“Mafia Music” – Review Of Rick Ross’ Deeper Than Rap
ALBUM REVIEWS By Patrick M. on April 21, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Feuds with 50 Cent, Trilla’s success, a little controversy, and most importantly, some dope lead singles have combined to make Deeper Than Rap the most anticipated release of 2009 to this point. With hype comes opportunity, as well as high stakes. Most MCs have some sort of dirty laundry that eventually gets aired, destined to detract from their finally managed image, but the great ones make us forget by delivering the goods musically and lyrical. Deeper Than Rap is Rick Ross’ chance to put a lot of bullshit behind him, and his detractors chance to confirm their suspicions and disbeliefs.
So does Ross deliver the goods? Yes. Mostly.
The best tracks off Deeper Than Rap incorporate beautiful production with a lyrical ferocity and charisma from Ross to set the standard for high quality Hip-Hop in 2009. The opener “Mafia Music” combines deep keyboards with a choral wail to provide a cinematic canvas for Ross to celebrate his success and dismiss non-believers. The dynamic, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League produced, “Rich Off Cocaine,” should be retroactively added to the Scarface soundtrack. It epitomizes the fast-living, illegally influenced, style of South Beach and Ross plays the part: “Money in the mansion, Yayo in another spot/Guns in the attic, Mama helped me put em up/She’ll put em down tell you quick to hit’em up/Load a hundred round, bring it back she’ll fill it up.” He may be faking, but he’s doing a damn good job of it.
Deeper Than Rap also showcases Ross’ continued improvement as an MC rapper. He displays an ability to change up his flow and style at any given moment. Ross emphasizes staccato to great effect on the Caribbean-infused “Yacht Club.” He speeds up with the beat on “All I Really Want,” to keep pace with The-Dream’s choral crooning. And he holds his own next to the album’s A-list guests—only managing to get outshined with a Nasty Nas special on “Usual Suspects.”
Yet, the content is surprisingly shallow, ridiculous at times even, for an album titled Deeper Than Rap. Ross never explores the darker side of the fast life, missing an opportunity to add a dose of reality and depth to the album. This choice makes the end of the album drag as similar tracks and guest choices spawn redundancies. No album in 2009 should have both Foxy Brown and Trina as guests — hearing Trina’s tired boasts on her sexual prowess on “Face,” is an easy pick as the album’s low point. Worse is the album’s reliance on R&B hooks, fine when John Legend croons over the sublime “Magnificent,” but tiresome after the seventh go round. Even the singers seem bored, as the usually competent Ne-Yo can’t come up with anything better to add to the mix than “baby you’re the bosses girl” on the tepid “Bossy Lady.” The album’s essence is reflected in the equally hyped “Maybach Music 2.” Featuring the all-star lineup of Kanye, Lil’ Wayne and T-Pain, the track’s greatness seems preordained. All the pieces are in place, the beat’s appropriately bombastic and Kanye, Weezy and Ross give seminars in shit-talking.
In spite of the distinctive flaws, the album is another tally mark for Ross in claiming his spot as one of the game’s elite. Ross does show considerable growth from his last outing & his ear for production cannot be denied. Despite the improvements, Ross disappoints by refusing to break out of the veneer of “Bawse” mode which leaves the whole experience lacking. While enjoyable, the whole doesn’t quite equal the sum of the parts, which leads to the deflation of the entire buzz cycle. This equation applies for Deeper Than Rap in its entirety.
