In This Issue
EBONY and Mass Appeal are celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with a special commemorative print issue that features the culture's leading disruptors. In a whirlwind three-city photoshoot, we tapped rap icons 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Lil' Kim, Rick Ross and Swizz Beatz.
After Jay-Z and Def Jam won a bidding war for rapper Rick Ross, he experienced a meteoric rise to a near-legendary figure in hip-hop. Today, Rozay has an aggressive portfolio—he is the owner and CEO of the Maybach Music Group; the founder of the Rick Ross Annual Car and Bike Show; a Wingstop franchise owner; a partner with High Tolerance cannabis company; and an author for two books, and a real estate mogul amongst other enterprises. The visionary has managed to break through the noise to become a respected figure in the culture while building his assets to create generational wealth.
The EBONY team headed to Miami for an epic cover shoot at the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Coconut Grove. Founded in 1916, the luxe setting is the former villa and estate of businessman James Deering of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune. Photographer Shamaal Bloodman captured Rozay in various setups throughout the Mediterranean-style estate, including the property's limestone staircases and Secret Garden. The historical setting nods to a distant era of 'old money' and financial gatekeepers while Rozay represents the new generation of Hip-Hop moguls and financial heavyweights.
In Ross' EBONY cover story, writer Janeé Bolden reveals why the self-proclaimed billionaire is inspiration come to life. Watch what happened behind the scenes of his cinematic cover shoot above and click here for the full digital cover experience.
The Hip-Hop 50 commemorative print issue is on sale from September 19, 2023 to December 19, 2023. Get your copy at magazines.com, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Publix, Safeway, Kroger, Books A Million, and more, plus select retailers in London and South Africa.
