Look, I like Rick Ross’ music because I used to like professional wrestling.
Was The Undertaker a real undertaker? No. He wasn’t even a real wrestler. This is because wrestling isn’t real, it’s theater. Just like rap. Debating whether Rick Ross actually sold all the drugs he says he sold is a fruitless exercise. He actually makes this easy for us because in this album (and its accompanying mixtape) he schizophrenically says he is or compares himself to many people. Including his namesake (an actual ex-drug dealer who just lost a lawsuit he had filed against our protagonist for defamation), he also recounts Big Meech, Larry Hoover, MC Hammer, Albert Anastasia, John Gotti, John Lennon, Terrell Owens, Biggie Smalls (yep), and Scarface (presumably Al Pacino’s and not that of Paul Muni or Brad Jordan) among others.
Is he actually any of these people? No!
He’s William Leonard Roberts II (Billy Bob?) and he, along with his philharmonic stable of producers, have done an increasingly dope job these last four years of painting soundscapes of a larger than life personality who engages in criminal activity, has lots of sex, and occasionally contemplates the meaning of it all. Teflon Don is the latest chapter in this saga and, like it or not, it is also the hottest album of an equally hot summer. It’s certainly not a perfect album, but it gets the job of escaping into another world through music done quite well. Besides, it’s too damn hot out to be so serious.
1. “I’m Not A Star” (prod. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
This Was Hot: You can’t go wrong with fanfaring horns in your lead-off track.
This Was Not: I don’t like hearing Ross say the word “titty.”
Honorable Mention: As he did in the track “300 Soldiers,” he pays tribute to Master P’s signature “uggggggghhhhhhhhhhh.” Many of today’s artists owe P. Miller royalties for their (BRR!) adlibs (AYE!) and (OKAY!) various nonsensical sounds (YUUUUURRRP!).
2. “Free Mason” feat. Jay-Z (prod. The Inkredibles)
This Was Hot: Ross: “My top back like JFK / they wanna push my top back like JFK / so, so I JFK, join forces with the kings and we ate all day” See what he did there was…
This Was Not: Jay-Z: “Bitch I said I was amazin’ / not that I’m a mason” Though it’s great that Hov decided to address the rumors, his verse and that bar in particular was very amateur. He must be emotional, which I guess was the point.
Honorable Mention: I guarantee that you’re going to sing along with John Legend at the end. “Never say Legend didn’t go innnnn…”
3. “Tears of Joy” feat. Cee-Lo Green (prod. No I.D.)
This Was Hot: I really like this song, especially the Bobby Seale clip at the beginning. I had never heard any audio of him before. The “New” “Black Panther Party” should be embarrassed, principally by their own existence but also by the fact that they are nowhere near the intelligence of any of the original Panthers. They also can’t touch Bobby’s skills on the grill.
This Was Not: Ross: “I wanna walk in the image of Christ / but that bitch Vivica nice.” Even if listeners don’t have an affinity for Christ, everyone can agree that this line is stupid. She’s the old girlfriend of your nemesis, Ross. Are you saying you got with her? You’re saying you got seconds? Why would you say that? You also, on THIS SAME ALBUM, said “Funny you claimin’ the same bitch that I’m penetratin’” What are you talking about? WTF? WWJD? GTFOHWTBSVERYFUNNY.
Honorable Mention: The percussion features no snares, only bass. I didn’t pick that up until the third listen.
4. “Maybach Music III” feat. TI, Jadakiss, Erykah Badu (prod. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
This Was Hot: Everything. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League makes records like they got cut from the local orchestra when they were kids. All the lyrical contributions are memorable.
This Was Not: Nothing.
Honorable Mention: Earth Mother Badu comes with the subtle ABBA street poetry scheme: “Everybody know / how the story goes / money and the clothes / they gon’ come and go.” She’s also going to direct the video, which will be cool unless Ross decides to duplicate her “Window Seat” strip-down. It’s very clear that he has ambitionz az an exhibitionizt.
5. “Live Fast, Die Young” feat. Kanye West (prod. Kanye West, No I.D.)
This Was Hot: This is tough, because nothing about this song impresses me. I guess they do a good job of making this a singalong anthem. I don’t want to die young, though.
This Was Not: Kanye’s verse is ultra lazy on this track. It reminds me of the throwaway bars (and beat) on the Teriyaki Boyz’s “I Still Love H.E.R.” He’s gonna have to come harder than this if he really wants to be back. Also, Ross, don’t casually toss around comments about miscarriages. That’s not cool.