BONUS
Download — Rick Ross Feat. Chris Echols – “Cigar Music (I Do It)” (iTunes Bonus Track)
BONUS
Rick Ross – “In Cold Blood” Video
Previously Posted — Three/21 Films & Maybach Music – “Deeper Than Rap” Short Film | Rick Ross Feat. The Game, Ja Rule & Fat Joe – “Mafia Music (Remix)” | Rick Ross – “Valley Of Death” & “Down South Hustlaz” | Rick Ross Feat. Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne & T-Pain – “Maybach Music 2? | Rick Ross Feat. Foxy Brown – “Murder Mami” | Three/21 Films & Maybach Music – “Deeper Than Rap” Short Film Trailer | Rick Ross Feat. Nas – “Usual Suspects” | Rick Ross Feat. John Legend – “Magnificent” Video | Rick Ross – “Mafia Music” Video
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, AUDIO, GENERAL, LOOSIES, MUSIC, VIDEO — Tags: 50 Cent, Deeper Than Rap, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Mafia Music, Nas, review, Rick Ross, The Dream
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78 Comments
Deeper Than Wack!
lol
think i might cop
Solid review.
Those first 6 songs along with the last 2, plus the bonus track are enough to justify a 3.5..
this cd bumps the 12s…Cigar Music is that shit and should have been the single…good review though on point!
Bawse is 3 for 3
not at all…
Who isn’t he?
All fake BS a side, I generally like his music. Still keep a couple tracks from Trilla on my current playlist. That being said I listened to the album last night. And I wasn’t really feelin it. At the time I wasn’t sure why, but I think you touched on it with the comment about the plethora of R&B hooks. For the most part, to me, the album is forgettable. Maybe I’ll come back to it at a later date, and feel differently. Or maybe I won’t. Can’t really call it. The only track that I really can’t help coming back to is Mafia Music, love it…
RMF…
I would’ve given this one a 4… I agree with dropping the track with Trina, but some of the other songs I guess are more tolerable to me than to others. I actually enjoy listening to “Magnificent”.
i gotta ask something completely different-
a friend of mine is goin to the atl next week and asked if there´s any decent sneaker spots.
it´s his first time and so far the only place he got send to is adidas originals at Lenox mall…
Come on TSS- I know someone can help a sneakerfiend on the run!
How isn’t he?
I agree with the 3.5 rating, but I knock it down another .5 peg for the whole fakery denying he was a PO shit. So he gets a 3.
Ross ain’t a good enough rapper to have production and beats like this, you give Jadakiss the same instrumentals and choruses and his album is better IMO… Ross is too repetitive and boring, the album is good but it ain’t great.
He has rebounded from the early 50 cent baby mother CO shit better than I ever thought was possible, who else could do that, wear fake clothes, lie constantly and still be relevant and listened too???
@ Gz Up: You give Jada those beats and he’ll still make a mediocre incoherent album filled with too many guest appearances, lol.
Jada appears to have peaked as an artist.
I think Ross is still improving.
@ El Rosado I got what your saying but he nicer than Ross IMO, you think that Ross talking fabricated cocaine talk is better than jada’s lines and metaphoprs we can agree to disagree, but “Blah blah blah cocaine, man boobs, bawse trilla…” if i wanted to hear that done well I’d listen to Pusha T, Pimp C, Raekwon or someone else… Album is good cuz of production, insert Fab instead of Jada pause and my point still hold true…
@ Gz U[: 16 bars for 16 bars jada is definitely nicer than Ross. He spits a better 16 all day.
But for whatever reason, none, I repeat, NONE of his solo albums have been better than those of Officer RAWSE.
Jada has some fire mixtapes, it’s a shame his mixtapes are better than his albums, but none of his albums have been better than RAWSE (I laugh when I type that).
Amp hit the nail on the head. Jada peaked. RAWSE can still improve.
As TC told me one week it’s “Deeper than Rapidshare”…whatever the hell that meant…haha jk
Anotha Time,
Mally
I agree about ALL of Jada’s albums being a diappointemnt, but I think that it is partially true because we hold Jada to a higher standard than officer ricky… If I was on an island and had the choice to either have Kiss’ 3 albums or Ross’ I would pick Jada hands down… A bad Ghostface album is still better than a good U-God album if you get my point…
An over the hill Jada is better than an overweight Ross right now…
To hell with Jadakiss and Rick Ross.
It just finished Liverpool 4 Arsenal 4.
Amazing match, looks like Manchester United will pip Liverpool to the title race, however, what a freaking match, amazing!
yall going to review “this ain’t no mixtape?”
