Artist of the Week: Rick Ross

More than a decade in the making, Rick Ross was often credited as the featured guest in other artists' works. Coming in 2008, he steps up for the second time as the main character of his music career by releasing "Trilla". Although frequently pushed since 2007, "Trilla" is more than just a title. Ross recalled his childhood when listening to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and related it to what he expects from the album. "It was one of the first vinyl albums I bought, along with Run DMC's 'Walk This Way'," he said. "I just played it over and over for a year long. I just wanted to make my sophomore album that intense, just wanted to electrify everyone." Self-proclaimed to be a "classic" like Jackson's, Ross made the album to have star-studded appearances by Jay-Z, R. Kelly, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, Akon, Young Jeezy, Flo Rida, Trick Daddy, Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius, Nelly and more, with production from, Cool & Dre, The Runners, DJ Toomp, J-Rock, J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, Drumma Boy and J.R. Rotem, among others.