Rick Ross is many things, a rapper, an entrepreneur, a cultural icon. Now, he is adding a luxury bag line with Edition22 to his long list of accomplishments.
On Friday, he unveiled the RR22 Collection with the brand Edition22 at the G7 Rooftop in Fort Lauderdale, boasting vegan leather backpacks, duffle bags, sling bags, crossbody bags, and more. Embedded with the “RR22” logo, the collection comes in various colorways, from black to baby blue, an olive green and an ochre yellow.
The collection is rooted in giving back, as Edition22 has a Bag-4-Bag Initiative, where a backpack is donated to someone in need for every bag that is purchased. Edition22 is part of the Bugatti Collections, the parent company of luxury bags and luggage. A notable co-owner of Edition 22 is Etienne Boulay, a retired football player.
“From the beginning, it was a priority for us at Edition22, and for Rick Ross, that the RR22 Collection had a meaningful impact beyond just fashion,” said Andrew Hattem, President of Edition22 and CEO of The Bugatti Group. “The Bag-for-Bag initiative reflects that shared commitment: for every bag sold, we donate a backpack to someone in need. It’s about giving back, empowering kids, and making a difference.”
Motivation is part of Ross’ legacy in hip hop and entrepreneurship. He recently celebrated the 19-year anniversary of his debut album Port of Miami, which was released in 2006, signing a multi-million-dollar deal with Jay-Z on Def Jam Recordings.
In line with Ross’ legacy, RR22 Collection bag has an inspirational quote inscribed on the brand labels. The quotes are chosen by Ross. From “You can’t hustle and sleep at the same time,” to “I’m a boss, I don’t follow trends, I set them” and “The game is going to test you, never fold. Stay 10 toes down,” they encapsulate his legacy.
When he isn’t performing onstage, hosting parties or dishing business advice on Instagram, Ross is busy. His entrepreneurial empire includes Bumbu rum, Luc Belaire sparkling wine, Belaire champagne, the Maybach Music Group record label, which he founded in 2008, signing artists like Meek Mill, French Montana and Omarion, among others. He also founded Maybach Films. He invests in dental brand Smiles by Mario Montoya, Hempacco, Ewing Athletics and various restaurant franchises, Checkers and Rally's and Wingstop.
Why would he continue to expand his empire into a lifestyle brand collaboration with Edition22? “’Why wouldn't I’ is the question,” said Ross. “Let me tell you something; when you're in South Florida, this is the number one spot in the world for entrepreneurship. 95% of my businesses are launching South Florida Takeoff. When you have an opportunity to work with Bugatti Collections, Edition 22, it's too easy. They have the most amazing team. They've made history with other celebrities with collaborations they've done. Now we just finna take it our way. Let's take it to the real, to the streets.”
He saw his rise in hip hop in a very different, pre-digital era. It’s different now, with social media as a major player in a rapper’s success. His advice for today’s young artists is that “Everything is possible.”
Ross explains: “That's what I would have told myself as a young artist. Even when it looks the darkest, when it looks like you have no opportunity there, or you could be sitting there just wanting to be a songwriter and you wake up one day and you're in the studio with Rick Ross and Rihanna, Beyonce, Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, you have to be prepared for that. And once that opportunity presents itself, you got to accept that challenge and turn up.”
Ross often talks on podcasts and social media about mediocrity and how artists can stand out from the crowd. Its about rising above it, having a vision and making a bold statement. “Rising above mediocrity is too easy, really. You have to love what you're doing. And when you love what you're doing, you put everything into what you're doing. And when you put your everything into what you're doing, it's hard for somebody to touch you.”
