New Music: Rick Ross, Mafia Music

01.24.09

Song: Mafia Music
Artist: Rick Ross
Album: Deeper Than Rap
Label: Def Jam Records
Producer: The Inkredibles
Notes: none
Analysis: I like Rick Ross; he somehow manages to have a unique and familiar style at the same time, and has definitely surpassed my expectations of him since ‘Hustlin’ came out. So naturally, I’ve been anticipating Deeper Than Rap since it was announced, but after hearing it’s street single, ‘Mafia Music’ has me feeling underwhelmed. Ross flows monotonously over a slow, primarily boring beat by The Inkredibles, while still playing this drug trafficking character, which by now we all know is just created in the studio. But he still is able to drop a few entertaining lines (trunk full of white, car smell like bleu cheese), and name drop (diss?) about two dozen celebrities and fellow rappers, either bluntly or subliminally. I’m not expecting Rick Ross to pump out thought provoking imagery in his rhymes; anyone listening to him already knows his limits, and knows where he is comfortable as a rapper. But I know he’s capable of being more compelling than he is on ‘Mafia Music’, and hopefully he shows more of that once Deeper Than Rap’s release date comes around.
Rating: 5.5
Source: Dajaz1.com