIST 1. Trilla Intro 2. All I Have In This World 3. The Boss 4. Speedin' 5. We Shinin' 6. Money Make Me Come 7. DJ Khaled Interlude 8. This Is The Life 9. This Me 10. Here I Am 11. Maybach Music 12. Billionaire 13. Luxury Tax 14. Reppin My City 15. I'm Only Human LABEL: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam RELEASE: March 11, 2007