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Hurricanes: A Memoir – A NYT Bestseller African American Autobiography of a Music Legend
*NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*
*AN XXL BEST RAPPER-PENNED BIOGRAPHY*
“A gripping journey.” —People
The highly anticipated memoir from hip-hop icon Rick Ross chronicles his coming of age amid Miami’s crack epidemic, his star-studded controversies and his unstoppable rise to fame.
Rick Ross is an indomitable presence in the music industry, but few people know his full story. Now, for the first time, Ross offers a vivid, dramatic and unexpectedly candid account of his early childhood, his tumultuous adolescence and his dramatic ascendancy in the world of hip-hop.
Born William Leonard Roberts II, Ross grew up “across the bridge,” in a Miami at odds with the glitzy nightclubs and yachts of South Beach. In the aftermath of the 1980 race riots, he came of age at the height of the city’s crack epidemic. All the while he honed his musical talent, overcoming setback after setback until a song called “Hustlin’” changed his life forever.
From his first major label deal to the controversies, health scares, arrests and feuds he had to transcend along the way, Hurricanes is a revealing portrait of one of the biggest stars in the rap game and an intimate look at the birth of an artist.
*AN XXL BEST RAPPER-PENNED BIOGRAPHY*
“A gripping journey.” —People
The highly anticipated memoir from hip-hop icon Rick Ross chronicles his coming of age amid Miami’s crack epidemic, his star-studded controversies and his unstoppable rise to fame.
Rick Ross is an indomitable presence in the music industry, but few people know his full story. Now, for the first time, Ross offers a vivid, dramatic and unexpectedly candid account of his early childhood, his tumultuous adolescence and his dramatic ascendancy in the world of hip-hop.
Born William Leonard Roberts II, Ross grew up “across the bridge,” in a Miami at odds with the glitzy nightclubs and yachts of South Beach. In the aftermath of the 1980 race riots, he came of age at the height of the city’s crack epidemic. All the while he honed his musical talent, overcoming setback after setback until a song called “Hustlin’” changed his life forever.
From his first major label deal to the controversies, health scares, arrests and feuds he had to transcend along the way, Hurricanes is a revealing portrait of one of the biggest stars in the rap game and an intimate look at the birth of an artist.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2019
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2545 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
November 6, 2019
Hurricanes: A Memoir is rapper Rick Ross’s story. I liked his music when I was in college and he was (in my opinion) at the height of his prime, though this was early on in his career. It took him a decade to truly “make it” in the music business - Now known as Rick Ross the Boss, The Teflon Don, Rozay, his songs synonymous with the “Maybach Music” intro sounds.
With the amount of memoirs I read, I feel it’s fair to say this wasn’t my favorite or the most interesting story about rising to the top. A large portion of the beginning of the book seemed to focus on riding around, selling drugs, trying to make money. I know this is not an uncommon struggle but it was vague and became repetitive quickly. He refers to many friends and associates by their nicknames and I found myself losing track of who was who and what their roles were.
The bulk of Hurricanes focuses on his career including his beef with other rappers, two of which were against my personal favorites, T.I. and Jeezy. The majority of them seemed trivial, including Ross’s admitted jealousy over T.I. crowning himself “The King of the South”. He breezes over a lot in his personal life, like the birth of his children. He does, though, touch on the regret he experienced for not communicating more with his father before he passed away.
I admire Ross’s drive to get to where he wanted to be, and achieve the level of success he has today - It takes real commitment and determination, having taken 10 years for him to be recognized with his first hit song. Prior to reading this book, I didn’t realize he has released 10 total albums.
I enjoyed the closing of Hurricanes, in which Ross details his original intention for the book, the ideal timing of its release, and why he ultimately decided to share it when he did: You never know when another storm is coming — 2.5 stars, rounded up.
With the amount of memoirs I read, I feel it’s fair to say this wasn’t my favorite or the most interesting story about rising to the top. A large portion of the beginning of the book seemed to focus on riding around, selling drugs, trying to make money. I know this is not an uncommon struggle but it was vague and became repetitive quickly. He refers to many friends and associates by their nicknames and I found myself losing track of who was who and what their roles were.
