Rapper Rick Ross faces misdemeanor charge after felony dismissal

Ross, 50, has entered a plea of not guilty to both charges. His attorney stated that he intends to vigorously defend himself against the remaining allegations. The rapper turned himself in to the Miami Beach police department on October 1st, two days after a woman filed a police report. He was subsequently released on bail.

According to the arrest report, the woman alleged that she was living with Ross when he accused her of infidelity and physically assaulted her on August 28th. She reported that Ross struck her multiple times and choked her with her shirt collar, also slamming her against a wall. She stated she managed to leave the residence and returned later to retrieve her belongings.

This incident follows a previous legal issue in 2017 when Ross pleaded no contest to aggravated assault. The charge stemmed from an incident in 2015 where he was accused of forcing a man into a guesthouse at his Atlanta mansion and assaulting him with a handgun. Through a Georgia first-time offender program, the felony charge was later exonerated.

Ross, a prominent figure in South Florida’s music scene since 2006 with his hit single “Hustlin’,” played a key role in establishing Miami as a hip-hop hub. “Hustlin’” achieved double platinum status and led to a bidding war, ultimately resulting in his signing with Def Jam Records, then headed by Jay-Z. His debut album, “Port of Miami,” also reached platinum status and topped the Billboard 200 chart.

He established Maybach Music Group in 2008, a label that has helped launch the careers of artists like Wale, Meek Mill, and French Montana. Ross has received nine Grammy Award nominations throughout his career. His latest album, “Set In Stone,” was released in July.