Rick Ross has felt compelled to clarify a line from one of his songs that addresses the fatal shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin that occurred last year. On the 11th track of his latest album Mastermind, 'Black & White,' Ross raps, "Trayvon Martin, I'm never missing my target," which some have perceived to mean that he is comparing his success to George Zimmerman gunning down the Floridian teen.

Rick Ross
Rick Ross Has Clarified Lyrics Concerning Trayvon Martin, Who Was Shot Dead Last Year.

After the lyrics sparked controversy, Ross, 38, issued a statement to Vibe. "It's so important that today, on the two-year anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin, we never forget that tragedy," he said. "I'm never going to let the world forget that name. In my song Black and White off Mastermind I say, 'Trayvon Martin, I'm never missing my target.' There I'm reminding people that if you're a black person or a person of any colour for that matter in this country, you have to be accurate, whatever moves you make, stay accurate. Even when you're walking down the street, playing music from your car, you have to stay on point.

Rick Ross Rip Up The Runway
Ross Has Issued A Lengthy Statement Addressing The Use Of Trayvon In His New Song.

"Black men are being killed and their killers [are] beating the trial. It hasn't been this much violence against black men since the '60s. I am Trayvon Martin, we're all Trayvon Martin. He was from south Florida. That could have been me or one of my homies. So, stay alert and never miss your target. Whatever that target may be. Getting out the hood, providing from your family. Stay sharp. Stay alive. Trayvon, Rest in Peace."

Rick Ross Daughter
Pictured With His Daughter, Ross Has Spoken Of His Respect For Trayvon.

'Black & White' isn't the first time that Ross has mentioned Trayvon in one of his raps: in a guest verse of Usher's 'Lemme See' he raps "Looking like Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman don't want it." And it certainly isn't the first time he has been the subject of controversy: in 2013 the rapper lost an endorsement deal with Reebok after he was accused of glorifying date rape on Rocko's 'U.O.E.N.O.'. He apologised for the lyrics "Put molly all in her champagne/She ain't even know it/I took her home and I enjoyed that/She ain't even know it."

Rick Ross' Mastermind is streaming now on iTunes and will be released on the 4th March.

Listen to Rick Ross's The Devil is a Lie (explicit):