The bulk of Hurricanes focuses on his career including his beef with other rappers, two of which were against my personal favorites, T.I. and Jeezy. The majority of them seemed trivial, including Ross’s admitted jealousy over T.I. crowning himself “The King of the South”. He breezes over a lot in his personal life, like the birth of his children. He does, though, touch on the regret he experienced for not communicating more with his father before he passed away.
I admire Ross’s drive to get to where he wanted to be, and achieve the level of success he has today - It takes real commitment and determination, having taken 10 years for him to be recognized with his first hit song. Prior to reading this book, I didn’t realize he has released 10 total albums.
I enjoyed the closing of Hurricanes, in which Ross details his original intention for the book, the ideal timing of its release, and why he ultimately decided to share it when he did: You never know when another storm is coming — 2.5 stars, rounded up.
September 7, 2019
Whether or not you’re a hip hop fan or a Rick Ross fan, this book will grab your attention and pull you in. It’s a very real tale about someone who faced extremely difficult circumstances and found ways (both legal and illegal) to rise above the statistics. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a great look into Rick Ross and how he got his start.
December 16, 2019
It's... really hard to like Rick Ross as a person. Forging a sinister and aloof persona used to come with the benefit of not having to spend much time working on public relations. Times, as you're aware, have changed.
To summarize why this guy needed 288 pages to set the record straight:
1. He was a correctional officer for 18 months and denied it when it was dug up.
2. He rapped about drugging a female's drink in 2013 when #MeToo was gaining steam.
3. During an interview, he made a comment that a desire to sleep with female artists was a reason he was reluctant to sign them to his label.
4. After a series of seizures and other health-related issues, many people speculated that he was hiding a serious drug addiction.
5. He was charged with beating his groundskeeper with a gun over money he was owed.
6. He acted really creepily around Angela Yee in a Breakfast Club interview in 2017.
7. The Maybach Music label was kind of a... bust. Meek Mill became a superstar but nobody has ever--ever--praised Ross's ability to hone and develop talent.
8. His rap name is that of a notable drug kingpin, who is still alive.
9. He hasn't had a mega-hit single since Hustlin' in 2006.
Hurricanes is an interesting, succinct, explanation(?) of why Rick Ross is Rick Ross. He's never apologetic but, thanks to the help of an excellent co-author, he makes amends in a straightforward, congenial, 2019 type of way.
I was impressed, especially as I finally synced up my playthrough of his discography with my reading pace. His career has been significant and he's a colossus of modern gangster rap. Most people don't realize how prolific he's been or how skillful and unique you have to be to have a deep discography where you're essentially saying the same thing over and over except after having made more money.
The book does a great job of facing the most public criticisms head-on. I don't think it does enough to address some of the more obscure concerns true fans will have, like how the assemblage of MMG talent on 2012's Power Circle never lived up to the hype.
To summarize why this guy needed 288 pages to set the record straight:
1. He was a correctional officer for 18 months and denied it when it was dug up.
2. He rapped about drugging a female's drink in 2013 when #MeToo was gaining steam.
3. During an interview, he made a comment that a desire to sleep with female artists was a reason he was reluctant to sign them to his label.
4. After a series of seizures and other health-related issues, many people speculated that he was hiding a serious drug addiction.
5. He was charged with beating his groundskeeper with a gun over money he was owed.
6. He acted really creepily around Angela Yee in a Breakfast Club interview in 2017.
7. The Maybach Music label was kind of a... bust. Meek Mill became a superstar but nobody has ever--ever--praised Ross's ability to hone and develop talent.
8. His rap name is that of a notable drug kingpin, who is still alive.
9. He hasn't had a mega-hit single since Hustlin' in 2006.
Hurricanes is an interesting, succinct, explanation(?) of why Rick Ross is Rick Ross. He's never apologetic but, thanks to the help of an excellent co-author, he makes amends in a straightforward, congenial, 2019 type of way.