Honorable Mention: Oh wait, the “Hey” sample comes from James Brown’s “Funky President,” which was sampled in Ghostface’s “Mighty Healthy,” which I did like.
6. “Super High” feat. Ne-Yo (prod. Clark Kent, The Remedy)
This Was Hot: If you’re gonna have a “song for da ladiez” you need to have ol’ Shaffer Chimere on it. This is a good one.
This Was Not: Son. Come on. Don’t say this: “We doin’ it big / it’s goin’ down / 9-11.” Jay-Z got away with his superfluous 9-11 references on BP3′s “Thank You,” but he’s Hov and he also did a giant concert for the families. Of the many people you think you are, you know that you are not him. Don’t be disrespectful.
Honorable Mention: This song is good, but I want to mention another smooth female-friendly track that apparently didn’t make this album. He and John Legend teamed up for “Sweet Life” on the mixtape. It’s quite nice.
7. “No. 1″ feat. Trey Songz & Diddy (prod. Danja)
This Was Hot: I don’t like it. Nothing.
This Was Not: Diddy: “First one to write a check in the earthquake / same mothafucka that’ll make the earth shake.” Stop.
Honorable Mention: Nope. Still nothing.
8. “MC Hammer” feat. Gucci Mane (prod. Lex Luger)
This Was Hot: I was a fan of this song long before I even heard it. The name alone told me what I was about to hear. Good, ol’ fashioned, ign’t rap.
This Was Not: I don’t like hearing Ross talk about his penis or anal sex in Acapulco (or anywhere for that matter). I also don’t think Gucci’s verse adds anything to this song.
Honorable Mention: Remember the Hammer dancer with the ENORMOUS hair? I wonder what he’s up to.
9. “B.M.F.” (Blowin’ Money Fast) feat. Styles P (prod. Lex Luger)
This Was Hot: This is the anthem the streets need. Am I in the streets? No. I’m in the office. I’m jamming though. Hallelujah.
This Was Not: See my point about the Vivica mention in “Tears of Joy.”
Honorable Mention: Some people don’t like how similar the beats are for this and “MC Hammer.” I do. I wish “Hammer” were twice as long, so this is the next best thing. Also I should mention Sheek Louch since no one else seems to want to do that. Sheek Louch.
10. “Aston Martin Music” feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele (prod. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)
This Was Hot: I don’t want to like this song because I think it’s pointless, but it’s so damn smooth. Chrisette swoons. Drake croons, but doesn’t rap. That’ll piss some people off, but I’m okay with it if I don’t have to hear more of his formulaic bars.
This Was Not: What, pray-tell, is a “drop top chicken box,” Ricky?
Honorable Mention: Yes, cars are important to hip-hop culture, but why not pay tribute those vehicles that, like Sheek Louch, once were hot, still exist, but now see decreasing amounts of attention? PT Cruiser Music.
11. “All the Money in the World” feat. Raphael Saadiq (prod. The Olympicks)
This Was Hot: Nothing. This song sucks.
This Was Not: NO MORE SINGING OR HARMONIZING OR WHATEVER YOU CALL YOURSELF DOING HERE ROSS!
Honorable Mention: Raphael Saadiq seems like a nice person. He might not be though, because he’s famous.
If you’ve ever daydreamed about anything completely absurd like having 30 cars or a whole lotta dancers, or if you’ve ever quietly bought the more of something than you’ll ever need just to taste what a life of needless excess could feel like (I’m still waiting for a UPS box of out-of-stock gray Hanes t-shirts to arrive from eBay), this is the soundtrack your desires have been waiting for.
“Parents always had good jobs / still it’s loans and overdrawn debit cards.” (c) AJH
4 out of 5 schitzophrenic Ross comparisons
Article by Adrian J. Hopkins
Adrian J. Hopkins is a media-minded addict, thinker, and grad student based in New York City. He is a son of the South (Richmond, VA) but he has occasionally called the Northeast "home" since venturing off to prep school at age of 13. Don't tell his parents he said that.
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If only I could stand listening to him.
Peace, Love and Chocolate
Tiffany
Its a dope album, and the one thing he is for sure is a recording artist young, nothing less nothing more, the sh*t cranks!!!!
I'm surprised he's still "relevant". Good for him. LOL at the black Chief Wiggum.
I don't like Rick Ross. Notwithstanding that this nigga is fraudulent and steals the lives of other people while shouting out drug dealers he doesn't know while ignoring the fact that he's been REPEATEDLY called out for said fuckery…I think Justice League (the people responsible for basically all his dopest beats) are wasting their talent with this nigga. Why don't niggas like Joe Budden or Nas ever get these kinds of producers? SMH Go cop Curren$y – Pilot Talk, The Roots – How I Got Over, or the new Big Boi and leave this bullshit on the shelf.
