Rapper Rick Ross has a brand new meme, using a photo of him holding what some think is an eagle, while standing in the desert, looking off into the distance.

Although "Rick Ross With Eagle" is a trending name, the bird is actually a falcon. Others mistook it for a hawk. Regardless of what species it is, the photo is spreading fast in an image macro series that's taken over TikTok photo slideshows as of late.

So, where did the original pic come from? Why is it trending now, and how are people using AI to edit themselves into it? Let's explain.

Where Did The Original 'Rick Ross Holding An Eagle' Photo Come From?

The original photo was shared by Rick Ross on his Instagram account @richforever. It was originally posted in December 2022, and it was taken somewhere in Dubai. It went pretty viral at the time, amassing over 543,000 likes over the last few years.

In the pic, Ross is wearing a thobe and keffiyeh, garments traditionally worn by Arab men. On his hand is a perched falcon, likely a saker falcon. The sun is setting in the desert snapshot, as Ross looks longingly into the distance.

Where Did The 'Rick Ross Holding An Eagle' Meme Start?

The meme started last month when a TikToker named @flowteez posted it with the caption, "Type shii I been on lately." For the sound, the TikToker used Rick Ross' verse on Kanye West's "Devil in a New Dress."

How Is It Being Used Online?

The abovementioned meme set an example for how the Rick Ross photo could be used online. Ross' expression is mostly used to convey a sense of fulfillment. To many, he seems like he's conquered the world and is at peace.

The captions in the image macro series are usually in a POV style. Common iterations outline a stride in winning a crush's affection. After she touches the subject's leg or sends back a flirty text, the subject looks back on the "hard times" that they made it through.

Ross' triumphant photo embodies the moment of reflection, echoing a "We made it" mentality.

How Are People Using AI To Replace Rick Ross?

A few savvy meme creators have been editing themselves into the Rick Ross photo. It appears that they're using an AI art system to generate the result.

The meme creators are likely using Adobe Photoshop, which recently integrated a "Generative Fill" feature. It makes it easy to cut out your face, put it over Ross' and use the feature to soften the edges.

Alternatively, people are using GPT-4o, which is the image generation system that was used in the AI Studio Ghibli trend.

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For the full history of Rick Ross Holding a Falcon in the Desert, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.