RICK ROSS "TEFLON DON" REVIEW

Rick Ross is set to release his new “Teflon Don” album on July 20: which is the shortest album I have seen in like a decade with only 11 tracks. Of the 11 tracks, 10 include features which total 14 various artists. Another damn compilation album. “I’m Not a Star” kicks off the album and it’s a forgettable track. Best thing about the entire song is the adlibs Rick Ross lays under the verses. “Free Mason” has a real southern flavored funk vibe so the production is a hit. Ross’s verse is boring mostly because his delivery is flat line, but that’s typical for a Rick Ross track. John Legend steals the show with this one while Jay-Z outshines Ross just as easily. “Tears of Joy” is plagued by an intro that lasts a full minute which contributes to the obscene track length of 5:33. Not really feelin this one either, but the Cee-Lo vocals lying underneath the production makes it bearable to listen to, especially the hooks. “Maybach Music III” is absolutely fire with the production. With a touch of Jazz and the live band flavor of a funk and R&B, this track is easily one of the best from the album. When you hear Erykah Badu come in…it’s a wrap and the song gets immediate replay value. “Live Fast, Die Young” is highlighted by the old school samples and then the hook drops in and I immediately liked this tracks. The problem with the song is where will it find spins? Not a cub record at all and it’s a stretch to be a radio hit. The problem with any hopes of radio play is the song is more than 6 minutes long. That long is just way too long. My favorite part of the song is at the 2:24 mark when the beat lays out and allows Kanye West to shine. “Super High” has that immediate Barry White vibe and is really a smooth song. Then Ne-Yo runs in and absolutely steals the song. This one should have been on a Ne-Yo album featuring Rick Ross because Ne-Yo owns this one. The one song from the album this is definitely a club and radio hit is “No. 1” with Trey Songz and Diddy. Not just for the production, but having Trey Songz and Diddy involved makes it radio ready immediately. Skip to the 1:23 mark in the song and it really blazes! “MC Hammer” leaked way too early so there are a growing number of mixtape artists shredding that beat better than Rick Ross ever could. Even still, this is a dope song and easily one of the top 3 from the album. “BMF” gets the exact same review in every aspect. Is it just me or did anyone else expect to hear Prince start singing on “Aston Martin Music”? Instead we get Drake and Chrisette Michele which doesn’t change the fact that this song is dope. Last track of the album is “All The Money in the World” and is okay at best. Overall, “TEFLON DON” is a decent album but is really highlighted by the features more than Ross himself. I fully expect it to get a lot of radio spins and a nice buzz for a few weeks. I don’t think it will last much longer than that though.


1. "I'm Not a Star" produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
2. "Free Mason" (feat. Jay-Z & John Legend) produced by The Inkredibles
3. "Tears of Joy" (feat. Cee-Lo) produced by No I.D.
4. "Maybach Music III" (feat. T.I., Jadakiss & Erykah Badu) produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
5. "Live Fast, Die Young" (feat. Kanye West) produced by Kanye West, No I.D.
6. "Super High" (feat. Ne-Yo) produced by Clark Kent & The Remedy
7. "No. 1" (feat. Trey Songz & Diddy) produced by Danja
8. "MC Hammer" (feat. Gucci Mane) produced by Lex Luger
9. "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" (feat. Styles P) produced by Lex Luger
10. "Aston Martin Music" (feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele) produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
11. "All the Money in the World" (feat. Raphael Saadiq) produced by The Olympicks