Black Rob

Black Rob (born Robert Ross; July 12, 1970) is a rapper who was formerly signed to Bad Boy Records.

Music career

Black Rob began associating with the label as early as 1996, appearing on the Bad Boy remix to 112's "Come See Me". He was then featured on several other Bad Boy releases including remixes to Total's "What About Us" (1997) and Faith Evans's "Love Like This" (1998), the song "24 Hrs. to Live" (1997) from Mase and albums by Puff Daddy & the Bad Boy Family (1997) and The Notorious B.I.G. (1999). He also made two appearances on Cru 1997 album Da Dirty 30, as well as albums by Ol Dirty Bastard, Channel Live, The Madd Rapper, Benzino, Tony Touch, and others.

These guest appearances earned him a media buzz and he kept attention with the hit single "Whoa!". Following this, the album Life Story was released in 1999 and rose above Platinum sales. Despite subsequently appearing on releases by P. Diddy and G. Dep, he did not make another hit single: his second album, The Black Rob Report failed to perform as strongly as his debut and quickly disappeared from the Billboard 100 charts. In his earlier years Black Rob headed the street rap team which he named "Alumni". In 2005 Jemal Mosley from Off The Block Entertainment started managing Black Rob's career. In 2010 he parted from Bad Boy, and signed to independent label Duck Down Records. As of 2010 he was working on a new album titled Game Tested, Streets Approved due to be released the following year.^[1]

Black Rob also started his own independent label, Box and One with Jemal Mosley.

In 2013, he joined the planned reality series "Come Back Kings" with Ed Lover, Calvin Richardson, David "Davinch" Chance (of Ruff Endz), Jeff Sanders, Jameio, Mr. Cheeks and Horace Brown.

In 2014, he appeared on the song "Take 'Em Off Da Map" on Diamond D's recent album, The Diam Piece.

In 2015, Black Rob will be dropping his fourth studio album, titled Genuine Article on Slimstyle Records executively produced by himself and Jemal Mosley. Guest emcees on Genuine Article include Sean Price, Tek, battle legend Murda Mook as well as up and comer Quas Amill. Hooks come courtesy of Ron Browz, former Bad Boy label-mate Q. Parker (112), Kali Ranks and Quan. Producers include Easy Mo Bee, Coptic, Big French, and othes.^[2][3][4]

Personal life

Ross has a history of arrests starting in childhood and continuing after his record label signing and album release. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2006^[5] after failing to appear in court for his sentencing (which was to be 2 – 6 years initially) on a charge of grand larceny from 2004, in which he pleaded guilty to criminal possession of more than US$6,000 worth of jewelry stolen in a hotel.^[6] He was released from prison in May 2010, and was interviewed by BET two hours later.^[7]

Sometime in late 2014/early 2015, Rob suffered a mild stroke. He's since recovered, and in April 2015, said he was feeling better after adopting a healthier lifestyle, in which he gave up drinking and began eating better. "I had to change my health regimen and how I eat. That's it. I'm exercising and trying to keep it up," said Rob. "I don't drink no more." ^[8]

Discography

• Life Story (1999)
• The Black Rob Report (2005)
• Game Tested, Streets Approved (2011)
• Genuine Article (2015)^[9]

References