PART 2: THE INTERVIEW
"ROSS: Let’s play our role as the Kings we are!"
I locked the door and ran to the car still overwhelmed with excitement. I sent a message saying I was 20 min away.
I drove downtown to the hotel found parking and headed straight for the lobby. I sent a message that said I had made it.
I went up to the front desk and sat down while pulling out my headphones to calm my nerves. Fumbling around with my notebook and badge I realized that some time had passed and I didn’t get a reply back. So I collected everything and decided to head back downstairs to grab a coffee and check valet to see if I saw the Black vans from that night. I noticed a black guy checking out the lobby and exit looks like he was doing a security check of sorts.
I then walked towards the exit towards the car and I notice one of the drivers. I took a big sip of coffee than a deep breath and I knew it was now or never at that moment.
“Hey is this RICK ROSS'S car?” I had asked the driver.
“Yea. Why?” he replied looking at me like I was some groupie.
“I am a blogger. He told me to meet him here so I could interview him. See here are the DM’s he sent me.” I showed him the phone quickly. Making sure there was no association of me being a groupie.
Right, then and there his MC from the concert came from behind the car walking towards us. The driver stops him and told him that ROSS told me to stop by. I held my phone up again like it was my golden ticket to my destiny. The MC read it and told me to hold on he was on his way down. I nodded and took another deep breath realizing that in only a few minutes I would have an opportunity of a lifetime.
I stood in the doorway talking to the driver, I had formally introduced myself and had a nice conversation with him. Honestly, if it wasn’t for him being there to talk too I think my nerves would have got to me.
The INTERVIEW
He stood on one side of the room looking tired from the night before kind of held his head down. I told him that a had a few questions for him and he told me to go ahead and shoot.
QUESTION: My question to you is, what is your biggest advice for people who say “I’m not going to vote...” who may just set in their bed and not take the time to make a decision on what’s going to happen to our future during this particular presidential election year?
ROSS: I believe that you know when it comes to voting most definitely got to utilize your right. You know what I mean? Um…make sure your voice is heard. I have seen some positive things about Bernie…If I am voting for him or not I’m not sure.
QUESTION: My other question for you is that I am a college dropout and it took me 3-4 years to figure out what I wanted to do. And I messed around with several different jobs and majors trying to figure it out. My question to you for young millennials who are not sure about moving on after turning 18 going to college; going to HBCU; working; not working; hustling; not hustling…What’s your advice on staying ambitious and having a great mindset? I like you because of your swag and that’s the first thing I mention when it comes to you. So my question to you is that you exude confidence and ambition, what’s your advice to them?
ROSS: Most defiantly got to be confident in your dream…It’s the only way you’re going to sell it. It’s the only way you’re going to sell it. You know what I am saying, once you established that confidence you know everything will come to place whatever you want to do. Go straight to the point.
QUESTION: Ok last question. As an African American man what is your advice to young African American men growing up in regards to having that respect and having that um mindset of, you know of being able to survive in this day of age in our country?
ROSS: Let’s play our role as the Kings we are!
I told him thank you and asked for a picture. We walked outside and I snapped this selfie and before I could blink he had left and hopped in the van.
I learn a lot from this experience but most importantly I became a journalist. I had an opportunity and I took it. Now I will be able to say I interviewed RICK ROSS. What a true blessing!