RICK ROSS WINS LEGAL BATTLE TO KEEP NAME

Rick Ross this week emerged victorious from his bizarre and lengthy legal battle with a former drugs kingpin who claims the rapper stole his name and identity - and celebrated by sharing his remix of Kanye West's 'Bound 2'.

The 'BMF' rapper had been embroiled in the legal battle with "Freeway" Ricky Ross for three years, after the former drugs kingpin Freeway - who served thirteen years in prison for dealing cocaine - accused the rapper, real name William Leonard Roberts, of stealing his name and persona.

However, a judge this week ruled rapper Ross is protected under the first amendment, but did recognize he had appropriated Freeway's life in some ways. "We recognize that Roberts' work—his music and persona as a rap musician—relies to some extent on plaintiff's name and persona," wrote Judge Boren. 

"...Roberts created a celebrity identity, using the name Rick Ross, of a cocaine kingpin turned rapper," the ruling continued. "He was not simply an impostor seeking to profit solely off the name and reputation of Rick Ross. Rather, he made music out of fictional tales of dealing drugs and other exploits—some of which related to plaintiff. Using the name and certain details of an infamous criminal's life as basic elements, he created original artistic works."

Ross celebrated by freestyling over Kanye West's Yeezus cut 'Bound 2'