ROC4LIFE

Rick Ross gets to keep his name. A judge has ruled that the rapper born William Leonard Roberts can keep rapping under the alias Rick Ross.

Infamous drug lord “Freeway” Ricky Ross (government handle: Ricky Donnell Ross) filed a suit against Roberts, claiming ownership of the name. He first challenged Rozay in 2010, demanding $10 million from the rapper. That case was thrown out. Mr. Ross persisted but lost out once again.

He old TMZ that his lawyers were outnumbered. “[Rick] had nine high profile attorneys and I had three volunteer non-high profile attorneys. I had no money to get the big name lawyers so I couldn’t go in there with a monster team like him.”

Ross continues, “The world knows the truth … that [Rick] stole my identity and shame on him that he won’t give it back. I hope to appeal this because you shouldn’t be allowed to steal someone’s identity and get away with it.”

Freeway Rick Ross was a notorious California kingpin in the early 80s. He’s said to have raked in over $600 million from trafficking cocaine. He was sentenced to 20 years in the pokey, which was later reduced because of good behavior. Ross was moved to a halfway house in 2009.

Rozay isn’t the first rapper to draw nomenclatural inspiration from Freeway Ricky Ross. Former Roc-A-Fella signee Freeway also derived his moniker from the drug lord.

(Photo: kicksonfire.com)

— Rizoh