Nobody embodies Miami in the eyes of popular culture the past few years like rapper Rick Ross. When Jay Z came to town, he made sure to have Ross on stage with him. When they show the celebrities sitting court-side at the Miami Heat games, Ross is always on the screen with his trademark sunglasses and thick beard. When the Starz television series Magic City was filming in Miami, they made sure to find a role for Ross, even though the show took place in the 1950s, when Miami was still very much segregated.
Lately, however, Ross' life seemed to be imitating another Miami icon, Tony Montana.
Ross' samples of the Al Pacino movie Scarface, in his second single "Push It" helped elevate his name. But now Ross seems to be acting out the last scene of that movie with everyone shooting at him, both literally -- in January while celebrating his 37th birthday, when Ross crashed his car to avoid a drive-by in Fort Lauderdale -- and figuratively -- like when Reebok dropped him after lyrics that seemed to condone date rape on Rocko's "U.O.E.N.O".
But like Tony Montana, Ross is coming out firing (hopefully just figuratively) with his Mastermind Tour. Armed with his five piece 1500 or Nothin Band and packing serious heat with all of his biggest hits, the Miami Carol City High School grad will make a homecoming on friendly territory this Saturday night at the James L. Knight Center.
Rick Ross. 8 p.m., Saturday, November 23 at James L. Knight International Center, 400 SE Second Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $41.50 to $70.50 plus fees. Call 305-416-5970, or visit jlkc.com.
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