In the mid-2000s, Def Jam went through a major overhaul. They cleaned house, removing Damon Dash, DMX, Ja Rule, and many others from the label. Replacing them were Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, and many new signees.
Rick Ross was among these signees, ultimately choosing Jay Z’s proposal over Irv Gotti’s. Immediately, the Miami rapper took over the streets with “Hustlin.'” The Jay Z remix got him bigger looks, but the beef with 50 Cent made him famous.
Since 2010, Rick Ross has consistently been one of the top rappers in the game. In 2014, Rick Ross released two albums and delivered one this year to complete his Def Jam deal. After making several hints, Rick Ross has now confirmed joining Epic Records, which is likely a solo artist deal.
Source: Rap-Up