I was impressed, especially as I finally synced up my playthrough of his discography with my reading pace. His career has been significant and he's a colossus of modern gangster rap. Most people don't realize how prolific he's been or how skillful and unique you have to be to have a deep discography where you're essentially saying the same thing over and over except after having made more money.
The book does a great job of facing the most public criticisms head-on. I don't think it does enough to address some of the more obscure concerns true fans will have, like how the assemblage of MMG talent on 2012's Power Circle never lived up to the hype.
September 18, 2019
Whoever wrote this book for him did an amazing job! This book was awesome from front to back and I wanted more! If you are a fan you will love it! I listened to the audiobook and the man that read this is definitely a fan! The way he read this kept me engaged from the beginning to end! I would love to see a movie of Rozays life!
October 31, 2019
I love memoirs, the narrator on this book was amazing and made this story so much better!
September 11, 2019
Page Turner!!!! It should be a screenplay for a movie!
It gave me so much insight. He told stories , that I had no idea!
It is a story of never giving up and wait your turn!
It gave me so much insight. He told stories , that I had no idea!
It is a story of never giving up and wait your turn!
September 20, 2019
Anxiously awaited the release of this memoir and I was not disappointed. The ease at which I read this book was refresh. It was like having a conversation with Rick Ross. He's charismatic, witty and very intelligent. This look at his life--the good, the bad, the sad, the triumphant--was a gift. Aided by the same co-author that penned Gucci Mane's story, Rick Ross gave a glimpse into the world of Rozay!
November 30, 2020
“Success comes from saying “Fuck it. I ain’t through just yet” and then giving it another go. Resiliency is what breeds success.”
This was my first nonfiction book and I read it was read during #NonfictionNovember 🥳🥳 I have never been interested in reading nonfiction books, but I am so glad that I did read this one! I can say this will not be my last.
Being a fan of Rick Ross, I am happy that I was able to learn about the man and not just the rapper through his music. Most people perceive a person or shall I say “rappers” from what they rap about. Reading Mr. William Roberts II aka Rick Ross’ memoir gives you a deeper look into who he is, where he comes from, and the real life accounts that shape the man he is today. This book shows the avenues that he has taken in life was based on his choices and not completly based on a product of his environment. It shows how he made it in the music industry by the drive that he has. It shows that he has been passionate about music since he was a young child, and has had the gift since then as well and did not stop until he became the successful rapper that he is today.
I would recommend reading this memoir about Rick Ross because I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it!
Huge Thank you to #HTPBook (Harper Collins) for my gifted copy
This was my first nonfiction book and I read it was read during #NonfictionNovember 🥳🥳 I have never been interested in reading nonfiction books, but I am so glad that I did read this one! I can say this will not be my last.
Being a fan of Rick Ross, I am happy that I was able to learn about the man and not just the rapper through his music. Most people perceive a person or shall I say “rappers” from what they rap about. Reading Mr. William Roberts II aka Rick Ross’ memoir gives you a deeper look into who he is, where he comes from, and the real life accounts that shape the man he is today. This book shows the avenues that he has taken in life was based on his choices and not completly based on a product of his environment. It shows how he made it in the music industry by the drive that he has. It shows that he has been passionate about music since he was a young child, and has had the gift since then as well and did not stop until he became the successful rapper that he is today.
I would recommend reading this memoir about Rick Ross because I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it!
Huge Thank you to #HTPBook (Harper Collins) for my gifted copy
November 7, 2024
"There will always be another storm to survive." - William L. Robert's, II (Rick Ross)
I enjoyed the audiobook from Hoopla, but I also purchased the physical copy from Ollie's. I enjoyed learning about William's life and how he came to be. It's always amazing to hear about famous people's life. Now William didn't have to go the route he did because his family was very well off, but it just goes to show how people will choose a path no matter how they were raised and whatnot.
Fun fact: William was born in Cleveland, MS. His mom is a MS native.
