Morgan ended up serving time in jail for drug dealing, but Ross, whose fourth album was titled Teflon Don, seemed to avoid anything more serious than a couple of arrests for marijuana.

Morgan, who now works at a Publix warehouse, was with Ross at his birthday bash at LIV club in the Fontainebleau Sunday. He said he spoke with Ross on Thursday, but they didn’t talk about the shooting.

“He’s pretty much seen what I’d seen growing up,’’ Morgan said. “We would be playing outside and seeing drugs and other bad stuff.’’

Rapping about that “bad stuff” made Ross rich. He claims to have earned $40 million.

Frazier said he was shocked when he learned who “Ross” was. He happened to see him on television and was taken aback by some of the language in his music.

When he saw Ross a few years later, the rapper told him, “Hey coach, I have to make a dollar.’’

“I guess you have to do what you have to do to be popular and sell records,’’ Frazier said.

But he praised Ross for remembering where he came from by supporting the school and its football program. At one appearance in Carol City, he warned young kids who look up to him against being fixated on the money and fast life he portrays.

Florida rapper Haitian Fresh, who has known Ross for years and has worked with him, called him “a perfect example of an artist that has never given up. He’s constantly reinventing himself and went against all odds.”

Fresh dismissed talk of Ross’s middle class upbringing and past as “he-say, she-say” speculation.

“The only person who knows Rick Ross is Rick Ross,” he said.

Miami herald staff writers Jacqueline Charles and Nadege Green contributed to this story.