(April 14, 2008 – New York, NY) Trila, the second consecutive major label album by Slip N’ Slide/Def Jam recording artist Rick Ross to enter the Soundscan chart at #1 (with first week sales of more than 198,000 units), slams past the 500,000 U.S. sales mark in exactly 30 days – to become his second consecutive album certified RIAA gold. Trilla, which hit stores March 11th, follows the success of Port Of Miami, Rick’s RIAA gold Slip N' Slide/IDJ debut album, which entered at #1 in August 2006, with first week sales of 187,000 units.

Trilla’s success is powered by Rick’s current single, “The Boss,” featuring T-Pain, which breaks inside the Top 5 this week on both the R&R/BDS and Mediabase Urban charts; and also breaks inside the Top 15 on both the R&R/BDS and Mediabase Rhythmic charts. The song’s Hot 100 Airplay audience continues to build, now over 42 million with 5,600-plus spins.

“The Boss” was produced by Jonathan Rotem, L.A.-based hitmaker for Sean Kingston, the Game, Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Lopez, Chamillionare, and others. The upcoming single pick from the album is “Here I Am” featuring Nelly and Avery Storm, one of two tracks produced by Drumma Boy (along with “Money Make Me Cum” featuring Ebony Love).

They are just a few of the guest producers and artists who contributed to Trilla. Four of the tracks – the album’s opening, “Trilla Intro”; “Maybach Music” featuring Jay-Z; “Luxury Tax” featuring Lil Wayne, Trick Daddy, and Young Jeezy; and “Billionaire” – were produced by the Tampa-based J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, who won this year’s Best R&B Album Grammy for Mary J. Blige’s The Breakthrough (named Billboard’s 2007 R&B/Hip-Hop Album Of the Year).

More: Def Jam South and Cash Money producer Mannie Fresh is featured on “All I Have In This World (Japanese Denim),” which he produced. Other guest producers include: Bink! (“We Shinin’”); Elvis (“This Is The Life” featuring Trey Songz); DJ Toomp (“This Me”); Carlos & Dada (“Reppin’ My City” featuring Triple C’s & Brisco); and DJ Nasty (“I’m Only Human” featuring Rodney). Trilla’s previous single, “Speedin’” featuring R. Kelly, was produced by the Runners.

Trilla got off to a big start on the heels of an aggressive street marketing campaign and a release week performance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. Online, Rick’s personal “TrillaWorld” blog is in its third month of operation. His MySpace page shows more than 15.7 million profile views, and over 371,000 friends, with an amazing 23.9 million total plays. “The Boss” video is in rotation on MTV, MTV2, and MTV hits, along with BET and FUSE (with 4.5 million total audience). Recent airings included mtvU’s Spring Break and BET’s Spring Bling.

Rick Ross rose from ruling the underground rap scene in Miami, to becoming 2006’s buzz-worthiest hip-hop artist with his #1 Pop/#1 R&B/#1 Rap major label debut album Port Of Miami. Its unstoppable single “Hustlin’” became the first mastertone ever certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of 1 million copies before the associated album had even been released. A remix was subsequently issued, featuring Jay-Z and Young Jeezy. The second single from Port Of Miami was “Push It,” whose movie soundtrack excerpts (circa 1990) from Giorgio Moroder’s “Scarface (Push It To The Limit),” evoked the gritty soul of a city that is always on the edge of exploding.

Six-foot-two, 300-pound Rick Ross – who was signed to Miami-based Slip N’ Slide records by CEO Ted Lucas in 2001 – has now come into his own. A “hip-hop heavyweight,” is how the New York Times described him. “The number one ghostwriter in the South,” is how he described himself and his work behind the scenes for all those years. “I’m bridging the gap between the South and the East Coast,” he told Rolling Stone. “The sound is real Dirty South. But I’m spittin’ hard, to where the East Coast appreciates it.” Trilla underscores the promise of one of today’s premiere hip-hop voices.

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