I wish William would have read his own story, but I LOVE Guy Lockhart. I think that when the person narrates their own stirt it makes it more personable.
Overall I enjoyed this memoir.
I enjoyed the audiobook from Hoopla, but I also purchased the physical copy from Ollie's. I enjoyed learning about William's life and how he came to be. It's always amazing to hear about famous people's life. Now William didn't have to go the route he did because his family was very well off, but it just goes to show how people will choose a path no matter how they were raised and whatnot.
Fun fact: William was born in Cleveland, MS. His mom is a MS native.
I wish William would have read his own story, but I LOVE Guy Lockhart. I think that when the person narrates their own stirt it makes it more personable.
Overall I enjoyed this memoir.
October 16, 2024
Didn’t know much about “Rosé,” so reading his story wasn’t on my radar, but a friend recommended Hurricanes: A Memoir to me, so I decided to give it a shot. I couldn’t put it down. Rick Ross opens up in a way that’s both raw and insightful, sharing his journey from the streets of Miami to becoming a global hip-hop icon. His story isn’t just about music—it’s about perseverance, self-discovery, and navigating the complexities of fame and personal growth. The writing is honest and vivid, making you feel like you’re walking through each stage of his life with him. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his world, Hurricanes gives you a deeper understanding of the man behind the persona and a behind the scenes peek into the music industry. Highly recommend!
March 1, 2026
Extremely interesting! I loved reading about Rick Ross’ family history and his own. His story is one I am not very familiar with. Rick Ross is very inspiring and motivational for anyone trying to make their life better. I loved the inside look into the music scene.
December 27, 2019
One of the more amusing as-told-to rap memoirs that I've read, which is saying something. It's worth a look just to see how he weasels his way out of discussing having once been a cop. I'd bump this up another star if there was more discussion of his love of seafood.
October 4, 2024
This is strictly for Rick's fans and I'm not so I was bored out of my mind and couldn't wait to get done with it.
February 7, 2021
Another great read on a hip hop megastar. Reading this I forget how much he has done since he made it "big-time" Also holding no punches, name dropping and details and everything, I enjoyed it. (I may not agree with all of his choices, but I respect this book and the story)
November 18, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book by Rick Ross, however I am dubious about several of his accounts regarding his past life to be honest. It might be the whole C.O. thing or it might be the fact that I am so incredulous to the fact that someone who had a good background would just hop into the drug game like that. Both parents, hard working and educated and yet you saw fit to sell drugs. Holy Crap. People just look for dumb things to do I guess. The book also made me realize that Rick Ross has several albums, I thought he had three! I really enjoyed him talking about his music and addressing his biggest controversies as well. This was a nice, short read for #NonfictionNovember.
January 7, 2023
Y’all gotta read this book
March 21, 2020
this is a true testament of a man who I seen work his ass off in this industry who continuously set trends and not ashamed about his age and ashamed about what he's been through not ashamed that he loves his mother and his black children has black baby mamas he's not scared to admit that you know he's made mistakes and that he learn from his mistakes and almost importantly he's not the smartest but when it comes to making money he know what he's doing and that's why I have so much respect for this man in this book really open up my eyes to a lot more about what was going on with him because headline would make you think that you know that's always the truth and that's not always the truth and I truly truly respect this man and I would love to meet him one day and what I like he loves his people and what I mean his people has black people and it is what it is so I think anybody that for hip hop fan should read this book and buy it and support this man & keep rooting for him because I will
November 1, 2019
The Biggest Boss that I’ve seen this far! 😍😍😍. I love Ricky Rozay & I believe the rest of the world does as well because he has stood the test of time. I enjoyed the memoir although the beginning started a tad dark. There were in fact things that I had never known but there was never a moment when I thought Young Renzel was a fraud or fake. I’m mad 50 got more play in this AutoBio than he should have, but I get it... he sealed his own fate LMAO!!