Botox:
I haven’t been in the Atl in a minute but the last time I was down there, they had a NikeTown in Lenox Mall I believe. They had a pretty good selection as well. And your boy can always check the Underground he will find some sneaker spots there as well. While your boy is down there make sure he doesn’t forget to squeeze some georgia Peaches!!! Veddy NicE!!
The only thing holding Rick Ross back is the fact that he can’t give up on this fantasy life he created for himself. If he never lied about being a CO, this album would have done the same thing Jeezy’s last album has done for Jeezy. Cause both have a great ear for beats and both have improved each album as MC’s
I feel you Gz Up, nice analogy with the Bad Ghost/Good U-God lol.
BP, don’t know if you’re a gamer, but FIFA 09 for PS3 is the shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!
I agree about ALL of Jada’s albums being a diappointemnt, but I think that it is partially true because we hold Jada to a higher standard than officer ricky… If I was on an island and had the choice to either have Kiss’ 3 albums or Ross’ I would pick Jada hands down…
================================
As much as I agree with the first statement…
Ross solo discog > Jada’s solo discog
The only Kiss album worth owning is Kiss Of Death
*Correction.
The only Kiss album worth owning is We Are The Streets
cigar music, mafia music, magnificient, maybach music 2, usual suspects
> deeperthanrap
u can make rnb single with rich off cocaine, lay back
even bossy lady because of ne-yo and of course defjam
but maybach music 2nd needs to be the 3rd single i think.
so what is the next overhyped underwhelming album we will have to complain about/ anticipate, I can’t get caught up in Relapse cuz I’m too old for dick and fart jokes with no substance… I think Loso’s Way could be good but he suffers from Jadakissitis as well pause if neccesary, BP3 might never come out, OBFCL2 is going to disappoint, I’m think “Till The Casket Drops” got a shot at classic status… Bout to listen to this Curren$y shit…
*Correction.
The only Kiss album worth owning is We Are The Streets
And I thought I was being harsh lol.
Lyrical Ferocity and Rick Ross in the same sentence is where I stopped reading.
Ross never explores the darker side of the fast life, missing an opportunity to add a dose of reality and depth to the album. This choice makes the end of the album drag
——————–
yes he does briefly on valley of death.
this album is dope as fuck to me and ive hated him mostly for his whole career.
I get that Jada’s career has been a disappointment, but his album songs still get played in my iTunes after 5 + years, I’ll take a choice 15 tracks from jada’s 3 albums over 15 tracks from Ross’… Ross ain’t got no “Shootouts” feat. S.P. he ain’t got no “The Real Me” he couldn’t make a song called “The Real Me” it would be like him doing Jenny Craig commercials…
didnt wanna cop the full length in case it sukked so i previewd a few tracks free on demand here first wihtout having to dl anything–
http://tinyurl.com/rickross1
def check it out there 1st if u have ne doubts but the albums sick!! well done ross– pce alex
yall going to review “this ain’t no mixtape?”
______________
sure they will vic, but it just dropped today, holmes.
as for this rick ross nonsense…cant wait for it to go away…IMO hes been takin up too much space on my TSS feed
yes he does briefly on valley of death.
============================
Emphasis on briefly
Port Of Miami is more revealing then his last two albums.
Prodigy already spit on the magnificent beat 10 years ago and ripped it apart…now officer rick can jack the beat and put it on an album that will sell? the game is fucked.
@Botox
Walters downtown on decatur st. Is a pretty legit spot. Also Standard out in buckhead. Both will be good choices!
@botox
Walters on Decatur street across from the Underground is dope, and also Standard out in Buckhead always has something exclusive.
Co-sign providence.
If Rick gets a grammy for rap album of the year and accepts the award shirtless holding a cigar, a cluster of grapes and a lobster tail all while wearing a C.O. hat I will change all my opinions and he will become my new favorite rapper… pause
Prodigy already spit on the magnificent beat 10 years ago and ripped it apart…
=====================================
I completely forgot about that.
