Album Review: Rick Ross – Teflon Don

On May 27th, Rick Ross released what was expected to be yet another free project in a long line of EPs and mixtapes to hit the scene in early 2010.  Quickly, however, The Albert Anastasia EP’s buzz exploded as street singles “MC Hammer” and “BMF (Blowing Money Fast)” took on lives of their own.

Minus “Super High,” all of the EP’s tracks were new and most of them featured big named artists.  This provided the fans with a good deal of free content two months before Ross’ album release date. Taking full advantage of the situation, Rick Ross’ team made videos for roughly half of the songs on the project.  When it was all said and done, The Albert Anastasia EP seemed more like a dvd with all. the. videos. it. produced!

By focusing on these free songs instead of album cuts, Ross was able to build anticipation while keeping fans in suspense as to what the actual album would sound like.  As with every music release, however, Teflon Don eventually began leaking to the public. Having said that, Def Jam impressively managed to keep the leaks spaced out enough for fans to digest each. track. as. they. became. available.  This added to the hype and also made Ross’ face a common sight on hip hop blogs for the past month.

Now, with the album in stores, fans have a chance to show their appreciation for the elevated street music that Ricky Rozay is bringing to the game.  “Elevated” because most of the tracks are aimed at those actually getting it in, rather than the broke people out there still trying to establish a hustle.  That being said, all rap fans with an imagination can enjoy the album as Rozay gives us a glimpse into the mindset of a glorified mob boss, the Teflon Don.

The Jay-z and John Legend-assisted “Free Mason” track will undoubtedly make an impact on mainstream radio this summer, as will “Live Fast, Die Young” featuring an impressive verse from Kanye West and the smooth “Aston Martin Music,” featuring Drake and Chrisette Michele.  It’s sleeper singles like these that will pro-long the life of Ross’ Teflon Don and help grow his album sales for months to come.

Rick Ross – “Free Masons” (Featuring Jay-z & John Legend)

Download – “Free Mason.”

As always, Jay-z drops some nice lines on his guest verse, “Bitch I said I was amazing, not that I’m a mason,” ha!  Don’t sleep on Ross’ lyrics though.

Here’s a quick excerpt from Rozay’s first verse:

“New Rolls Royce, guess you made it nigga,
All white neighborhood, you they favorite nigga,
My top back like JFK,
They trynna push my top back like JFK!
So, so I JFK,
Joined forces with the kings and we ate all day.”

A lot of critics would cringe at Ross rhyming JFK with JFK multiple times, but given his flow these lines sound perfect.  Shout out to The Inkredibles on the beat.

Rick Ross – “Tears Of Joy” (Featuring Cee-Lo)

Download – “Tears Of Joy.”

After the opening quote from the Black Panters movement, Rick Ross reflects on his accomplishments in one of Teflon Don’s most motivational tracks.

Here’s Ross’ first verse on the No I.D. produced track:

“Looking in the mirror but I don’t see much,
Still running the streets, so I don’t sleep much,
Watching the snakes, so they don’t creep up,
But the way I’m getting this money, niggas can’t keep up,
You niggas can’t keep up,
Niggas got beef but it can’t be much,
I’m still walking through the crowds like I can’t be touched,
Top back all black, Gretzky puck,
Ice skate, a little later might let me fuck,
Damn, she might let me fuck,
Last night I cried tears of joy,
What Did I Do To Deserve This!
Vacheron on my wrist,
A year ago I didn’t know the bitches exist,
Quarter milli for the motherfucker,
No insurance on the motherfucker!
Ain’t life a bitch?  But you gotta keep her wet,
Keys open doors, so I gotta keep a set,
Everybody know that I’m a lot of people threat,
Biggie Smalls in the flesh, living life after my death,
Yesterday I read my horoscope,
Tell me Lord will I be poor and broke,
Tell me Lord, will I be dealing dope,
I wanna take my momma to the Poconos,
But only Lord knows.”

There’s a lot of motivational street lyrics in there.

Outside of the reflective verses, we see Cee-Lo absolutely kill the soulful hook and drastically add to the song’s replay value.   In a similar fashion, Erykah Badu guides a powerfully orchestrated “Maybach Music III,” the J.U.S.T.I.C.E League ( Rook, Colione, and Kenny Barto)-produced track which completes Ross’ Maybach Music trilogy.

Rick Ross – “All The Money In The World”

“All The Money In The World” shows a rare side of Rick Ross, as he speaks on his family and late father.  As is often the case with emotional tracks, this cut produced by The Olympicks proves to be one of the album’s hidden gems.

Here’s Rozay’s powerful first verse:

“You know geting money..
Becoming a young millionaire…
You can lose sight of the things that’s important to you..
I’d never trade my old girl for all the money in the world,
I’d never trade my daughter Troy for all the money in the world,
I’d never trade my only boy for all the money in the world,
I put my last name first…
I can hear my daddy sayin lil nigga go get ‘em,
Passed in ‘99, cancer all in his liver,
Shit difference is we last spoke your son a lil richer
I’d never rap again if could tell em that I miss ‘em,
Why the fuck I own the world when I can’t share it with ‘em.,
Bust his ass his whole life, just wanna break bread wit ‘em,
Crying in my mansion as I’m holdin on his picture,
It’s a cold and lonely world, I’m flying solo on you niggas,
Being the only boy, definition of a man,
All the money in the world, still not a big enough advance,
All the money in the world, still not a big enough advance,
For me to turn my back on me being the man that I am.”

More personal tracks like this will help Ross build a solid fan base, as  I can see a lot of people relating to this song’s message.  Also, just like Cee-Lo did on “Tears Of Joy,” Raphael Saadiq delivers an impressive chorus that adds a great deal to the song.

Teflon Don marks Rick Ross’ fourth solid album in the last five years ( Port of Miami (’06), Trilla (’08), Deeper Than Rap (’09)).  Get ready for a summer full of Maybach Music!

Favorite Song Off The Album?