Hip-Hop's Forum

Ross Gets Straight to the Point in 4th Album

By: Chris Wallace (Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

Since 2006′s release of Port of Miami, Rick Ross has consumed the Hip Hop game with one smash hit after another. From his first clame to fame with “Hustlin”, to Trilla‘s highlight “The Boss”, to the empowering “Maybach Music 2″, Rozay has built up a five year career that many dream of with no signs of slowing down.

Teflon Don now adds to the conversation as to where the Dade County representer belongs amongst the game’s most influential and consistent artists.

For the past months DJ Khaled and Diddy rolled out PSA’s left and right endorsing Ross’ new release. Little did we know that Rick was off making by far his most experimentally invigorating music.

While brief (only 11 tracks plus a banger of a Bonus Track with Raekwon), Teflon Don gives us quality over quantity which has become a big focus for Ross and many others. This doesn’t bother me considering how many mixtapes are added to the market every day.

Collaborations engulf the album but don’t take away from Rozay’s overpowering presence over heavy and fulfilling beats. What is unique about Ross is his ability to write over tracks both dark and light while supplying two completely different sets of emotions (i.e. “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast) versus “Aston Martin Music”).

“Free Mason” and “Live Fast, Die Young” are almost so damn good that they overshadow an otherwise great album. Jay-Z and Kanye never get old and a song with all three in one would have been beyond epic. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Other records that should not be passed over are “Super High” (although I prefer the “Sativa Remix” myself) and two songs that have amazing features in “Tears of Joy” featuring Cee-Lo and “All the Money in the World” featuring Raphael Saadiq.

The only real hiccup in the whole album is the Dirty Money influenced “No. 1″ with collaborations from Trey Songz and Diddy. It doesn’t make much sense putting a track in the middle of the album that hits so hard on the beat but lacks the same energy on the vocals. I put most of the blame on Diddy’s inability to sound worthy enough to be included.

Back to back tracks produced by Lex Luger (“MC Hammer” and “B.M.F.”) are a little too similar to allow for each to stand out on their own. However, Gucci Mane and Styles P respectively exhibit solid verses to partner up as the Robin to the Boss’ Batman.

What Teflon Don delivers are rich sounds that strive to provide a new sense of direction for Rick Ross’ career. This small piece of an already hailed body of work for the emcee exudes confidence and a sense of calm of where he is in life.

If you go back to the Ross’ old mixtapes and even Port of Miami, his lyricism, content, and overall intelligence of music have reached new heights, and it’s a credit to the people he has surrounded himself with and his aspiration to be anything but average.

My hope for Ross is that his classy sound and fresh look translates into a live performance that will have people spending hundreds on Stub Hub. Once he learns to ditch the crowd on stage and lets a live band have a crack at the insane beats materialized by the likes of J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and NO I.D. he has a hell of a chance to take the next step up.

Whether you can’t stand Rick Ross or are already looking for more (hint: Carlo Gambino Mixtape not officially released but complete) there is no denying his talents behind the mic.

Thank you Ricky Rozay. You keep proving people wrong and the more your doubted the better you get.

“Free Mason” featuring Jay-Z

“Live Fast, Die Young” featuring Kanye West

“B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast) featuring Style P