The time does fly. It was just a year ago today that the thug life fantasies of one of rap's biggest names (not to mention biggest guts, not to mention biggest bullshit artists?) came to life in a blast of gunfire on Fort Lauderdale's poshest street.
Rick Ross (aka Ricky Rozay aka the Teflon Don aka Da Boss aka Bawse aka Officer Ricky aka Mister Maybach himself) was heading home from an earlier morning snack with a lady friend last year when he was almost gunned down on Las Olas. But after 365 days, it doesn't look like we're any closer to understanding what really happened.
"It remains an open investigation," the Fort Lauderdale PD's DeAnna Greenlaw told New Times recently by email. "Detectives do not foresee any updates in this case, unless they are provided with further information or details."
The 37-year-old rap star was parked at a red light at SE 15th Avenue and Las Olas around 5 a.m. on January 28, 2013 when a maroon BMW four door pulled up next to the Bawse's Rolls. Gunfire erupted from the car, prompting Ross to crash his car into a nearby storefront.
Police eventually picked up 18 shell casings from the scene. Considering that none of the barrage hit Ross, the shooting immediately drew suspicion. 50 Cent's famous first response: "Hahaha fat boy hit the building? lol it looked staged to me. No hole's in da car."
Keep in mind, if anyone know about what getting shot can do for your rap game, it's 50 Cent.
So was the whole shooting just one big publicity stunt? It's worth pointing out that at the time the bullets went flying Ross was up for a Grammy for his 2012 album, God Forgives, I Don't. The rap star hasn't released an official disc of new material since the shooting. As of right now, the Mastermind is due to come out this March.
The shooting also followed a pretty strange year for Ricky. He publicly feuded with the Gangsters Disciples, the Chi-Town based street gang. The online jawing between the camps led to Ross canceling a string of tour dates in late 2012 (which he denied, but come on).
Ross also was linked to two earlier deaths -- a 2012 murder outside a Miami Gardens home Ross owned, and the 2010 murder of Ross's childhood friend. Gunplay follows wherever the Bawsy goes.
So bullshit or not? Stayed tuned, sports fans. Stay tuned.
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