I'm with you on that. I think I heard Curren$y on a track with Big K.R.I.T., but I don't know much about him. Any recommendations of specific songs to check out?
Curren$y is something of an acquired taste, but if you want to listen, check out his tape with Wiz Khalifa, How Fly.
http://www.zshare.net/download/638842991e33c5ee/
This tape, Smokee Robinson, dropped earlier this year before the album. This should get you stared up.
http://rapidshare.com/files/347745261/Don_Cannon_And_Curren_y-Smokee_Robinson_Vol._1-2010.rar
By the way, as much as you folks present the image of people who know a lot about Hip-hop, you forgot the business model. Every rapper comes up with at least one producer who he ALWAYS has the opportunity to get beats from after they get famous. These guys use a code of ethics that goes beyond money – even though they all are after money. Rick Ross came into the game with THE RUNNERS, JUSTICE LEAGUE, DJ KHALED (one of his A&Rs), Gucci Pucci (one of his A&Rs), E-Class (his promoter from Poe Boy Ent – also promotes Flo-Rida). Along the way Lex Luger, Schife, The Inkredibles etc joined the massive Florida Hip-Hop team spearheaded by Khaled and Trick Daddy. These folks ride together man. Whether or not your favorite rappers get beats from any of these producers, Rick Ross always will – as long as he wants them. By the way, Justice League DID NOT make beats like that UNTIL Ross. For his beats, they get drummers, trumpeters etc instead of just doing keyboards….Rick Ross IS part of the production of those beats somehow someway.
Now Ross is building a team of R&B singers for all his hooks and features – I believe this is Ne-yo's second time on his album…. Kanye's second…..Jay-Z's second on an original song….
1) I knew everything you just said. But what does that have to do with what I said?
2) What exactly is the point you're trying to make?
I'm glad you knew that stuff sir. Very much so – I apologize if I came off preachy or disrespectful (not saying I did) because I didn't mean to.
You wrote: "I think Justice League (the people responsible for basically all his dopest beats) are wasting their talent with this nigga. Why don’t niggas like Joe Budden or Nas ever get these kinds of producers? SMH "
My point was to say that "waste" or not, he and those producers got famous (and $) together, and will continue to do so unless they have a fall-out which Khaled and Trick Daddy can't resolve. Plain and simple.
For now, I'll add this: The best music wins. Rick Ross knows that his rap abilities combined with dope beats sell better than many BETTER rappers are able to manage (for whatever reason). He has FOUR A&Rs which include KHALED (a radio DJ for over a decade). Like Kiyosaki said in his book…."best-selling" is the ultimate goal. I have to check into Joe Budden – but he has yet to figure out how to be a best-seller. Maybe he doesn't want to be….that's another story.
Nah, I just didn't understand the point you were making.
As for the Nas/Joe Budden comment, I wasn't necessarily stating Justice League per se, it was more of a side swipe at their inability to have music that sounds lushly produced as Rick Ross. Could be that there ear for beats suck, but that was more/less where I was going with that.
I know JL got famous with Ross and I know that unless he stops paying them, they probably care less so long as their getting paid, but the idealist in me hopes that those producers whom are so talented (assuming that all those beats they made are there own without outside assistance) would be served much better if there was a competence emcee over them. I just like to hear good
Sorry I got cut off.
I meant that I like to hear good emcees over good beats and Rick Ross is hardly a good emcee.
Tell you what sir, I really hope that the best rappers can get the best beats. I really do. What the best rappers don't realize is that most people who buy CDs are more MUSIC FANS than RAP FANS. The MUSIC catches our ear, then the rap follows.
Ross wins with us everytime. I even heard a critic once say that Nas needs better beats….to me, that's a no-brainer. Again, I'm a hardcore music fan. My favorite musician is Ludvig Van Beethoven so yeah, I could care less about words on an album – it's just the part of the music I can replicate.
You make a good point, Idu Charles: "the music catches our ear, then the rap follows."
I'm a big Nas fan, like Garfield, but I have been disappointed with pretty much everything he's done post-God's Son and it largely has to do with his beat selection, or lack thereof. One hopeful bit of good news popped up on Miss Info's site today: http://bit.ly/aZjem1 Nas said Kanye called him and told him he wanted to do his album, which I hope actually means he wants to do his entire album. Both Ye and Nas need strong efforts their next times out (after Immagate and ChildSupportgate, respectively), so hopefully they can make it happen.
Imo, a very solid album. Maybach Music III (pure jazz fusion song) and Tears of Joy were definitely the two standouts. The production is the gem of this album. Ross isn't a heavy hitter in regards to lyrical content. He did decent on this album. Album is an overall good listen
I honestly have no clue how I want to feel about this album.
It’s definitely not a bad album. And it actually has a flow to it unlike one or more of his previous efforts. But I don’t know. I want to give “Rozay” props for finally branching out production wise. That’s good. But in keeping with that, he just doesn’t sound like he belongs on some of those tracks. Like they don’t fit.
Then its feature-heavy. And some of those work and some don’t. The whole idea of Rick Ross on a track wit Cee-Lo, am I the only asshole that finds this a bit odd, lol. Like no really.
Personal favorite track: “Free Mason.” I personally think this is one of Ross’ fullest and strongest verses I’ve heard. But here’s where we disagree, you think Jay’s verse is “amateur”? Wow, hey well, we’re all entitled to our opinions.
We're indeed entitled to our own opinions and thanks for sharing yours. When I say Jay's verse sounded amateur, let's be clear that Jay's amateur is still better than then 90+% of these rappers who are trying reallllly hard. I actually was disappointed that he dignified the bullshit mason/illuminati/devil worship rumors with a response and more so that he didn't come harder than he did. The whole tone of the verse was basically this, "Please please please believe me! I'm srsly not a Mason guys!" And that's ultimately why I didn't feel it so much.
As for the features, I actually wasn't too bothered by them (barring the valueless Gucci add to MC Hammer). To me, Ross demonstrated that he could carry songs by himself on Deeper Than Rap – Mafia Music, Rich Off Cocaine, Valley of Death, and In Cold Blood, specifically. When it comes to these particular features, I looked at them more the way that Kanye once described his approach to features – being a time capsule. When we look back at this album some years from now, we'll be able to tell who was really making good stuff in this particular era: Badu, Cee-Lo, Jay, et al. And besides, aren't you glad that none of his wack Carol City Cartel goons were on the album?
I gotcha. And definitely understand where you were coming from initially, alot better now. Appreciate your clearing that up for me, eventhough you didn’t have to… after all it was your opinion (lol). Respect
I just listened straight thru for the first time last night. I wish I could get a copy of the album with Rozay's verses edited out. It would go hard. His voice annoys me. His flow is elementary. I don't care about anything he has to say. Why is there only one song where he's by himself? That right there says a lot.
I'm not going to call anyone here a hater, I just disagree with most – though I'm glad the reviewer saw fit to give the album a B.
First, rappers say a bunch of ignorant things everyday, so for anyone to say they can't talk about their penis, or 9-11, or miscarriages is ludicrous to me. All the PC punch-lines and analogies are familiar at this point – so I'm proud to say Rozay uses others.
The comment about features: Please take a look at the last albums by Ludacris, Jay-Z, and T.I. You will find that after you subtract the songs where those artists had features, there are few left – and Rozay gave us 11 tracks ONLY on this album.
Rick Ross said in a video interview: "This is the music business. He who makes the best 'music', wins." Familiarity with the drug-game is ONLY required to the extent it is needed to make great songs. If Rick Ross is smart enough to realize that his best ALBUMS will be him rapping 2 verses on every song, with someone else on the hook, then SO BE IT. Bottom line, the last time I heard an album so "tight" in the way the sounds flow with each other and the way you want to play THE WHOLE THING over and over was Kanye West's GRADUATION. (I'm not saying that it's the last album with that characteristic.)
Rick Ross has demonstrated after the first album (which was rushed), that he has an impeccable ear for good MUSIC (beats, hooks, etc). I think his ear will rival that of Jay-Z and Diddy long-term. If you subtract everyone's preferences stated on this page, you will realize that this album is a B+ album at a minimum.
PS – not everything Rick Ross says is "imagined" – heck, we have not really proved that he was never a drug-dealer….JUST that he was a CO for less than a year at age 18, 12+ years before his first album. Hmm…. The song where he talks about his family is all straight forward stuff. Few metaphors. He says "it's a fantasy" – probably reminding you that all the tracks before are just that. Like he said, it's Deeper Than Rap….(I'll stop).
He can't carry an album by himself. I don't respect his pen game at all. If you're a solo artist and you make a solo album, I expect to hear YOUR story. I don't mind collaborations. I love them. But damnit man, your whole album shouldn't be inundated with the fingerprints of all these other people. Idk, the music is dope, Ross isn't. *Shrugs* That's just my opinion.
Hey man – if you haven't seen my previous comment from Robert Kiyosaki. Rick Ross doesn't care how much you like him, respect him, like/respect his pen game or his story or his ability to be original without using someone else's name. This is his goal (your own words):
"the music is dope"
See? He's a RECORDING ARTIST.
He doesn't have to care. I'm not asking him to. Most famous people could care less about what anybody has to say about anything. Beauty of free speech is, I'm free to voice my opinion. So uh yea…I could care less if he doesn't care what I think. Thanks.
Also your argument that "He can’t carry an album by himself" is weak for a few reasons:
1- I showed you other top artists who do a lot of features (even Jay-Z).
2- Outside of the people doing his hooks, Rick Ross had ONLY two tracks with features on his first album, and ONE was a remix to "hustlin".
3- Given that he has before MADE an album by himself, a more appropriate assertion would be "he chooses NOT to carry an album by himself". The Gucci-Mane feature was weak – I would have loved it for the Bawse to finish that himself.
The question is WHY all the features (outside of hooks)? Someone should ask him.
You seem dissappointed that he isn't playing the Rap game the way you want; you seem even more dissappointed that you like his music because otherwise if you like the music what else could be material? I understand discussion, but it says Fresh "music" review. This is not a blog for Hip-Hop lyricists…your criteria seem out of place.
Again – I hope I'm not pissing you off. I'm no internet gangsta.
I say this clearly because Ross is my 2nd favorite rapper and most producers and rappers he works with are tops with me. I am very passionate when it comes to criticism of his MUSIC because objectively speaking, it is tops. Even XXL said "If you judge by music and music alone…"
1) Jay-Z's most feature heavy albums was Vol 2 and The Dynasty (which was actually a compilation album) You check his last 4 albums, very minimal guest appearances. In my opinion, the best albums are the ones where I get to view the artist through a wide spectrum of emotions and viewpoints. I don't favor albums with songs that have a whole shitload of rappers for no other reason than to have a shitload of rappers on the album. Cue Rick Ross' latest album.
2) You talking about his feature album, I'm talking about the last 3.
3) Whether he chooses to or not, I still think it's wack. You don't have to agree.
I'm not disappointed that he's not "playing the rap game" the way I want. I'm disappointed that he's being made to see like some great rapper who makes classic music, when in reality, this fool can't carry a track by himself. That's why someone is always singing the hook, or there's a feature, and why all his singles features John Legend or Tpain singing the hook. I just don't care for the shit.
Also, I don't agree with the assertion that I'm disappointed I like his music. I don't like the music. I like the Justice League's production, Ross makes my ears hurt. This was a music review, about an album, and I said I don't like it. It doesn't have to be a blog for hip hop lyricists for me to say I don't like his album for the reasons I stated. It's an opinion on the music that's being talked about. And I'm not upset. Glad to have the convo.
Good convo though. I don't want to even belittle your comments by saying I disagree. I think we just measure music differently. Ross will have to step up to prove he can carry and album – as one of his fans, I would love an album with JUST HIM even if he has people doing all the hooks. Still, he makes music this way because most fans are not purists like me and as long as the end-product is good, we don't care how many songs were sampled, or how many writers were involved, or who originally made the beat.
True Rap fans like you should take supporting the best rappers more seriously because I and my cohorts are subverting the genre whether we admit it or not…..
Correction: "…most fans are not purists like YOU…"
The best rappers need the best beats too…if they want fans like me (the majority).
I love the various convos happening here. One thing I haven't noticed, however, is any opinion (positive or negative) on Live Fast, Die Young. What did everyone think of it? Was I wrong about Kanye's effort on it?
Honestly, I believe that the idea that any musician has to bring his/her "A" game on any track is flawed when you consider "content". Sometimes the artist WANTS to have more casual, playful, or even emotional (as you said about Jay-Z) material. Kanye's material was such that he probably couldn't give you 5 star lyricism.
So I would disagree with you. I think Kanye's effort could have been better – but if it was it may have been inappropriate for a song about something that you'd have to be immature to live by i.e. "Live fast die young". To me, that's the bigger picture. In my opinion, the last song is the worst song because Ross is no longer acting, embellishing, or trying to impress….
I can see where u're coming from in regards to Ye on that track. Personally I don't know if it was so much lazy as he let the track dictate his flow instead of attacking the track with his flow. He's proven in the past that he's definitely an above average lyricist… so an effort like this especially coming on the heels of his "experimental" phase musically… is kinda hard to receive with only "Power" as another piece of current work to remind u of that old Kanye. Just my take.
I almost refuse to believe that a conversation this in-depth was spawned by a review of a damn Rick Ross album. What is this world coming to, lol?
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