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Rick Ross is laughing in the face of mortal danger -- stepping out in L.A. Thursday with a big smile and a fat cigar ... oblivious to the fact that someone may be trying to kill him.

You may recall ... Ross crashed his Rolls-Royce in Ft. Lauderdale January 28 after someone fired dozens of shots at his car.

Ross and his passenger weren't hurt -- but it's pretty obvious someone's got it out for him ... possibly a gang.

When we shot this video of Ross leaving a Bev Hills restaurant ... he made it very clear he has no fear.

It's the first time Ross has been seen out in public since the day of the shooting.