Rick Ross

Ross throws his weight around with the best of them. A rotund Miami spitsmith, Ross borrowed his name from a real life South Florida drug kingpin and has emerged as one of the preeminent "Hustlers" in this post-Jigga world. Today, he's the archetype for throngs of not-a-rapper-but-a-trapper capitalists, less concerned with flow, than bringing love of street dough to an all-time high. Authenticity aside (have you seen a rap sheet?), on his debut, Port of Miami, Ross put forth a big, imposing image, with meaty hooks to match his frame, and list of big names behind the boards and tables. His latest, Trilla, is more of the same. There's boasts for days, and beats for even more. And while Ross might not be the most limber emcee, his guests help shoulder the load. T-Pain's turn on "The Boss" is a guaranteed strip club anthem. Elsewhere, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Trick Daddy turn "Luxury Tax" into a classic posse cut, and Ross's idol Jay Z's additions to "Maybach Music" won't get added to HOV's canon anytime soon, but as far as covering for Ross, they go quite a long way. Going even further is the production of J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League (on the horn-heavy, soul thumper "Luxury Tax"), The Runners (on the chunky synth anthem "Speedin"), and Drumma Boy (on the thug&B jam "Here I Am"). Throughout, the beats seethe, alternating from majestic to menacing, Southern gothtronic to post-crunk. No, Trilla doesn't further anything that Ross began on Port, but he's a businessman. After all, if it ain't broke (his debut is platinum), why fix it?

—Robbie Mackey
03.28.08

For all the criticism thrown at Rick Ross' debut -- redundant, nothing new, by the numbers gangsta music, and so on -- the man himself had little reason to reconsider after the album climbed to the top of the charts. Add up his guest appearances and mixtapes and he's a walking bankroll, so it shouldn't be too surprising that his style and attitude toward the album format has changed little on his sophomore release, Trilla. For Ross, the full-length is a place to hold the singles -- big, slick, and grand singles that are hard, hypnotic, and just what's needed to get a gangsta party started. Even if initial single "Speedin'" didn't dominate the way he would have hoped, the follow-up anthem "The Boss" and the sleazy "Money Make Me Come" are killer, the latter being especially infectious and extra shameless. The rest of the album survives thanks to its production, with everyone from Drumma Boy to Mannie Fresh offering exciting trunk rumblers. Special mention goes to the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, who helm three tracks, including the soulful "Luxury Tax" with Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, and Trick Daddy. The huge guest list is also a plus since Ross would have a hard time carrying this album on his own, but when surrounded by talent he pushes a little harder and comes up with a handful of rhymes that aren't tired or clichéd. While Trilla might not earn this Boss any more respect, he's got the single and collaboration game on lock, and when his greatest-hits album rolls around, it'll be a monster. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide