Florida Based Rapper, Rick Ross released his latest album, Mastermind in March of 2014. Is the album a step up from his past material? Given I've never once been impressed or even given a slight shit about a Rick Ross album, I can admit he has improved. Not like he's a lyricist now or anything but he has gone far from his days of basic rhyming to...not so basic rhyming. His LPs generally follow a mafioso like theme similar to projects such as Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... or Ghostface Killah's Fishscale. Unfortunately his work always lacks the interest of those projects but does Mastermind step up? Well...
Intro
This is great, the she devil that says "Maybach" on every fucking MMG track has a few more lines...
Rich is Gangsta
This is a little awkward. Ross is very slow here, which is not good for him. Rosie's best attribute is sounding good, not actual lyrics and when you can pick those apart...its not pleasant.
Drug Dealer's Dream
Opening with Ross's bank account being read back to us. Really makes me feel good about my financial situation. This track is especially lazy. This line is amazing though.
I seen a rich n*gga go to jail. He put wi fi in his cell. Middle of the night, my n*gga wanna skype
Shots Fired
Skit with the news describing the shooting Ross was involved in, could this lead up to some reflection about the incident perhaps?
Nobody feat. French Montana
Sampling Biggie Smalls is a borderline sin when you're someone like Rick Ross. The verses aren't too bad though. But nowhere near what you'd expect after the news clips. Once upon a time, i liked French Montana. Like his early tapes, they weren't great but he wasn't awful. How times have changed...
The Devil is A Lie feat. Jay-Z
Roseanne seriously steps down from the last track which was a borderline highlight so far. Jay outshines him not surprisingly, hook is fucking annoying as shit though. Ross whining "the devil is a liiieee!"
Mafia Music III feat. Sizzla and Mavado
You did it. You really put that mixtape horn in the beginning of an album track. I don't know the other two but they bring nothing to the table.
War Ready feat. Jeezy
this Tracy T fellow just hops in and does the hook, really generic. Don't see why they picked this dude up. Jeezy outshines Ross tenfold. Ross is passable.
What A Shame feat. French Montana
What did i tell you about this French guy? Keep him away from microphones. He does this Ying Yang twin like "haahh" noise. Songs rather short so it's just quick and painful.
Supreme feat. Keith Sweat
I thought this would have something to do with the Supreme Team clique from NY but it doesn't. Katt Williams shows up...sadly reminds me of what Katt's doing now. Nothing good. This song is no different from that. But holy shit, Keith Sweat. Forgot he existed. He can't save this.
BLK & WHT
Yes, it's really spelled like that. Skip.
Dope Bitch (skit)
Speaking of skip.
In Vein feat. the Weeknd
Weeknd is solid here, I can't say much else for this song.
Sanctified feat. Kanye West and Big Sean
it's a known fact Kanye can deliver some of the worst guest verses of all time, and not only is he here but Rosie dragged in a sixth grader too imitating Big Sean. The chorus leading in is great (by Betty Wright), and as i suspected Kanye drops some dog shit wrapped into the form of a hip hop verse.
Walkin' on Air feat. Meek Mill
Just what we needed, another Meek Mill feature in 2014. I know he's on Maybach but couldn't you have gotten Wale? even Gunplay? I will take Gunplay over this dude. Ross is yet again passable.
Thug Cry feat. Lil Wayne
Wayne might actually be sober, he does nothing great but he steps away from attempting a metaphor every god damn second.
Blessing in Disguise feat. Scarface and Z-Ro (deluxe)
I only include this because it's genuinely the best thing here. After all the awful guest appearances we get a legend like Scarface and a solid MC in Z-Ro but he only does the hook. Even Ross sounds good here.
The Highlights:
Thug Cry feat. Wayne
War Ready feat. Jeezy
The Lowlights:
What a Shame
Sanctified
Nobody
The Gem:
Blessing in Disguise feat. Scarface and Z-Ro (deluxe)
Is it Worth a Purchase?
No, stay away from this album. Ross doesn't improve nearly enough to pay for this. Check out Blessing in Disguise and some of the highlights and move on. Ross just lacks what's necessary to create a solid mafioso like album, or even an interesting project overall. I never got his comparison to Biggie because i feel an easier comparison is Scarface because their material is so much similar. Except Face does everything Ross does but better and more, with actual emotions and consequences for his actions, Rosebud does none of that.
Overall Grade: D
Couldn't care for the project, knowwatimean? Anyway, til next time, One Love.
No comments:
Post a Comment