The Rundown: Rick Ross, Mastermind
After much anticipation, Rozay delivers his sixth LP.
1 / 17
The Rundown: Rick Ross: Mastermind - After multiple delays, Rick Ross is finally here to prove to the world that he's a Mastermind. The Maybach Music Group leader's sixth LP hits stores today (March 4) and continues the momentum that Rozay has been building, while furthering his narrative as a rich, powerful Bawse. A few big name collaborations throughtout the album help to it to sound as big as the author's persona. Read on for a track-by-track review.(Photo: Courtesy of Maybach Music Group)
2 / 17
"Intro" - The album opener splices together some clips of old Ross rhymes with a short speech from author Napolean Hill, in which he discusses the idea of a "mastermind." Rozay is out to prove that he's one. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)
Photo By Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET
3 / 17
"Rich Is Gangsta" - Over some smooth Black Metaphor production, Ricky flosses his wealth and takes a small shot at rival 50 Cent ("From now on I need 50...I ain't talkin' 50 Cent, neither").(Photo: Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic/Getty Images)
4 / 17
"Drug Dealer's Dream" - The wealth talk continues here, as an automated bank-teller voice tells Ross his account balance is more than $92 million before the rapper puffs out his chest and kicks that range from recalling his days "eatin' out of the trash" to shouting out a few strip clubs. (Photo: Chris McKay/WireImage/Getty Images)
Photo By Chris McKay/WireImage/Getty Images
5 / 17
"Shots Fired" - This brief skit that clocks in at less than a minute includes news clips of reports on the January 2013 shooting that targeted Ross. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for BET's Rip The Runway)
Photo By Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for BET's Rip The Runway
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 17
"Mafia Music III" Featuring Sizzla and Mavado - Ross takes it from Miami to the islands for "Mafia Music III," which features Jamaica-natives Sizzla and Mavado. The Bawse kicks one lengthy verse before passing the baton. (Photos: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for GQ; Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images; Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)
7 / 17
"The Devil Is a Lie" - Jay Z rides alongside Ricky on this collaboration, which was the album's lead single and remains the project's biggest release to date. (Photo: Courtesy of Maybach Music Group)
8 / 17
"Nobody" Featuring French Montana and Diddy - This eerie joint borrows liberally from Notorious B.I.G.'s "You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)," from the French Montana hook to the Diddy-produced beat. Meanwhie, the MMG honcho kicks rhymes about the street life.(Photos: Noam Galai/Getty Images; Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images; Daniel Tanner/WENN.com)
9 / 17
"War Ready" Featuring Jeezy and Tracy T - The Rick Ross-Jeezy beef is officially a thing of the past with "War Ready." The gritty collab finds the two Southern MCs strapped up and gearing to go — just not at one another this time. (Photo: Courtesy of Maybach Music Group)
Photo By Photo: Courtesy of Maybach Music Group
10 / 17
"What a Shame" Featuring French Montana - French Montana joins Rozay once more, this time borrowing inspiration for his hook from Camp Lo's "Luchini AKA This Is It." Meanwhile, Ross gets lyrically gully, with lines like "Pull a pistol, bang on a n---a."(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 17
"Supreme" - Scott Storch emerges to produce this symphonic cut, which once again finds Ross in his comfort zone, boasting about elaborate wealth and bragging about his gangsta certifications. (Photo: EPA/STEVE C.MITCHELL/LANDOV)
Photo By EPA/STEVE C.MITCHELL/LANDOV
12 / 17
"Blk & White" - Rozay switches up his flow a bit here, getting more sing-songy than normal for the catchy, drug-dealing-fueled hook: "A n---a, black but he sellin' white." He also makes a controversial mention of Trayvon Martin, rapping, "Trayvon Martin, I'm never missing my target."(Photo: Jeff Fusco/Getty Images)
13 / 17
"Dope B---h Skit" - Before the album's home stretch, Ross sticks in a nearly three-minute skit with two ladies talking about what differentiates them from "basic b-----s."(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)
14 / 17
"In Vein" Featuring The Weeknd - In what is a trend among songs that feature The Weeknd, this cut comes off sounding more like the singer's than Ross', which isn't necessarily a bad thing — it gives the rapper a chance to tackle some production more mellow than normal. (Photos: Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV)
15 / 17
"Sanctified" Featuring Kanye West and Big Sean - Ricky enlists Kanye West and Big Sean to join him on this DJ Mustard-produced track which is equal parts soulful and exciting. It's the most heavy-hitting collaboration to not be released prior to the album.(Photos: Rob Rich/WENN.com; Christie Goodwin/Redferns/Getty Images; Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)
Photo By Photos: Rob Rich/WENN.com; Christie Goodwin/Redferns/Getty Images; Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET
ADVERTISEMENT