I was also thrilled to learn things about other artists in the industry and hearing his 10 year come-up; because if it had come easy I don’t feel as if he would have appreciated it as much. Just so y’all know Rick said he is not fat and is very handsome of which you can tell by his demeanor in interviews & videos 😎. William Roberts tickles me and would for sure be my friend if we ever met 👅. All in all, the book was good and I’m adding it to my tops and I hope and pray that his story gets better & he blesses us with “Hurricanes: Volume II” but for now we have to settle with him owning the biggest residential pool in the US!!! Keep climbing Young King— Uuuhhh!
Oh & BTW Teflon Don = his best work to date 🙋🏽♀️ 💚💚💚.
I was also thrilled to learn things about other artists in the industry and hearing his 10 year come-up; because if it had come easy I don’t feel as if he would have appreciated it as much. Just so y’all know Rick said he is not fat and is very handsome of which you can tell by his demeanor in interviews & videos 😎. William Roberts tickles me and would for sure be my friend if we ever met 👅. All in all, the book was good and I’m adding it to my tops and I hope and pray that his story gets better & he blesses us with “Hurricanes: Volume II” but for now we have to settle with him owning the biggest residential pool in the US!!! Keep climbing Young King— Uuuhhh!
Oh & BTW Teflon Don = his best work to date 🙋🏽♀️ 💚💚💚.
October 18, 2020
Read this for my March Book club pick. It wasn’t bad, just not what I expected. However, it was nice to get to know more about Rick Ross, his background, family and the work ethic that took him to the top of his game. I listened to this book and I really felt it would have made my audio experience better if he had read it himself.
September 26, 2020
ez and quick, would recc if you're a fan but ctrl+f and no mention of pears????
November 20, 2022
Life has its storms and Rick Ross details how he’s traversed them from past to present. The title is suitable of a life lived with (as anticipated) many obstacles that hurricanes often hurl at our fragile humanity. Fast winds, rain, thunder and lightning preceded by the calm of his childhood innocence. It would soon be followed by grief, health issues, and surviving the criminal justice system. I recommend giving this a listen via audiobook as actor, Guy Lockard gives this an exceptional read. One doesn’t have to be a Rick Ross fan to appreciate the care he has for loved ones, his zeal for life, and the hindsight to pair with his failures and things he’s not proud of. I certainly am more of a fan than I was. While it was hard to keep up with a lot of family friend names mentioned, I did enjoy the nostalgia of hearing the songs/albums released during my teenage years. I’m not a huge memoir fan, but that’s slowly changing thanks to books like this.
November 20, 2022
Visceral, raw and gripping: “Hurricanes” is the perfect title
To describe the Life of Rick Ross. From his days trapping out of the 305 to him bossing up at the Holyfield estate, we learn about the rise and pitfalls of the titular boss’ life. He holds no punches, being brutally honest about his hiccups and controversies (I’m looking at you U.O.E.N.O remix) and his beefs with well knows haters like 50 cent. But more than that he is also open and knowledgeable about Miami, southern and rap history. He is rap historian which also gives him credibility as a Black historian. Ross knows his shit. There are times when some chapters drag longer than others and some chapters you wish were longer but such is life. If you are a fan of Rick Ross or even just a fan of music, rap or the south I plead with you to give it his book a read. You won’t regret it!
To describe the Life of Rick Ross. From his days trapping out of the 305 to him bossing up at the Holyfield estate, we learn about the rise and pitfalls of the titular boss’ life. He holds no punches, being brutally honest about his hiccups and controversies (I’m looking at you U.O.E.N.O remix) and his beefs with well knows haters like 50 cent. But more than that he is also open and knowledgeable about Miami, southern and rap history. He is rap historian which also gives him credibility as a Black historian. Ross knows his shit. There are times when some chapters drag longer than others and some chapters you wish were longer but such is life. If you are a fan of Rick Ross or even just a fan of music, rap or the south I plead with you to give it his book a read. You won’t regret it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2019
I did not know that The Boss had a memoir out. That is how much I am out of the loop with pop culture. I barely even watch TV. I loved this memoir. I think that many of the music artists should put out a memoir/biography. Would have been nice if he had read for the audio, and even better if the actual performer knew Ross' music and gave the rap lyrics justice. But all in all it was a good read.