“You can never feel my pain, nicca….”
Well-written review, I agree with the entire thing for the most part. Great album, Ross did his thing
Fuck this Office Ricky bullshit!!! My ninja Spitta just dropped some fiyah today, shit is too hot for cigs damn it. For the record, I’d rather listen to Jada’s music anyday over Ross. I can’t wait for 50 to emerge from seclusion and bury this fat fuck.
ps: El Rosado, FIFA is the ONLY reason I even play video games!!! The FIFA series is the dopest next to Madden. Who is your team??? I straight murder ninjaz if I use Italy or Portugal; I’m fatal with the defense.
Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Game, and Ja Rule are all kind of the same rapper to me, they can all rap and have good voices but never say anything that you don’t pick up on the first time you listen, they have no depth pause, that is why there albums don’t have much replay value and if it weren’t for superior production we would never have talked about them at all… And none of them are particularly likeable personalites pause again, they all have a lot of character flaws and suspect things that have gone on in there careers, if Jadakiss and Cam’Ron were on the Mafia Muzik remix as they were approached to be, they would have embarassed the rest, Cam might not get too deep pause but he got word play unlike any of the 4 first mentioned, Jada and Cam can both take over a track while the others prefer to blend in…
If Rick gets a grammy for rap album of the year and accepts the award shirtless holding a cigar, a cluster of grapes and a lobster tail all while wearing a C.O. hat I will change all my opinions and he will become my new favorite rapper… pause
—————————————————————
LMAO….shirtless though? I think it’d be funnier if he wore a white-tee with the word BAWSE in big letters.
FIFA 09, that’s too technical for me, I’m still stuck in the 16 bit era, Sega Genesis. :P
@ El Rosado lol how bout an extra-medium wife beater that says Bawse on one side and trilla on the back…
@ Flea: I run with Italy, Brasil, or Argentina all day on the country tip and I run with either the Arsenal or AC Milan when I am picking just a team from a league.
Fifa, Madden, Live, Grand Theft Auto, and DC vs Mortal Kombat are the only games I run when I have time to fire up the PS3.
lmao @ Gz Up…fo sho he could go with the smedium wife beater, has to be in a BAWSE color though, something like a bright red lol
@ Rosado: Oh shit!!! Don’t get me started on league play, I won’t get shit done!!! I kick ass with Juventus or Bayern Munich.
Between lying and Fucking up on Fallon, 1/5
(Jokes)
It was a “good” album
The only Kiss album worth owning is We Are The Streets
===================================
Word.
I said once, and I’ll say it again….
I think Puff has a stronghold on anything that says: The Lox
This has to be the only reason we haven’t seen a new Lox album. Any other reason would just be their stupidity.
Think about it…. When is the last time you’ve seen “The Lox” on anything? It’s D-Block this, D-Block that.
*SMH*
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
LIL WAYNE CONTINUES BLOGGING FOR ESPN!
I swear he has a ghost-blogger. I can’t imagine that dude being able to sit down and write something that coherent.
@ flea: You rocking FIFA on PS3 or XBOX?
FIFA sucks.
PES Rocks.
So does Arsenal. &
Ross’ album.
That wasn’t Haiku, was it?
^ Damn… usually I’m the picky listener. lol
^ Scratch my last statement… wrong post. Hahaha
Reading this Lil’ Wayne blog, yo…there is comedy, there’s high comedy, unintentional comedy, and then there’s Wayne calling Isaiah Thomas “crazy.”
I guess it takes one to know one.
i just left best buy, and i looked at the tracklist, too many commercial collabs. i put it back in the wrong place.
^ Deeper Than Rap or The Last Kiss?
^ Neither.
@ Rosado: PS3 all day my ninja!!! Gotta stay true to the original system man.
good review. wouldnt expect anything higher. and thanks for the album cover, cant stand “parental advisory” tag
@Botox
Walters downtown on decatur st. Is a pretty legit spot. Also Standard out in buckhead. Both will be good choices!
