Rick Ross isn't MIA when it comes to delivering good music on his second album, Rise To Power. It seems Rick's new album has brought a natural evolution rather than a "sophomore jinx." This time around, Ross sets the bar higher and raps on every track like it's his last, although the tracks were recorded before he rose to fame with his major label debut, Port Of Miami. Ross' lyrics on Rise To Power are astonishing compared to his first album.
If this is your first time hearing Ricky Ross then from the opening track, "It's On," you will become an instant fan. The track is as intense as it gets, and the raspy voiced rapper takes you through Miami's ups and downs in just 16 bars. The visual painting that Rick creates is eye candy for all. "Hold Me Down" has an East Coast-inspired hook with a grimy beat. The track meshes well with Rick's angry flow as he spits, "F--- ya corporate ladder / cause being intelligent nowadays is a dagger." It deals with the classic question everyone asks themselves: "in your time of need, will your homies hold you down?" On the song's hook Rick asks, "[If I'm locked up] would you put the Benz up for bail."
"Strapped" is bittersweet; it's a good song with a bad hook. Rick's emotional, raspy voice once again is the perfect narration for his grimy, ghetto visuals, but the sloppy chopped and screwed hook doesn't gel well with the rest of the song. Another joint that is inconsistent is "Real N----s," featuring Gillie Da Kid and Reed Dollarz. The effort is there from Gilli and Ross, but the swagger-jacking award of the year goes to Reed Dollarz for taking Lil Wayne's and Cassidy's style and running with it.
Rick is proving to be an innovator not a follower. His selection of features is astonishing -- hip-pop mainstays like Akon, T-Pain and Lil Wayne are surprisingly omitted. The B and C list features that Ross' recruits are more visceral than most A–list artists would have been. The group Next makes a huge comeback, lacing the hook for the cinematic "Street Love." "Dear Lord" is an impressive religious track which can be considered a Christian's worse nightmare. Scarface makes a remarkable appearance, and after hearing the jabs he throws at "organized" religious outfits, it's clear Face is one of the most versatile and dexterous MCs.
The bottom line is this is a yet another knock out for Ross, and shows just how he was able to rise to power. Rise To Power doesn't indulge in any Southern stereotypes, and Ross displays his versatile delivery, proving why he is a Southern heavy weight in hip-hop today.
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