December 31, 2019
I am apathetic about Ross or his career, but the book isn’t long and the narrator was fine, so without many distractions, I finished this book handily. I now know a bit about the modern hip hop scene and some details about all those names Wendy Williams et al drop. I like memoirs and I do admire Ross’s ambition and success. I don’t admire his passion for gaudy display of wealth, but I suppose he can’t help being who he is. I will seek out his music and through that likely get to know the man or persona of Rick Ross. Read this if you admire Ross or people like him. I give it 3 stars, but I wouldn’t even post it because I wouldn’t even read it if I didn’t like it.
September 9, 2019
Surprisingly, I learned Rick ross is hungry and has a big picture view of what he wants in his life. I read a lot of books on wealth building generation but none to strike a chord "pun intended" like Ross non apologetically hankering for boss status.
Things my ear picked up on
What makes me a boss isn't the stories I tell, it's the ones I don't
What unspoken words are there between us?
Had the presence of mind to manage the situation
I want more out of more
If it's not a long term play then it's just small talk
I'm in war mode
Trained to go
There are storms you never see coming
Fear keeps me focused
Deep down your pissed about where you're at in life
Living in the red will take a toll on you
He lives a real turbulent street life
Triple OG if you judge me by my gently manner of speech you have no idea what I'm capable of
I'm very certified in the streets
Can we work out a business arrangement?
The unspoken words between us will remain unspoken
Cribs all over the Caribbean
The ethics of hustling is complicated
Psychotic menace
Dirty little fat nigga
Big ass crib off a golf course
Compare yourself to yourself yesterday
Be careful not to be too careful
Not secure psychologically
Theft by conversion non payment of residents
I'm working with cloudy information
Things my ear picked up on
What makes me a boss isn't the stories I tell, it's the ones I don't
What unspoken words are there between us?
Had the presence of mind to manage the situation
I want more out of more
If it's not a long term play then it's just small talk
I'm in war mode
Trained to go
There are storms you never see coming
Fear keeps me focused
Deep down your pissed about where you're at in life
Living in the red will take a toll on you
He lives a real turbulent street life
Triple OG if you judge me by my gently manner of speech you have no idea what I'm capable of
I'm very certified in the streets
Can we work out a business arrangement?
The unspoken words between us will remain unspoken
Cribs all over the Caribbean
The ethics of hustling is complicated
Psychotic menace
Dirty little fat nigga
Big ass crib off a golf course
Compare yourself to yourself yesterday
Be careful not to be too careful
Not secure psychologically
Theft by conversion non payment of residents
I'm working with cloudy information
February 16, 2026
I honestly enjoyed his story. I found it interesting he was raised by two college educated parents, but was dealing on the streets and was incredibly lucky to make it out and become successful. I only wish this came out after Diddy’s arrest because he speaks a bit on Diddy but doesn’t allude to anything negative. I wonder how the narrative would’ve changed if this were written later.
October 25, 2020
Hurricanes
Maybe category 1? Major S/O to Mississippi ❤️ And where was I during this beef with him and 50 Cent? Entertaining though..
Maybe category 1? Major S/O to Mississippi ❤️ And where was I during this beef with him and 50 Cent? Entertaining though..
December 13, 2020
Ross!! I love Rick Ross. I enjoyed his story although some of it put me in the mind of Dick Gregory's stories....you never really know just how much of it is reality. Lol
November 4, 2020
If you are a hip-hop, rap, or even just a music fan then read this book.
Rick Ross pulls no punches in telling his rags to riches story.
Check it out, you want be disappointed.
Rick Ross pulls no punches in telling his rags to riches story.
Check it out, you want be disappointed.
April 2, 2023
As a lifelong Rick Ross stan I couldn’t put this book down. Learned so much about the many “hurricanes” he had to endure throughout his life. Provided so much context, and details to so many stories that I’ve only heard from the media lens. Great read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews