2008 Woodie Awards
Rick Ross, can't you do better than this?
Chris Franco
Issue date: 4/1/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Perpetuating the image of a former (but not too former) Miami drug lord, in some ways listening to Rick Ross rap on "Trilla" (Poe Boy/Def Jam/Slip-N-Slide/Po Boy) is comparable to listening to one of your favorite characters from a Scorsese movie tell their life stories.
With his first release since his commercial success "Port of Miami," Ross looks to further build his rap persona with his sophomoric effort.
Unfortunately Ross only really captures the movie that is his life on six of "Trilla's" fifteen cuts.
However, when he is on the right beat, Ross definitely sounds larger than life.
Beginning with "Trilla Intro," Ross scores when he mixes his indistinguishable voice and kingpin inspired lyrics with cinematic instrumentals.
Ross shares some of these superior beats with a handful of the rap game's brightest stars.
T-Pain delivers on "The Boss", while R. Kelly and Mannie Fresh add lively, catchy and energetic choruses to "Speedin" and "All I Have In This World."
Ross does his best to keep up lyrically with Jay-Z on "Maybach Music."
Lil Wayne drops one of his best verses in months on "Luxury Tax".
At the end of the day, Trilla has six great Rick Ross songs.
The rest of the album, upsettlingly, consists only of collaborations gone-wrong, bad production choices and sloppy lyricism.
While he undoubtedly beats the curse of the sophomore slump with an album full of hits, there is still hope for Ross.
He still has room for improvement on his next album.
If he lets Justice League, JR Rotem and The Runners handle all the production next time around, look for Rick Ross to become the real boss of rap.
Key Tracks:
"The Boss" ft. T-Pain
"Maybach Music" ft. Jay-Z
Grade: C+
With his first release since his commercial success "Port of Miami," Ross looks to further build his rap persona with his sophomoric effort.
Unfortunately Ross only really captures the movie that is his life on six of "Trilla's" fifteen cuts.
However, when he is on the right beat, Ross definitely sounds larger than life.
Beginning with "Trilla Intro," Ross scores when he mixes his indistinguishable voice and kingpin inspired lyrics with cinematic instrumentals.
Ross shares some of these superior beats with a handful of the rap game's brightest stars.
T-Pain delivers on "The Boss", while R. Kelly and Mannie Fresh add lively, catchy and energetic choruses to "Speedin" and "All I Have In This World."
Ross does his best to keep up lyrically with Jay-Z on "Maybach Music."
Lil Wayne drops one of his best verses in months on "Luxury Tax".
At the end of the day, Trilla has six great Rick Ross songs.
The rest of the album, upsettlingly, consists only of collaborations gone-wrong, bad production choices and sloppy lyricism.
While he undoubtedly beats the curse of the sophomore slump with an album full of hits, there is still hope for Ross.
He still has room for improvement on his next album.
If he lets Justice League, JR Rotem and The Runners handle all the production next time around, look for Rick Ross to become the real boss of rap.
Key Tracks:
"The Boss" ft. T-Pain
"Maybach Music" ft. Jay-Z
Grade: C+
Be the first to comment on this story