___________
basically. The nike stores in Lenox and Discover Mills seldom have anything extra-legit, but i’ve scooped gems there every now and again.
On the real,.. I got exactly what I was expecting from Deeper Than Rap. So I’m not complaining.
However, as far as The Last Kiss is concerned… I wasn’t just let down, I was dropped face first of the Empire State Building.
Like this album…
in small doses….
mainly for the beats…
Yacht Club FTW (or draw depending upon the perspective)
when I’m in less-than-gritty mode…
Rick’s got a great “rapper voice” (Poz), but I sincerely can’t remember one memorable quote from the LP…
the unintential-my-lord-this-dude-is-delusional-comedy factor is beyond 5 cigs…it’s a fat Cohiba…
dude must’ve been in every honors class for creative writing as a kid… hilarious…
wake this dude up already so he can pay his child support..
Munkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I did not like this album.
Bawse.
Note a very good album.
I think 3 stars is closer to the real mark.
I think this album is better than anything fifty has dropped. The only thing on Get Rich or Die Trying was In Da Club, and his other lp’s arn’t even worth mentioning. Not even close. Jada dropped a good album, i agreed completley with his review. Ya Ross should have dropped the Trina track, and the foxy joint isn’t the best but the album is solid other then that. Fake Shit aside he made a 4, I think. 50 hasn’t been relevant in music in years. Great business man but it’s time to stick with Vitamin water and video games. Ross makes better music, who cares if he had a job and lied about it. I seem to remember a hawaiian t-shirt music video before he got shot, he isn’t proud of. It’s pretty good
http://www.smissbeatzpresents.com
“I’m an impeccable lyricist and with the RIGHT MECHANICS I can take over be clear of this..”.Let’s see, Jada spends nearly 2 years hyping an album called Kiss My Ass only to have it pulled and retitled The Last Kiss 5 months before it drops. Not only that, the album was pushed back at the last minute to stuff more features and formula based industry garbage on it. Come on, you really think Jada requested OJ the Juiceman for his joint or was it a let’s cover all the bases manuever by the same fairies at Def Jam who changed Uncle Murda’s name to Uncle M. They treated Jadakiss like a new artist with a single and a co-sign rather than an above average lyricist with an established fan base. Does Jadakiss seem like the type of artist who needs features on 90% of his album?{16 of 18 songs} “Don’t Start Nothin”, “Kiss My Ass”, “Hard Times”, “From Now Til Then”, “Cocaine Music feat the LOX”,”Be A G feat Max B “and”Who Run This” should’ve all made the cut over joints that ended up on the playlist…There I’m finished. I tried to let it go but since you all won’t stop bagging on Jada{who had a great 1st week ironically} i’ll hold him down.
Great review mate.
P.S-Ross didn’t show enough growth on Deeper Than Rap. There isn’t really any substance or topics that weren’t touch on Port or Trilla. That said, his flows are on a razor sharp point and his beats knock. On a surface level what more could you ask for?. P.P.S- The reviewer was exactly on point with the trina/foxy comment, who keeps letting Trina in the booth anyway? She’s the worst ever…
@ bigga, contra &ynggftdandblk:
Thanks a lot.
I knew TSS would come through.
In terms of comparing this album to The Last Kiss, this is much better. As hip hop fans, we always want the dude with the better lyrical talent to do better. This is especially true if you were around during the mid-90’s. But in this case, while Jada is a superior lyricist, Ross is the better artist.
In my opinion, Jada’s songs are all over the place. He has added more content into his raps than before (call it the “Why” factor), but he has yet to really find himself musically. Ross has a “sound.” All the great artists have trademark sounds. Ross’ has been sculpted with the help of J.US.T.I.C.E. League and JR Rotem on the last album, and continued to the bulk of this album. Think “The Boss,” think “Magnificent,” think “Maybach Music” 1 & 2. Eminem has a sound. Nas has a sound. Jay-Z had a sound, reinvented himself, and created a new sound for himself. I’m not comparing them to Rosss (blasphemy!) but I am referencing to get my point across. T.I. has a sound. Wayne has a sound. They might make singles that get away from their base sound, but you can always count on them to bring that sound back. Kanye has a sound, Common has a sound.
This is why i feel artists like Fab, Jada, etc. never made it to the next level. They could never create their own sound. Until them, they’ll be b-list rappers. They don’t have a “core” sound, they just ride with whatever producers are hot at the moment.
Even 50 has a sound.
As for this album, I feel a lot of yall are being to harsh on Ross. This is a very important album for him and for the most part, he passed with flying colors.
He starts the album with a bunch of the leaked stuff which builds momentum through the majority of the R&B joints. The brilliant core of this album, consisting of “Mafia Music,” “Maybach 2,” “Magnificent,” “Yahcht Club,” and “Usual Suspects,” starts things off. The momentum builds through the first group of “chick” songs. “All I Really Want” being the first of these, featuring a brilliantly off-paced beat and another solid showing by the-dream. We get back to the core sounds with the superior, Avery Storm-assisted “Rich off Cocaine.” The streak continues through the next “chick” song, “Lay Back,” featuring Robin Thicke sounding very Trey Songz-ish. Did Songz not wanna get back in the studio with his “This Is The Life” collaborator? Either way, Thicke works much better on a Rick Ross song sounding like Trey Songz, than he would sounding like himself (think 50’s “Follow My Lead,” ick…). Though the song has caught major flack on this site, I even enjoyed the Foxy Brown-assisted Bonne & Clyde-themed “Murda Mami.” I’ve always felt Foxy had one of the illest voices in hip hop. Especially for a chick. And teaming up with Ross, who has one of the better voices in hip hop as well, they put together a cool sounding song without saying anything noteworthy.
Then we get to the filler. Three skippers in a row starting with “Gunplay,” featuring Gunplay, who sounds as annoying rapping as he does on his Youtube clips. We then move into “Bossy Lady,” featuring a throwaway Ne-Yo hook. The kid was on fire on R&B-fueled hip hop songs until this one teamed with his two tracks on Game’s last album make it appear he’s running on empty. Finally, we get to the god-awful “Face,” sounding much more like a Trina song featuring Rick Ross than the other way around.
But RAWSSS gets back on track with another superior track, “Valley Of Death,” perhaps his most in-depth lyrical joint on the album. The brilliant sample works perfectly with Rawss’ subject manner. DJ Toomp and T.I. step out of the box with this one, not sounding anything like a typical Toomp track. The joint also squashes any rumors of continued beef between Cliff and Ricky. “In Cold Blood” and “Cigar Music” are two more leaked tracks that most have heard, but are still dope nonetheless. Overall, this is not a classic, but I’d have to compare it pretty evenly with Tip’s Paper Trail from last year. This is good for Ricky, as that might’ve been the best hip hop album of 2008 (apologies to Q-Tip for that one)….. Okay, maybe Paper Trail was the best mainstream hip hop album of last year. Rick continues to build on himself and is now a force to be reckoned with. And for the first time in a long time, I’m very curious to see how he sells. This was a dope album from a heavily buzzed artist who hasn’t ever sold on the levels of the current trio of hip hop kings (Kanye/Tip/Wayne), and definitely not on the past of some of the past soundscan killers (50/Jay/Em).
To be completely honest; Rick Ross would make a great associate producer. I’m not to sure he won’t out sale fifty with this effort. The production, guest appearances make this album solid. Lyrically he’s redundant and mundane but so is Fifty, I believe fif will lose this battle as a result of sub par production. I haven’t listened to the entire album yet, but from what I’ve heard thus far it’s quality. I don’t and never will expect much out of Ross lyrically and won’t ever buy an album because he’s a part of what makes Hip Hop gimmicky, but between him and fifty I think Ross is going to come out on top.
KLASSIC!!!
Miami nights…
i’m livin’ the life…
cause i’m rich off COCAINE!!!
that is THE SHIT!!!!